Michael On
Michael On
almost business good ten
I've been in this business now for almost ten years. I've done a lot of stories. I have a pretty good track record.
doubt personal written
I write for fun. I had written a kind of media satire, but I doubt it will see the light of day. It was just a personal project.
journalism
I went into journalism to do journalism, not advertising.
future interviews people sure talk
I welcome all interviews with 'Rolling Stone' magazine, and I'm sure people will talk to me in the future.
people
I think it's very difficult to make people care about natives in another country.
basically break devote journalism life medical school treat willing
You basically have to be willing to devote your life to journalism if you want to break in. Treat it like it's medical school or law school.
both candidates covering despite framing press reporters reporting setting
In campaign reporting more than any other kind of press coverage, reporters aren't just covering a story, they're a part of it - influencing outcomes, setting expectations, framing candidates - and despite what they tell themselves, it's impossible to both be a part of the action and report on it objectively.
absurdity campaign despite entire experience strange uplifting watching
Despite the absurdity and the silliness and the triviality of the entire campaign experience, there is also something, as non-cynical as this sounds, kind of uplifting and strange about watching democracy unfold.
agent andrew chasing decade deep family few fluent iraq knew nature nearly rarity relatively service spent terrorists undercover warren work
Andrew Warren was a rarity in the CIA's Clandestine Service - African-American, fluent in Arabic, and relatively young for an agent who'd already spent nearly a decade chasing terrorists in Afghanistan, Egypt, Iraq and Algeria, so deep undercover that few of his friends or family knew the nature of his work.
few history largest offensive remote
Obama's drone program, in fact, amounts to the largest unmanned aerial offensive ever conducted in military history: never have so few killed so many by remote control.
balanced becomes create fully life perspective proper war
I think when war becomes your life, I think it's very difficult to have the proper perspective to be able to create a fully balanced policy.
alone baghdad facto late lengthy living news returned twice
In late 2009, I returned to Baghdad after a lengthy absence. I was living alone, in the Hamra Hotel, the twice bombed-out de facto international news bureau.
asia center central cia grew kenya middle north southeast threat trade tried
As the CIA tried to find itself, the threat of international terrorism emanating from the Middle East, Africa, North Africa and Central and Southeast Asia grew with each strike: the first World Trade Center attack in 1993, the bombings of U.S. embassies in Kenya and Tanzania in 1998, and the 2000 attack on the U.S.S. Cole.
editor gathering love mention next norman sinking suspicion word
When interviewing for a job, tell the editor how you love to report. How your passion is gathering information. Do not mention how you want to be a writer, use the word 'prose,' or that deep down you have a sinking suspicion you are the next Norman Mailer.