This week feels profoundly different. It marks the arrival of something I’ve poured my heart into: my first children’s book, “Read All About It!” It’s a project born from being a father to four daughters, and from a lifetime spent as a journalist.
I watch my children navigate a world saturated with information, and a single thought echoes relentlessly: we must equip them to discern truth. The landscape has shifted. Finding reliable information is now a far more complex challenge than ever before.
Social media offers voices to everyone, a double-edged sword. While it can swiftly connect us to events and individuals, it’s often a breeding ground for half-truths, endlessly repeated by those with limited understanding. And now, with the rise of artificial intelligence, even what we see and hear can no longer be taken at face value.
Children today are often presented with sensationalized clips before context, outrage before evidence. If we don’t actively teach them to question, to analyze, someone else will fill that void. This is why genuine journalism – the kind rooted in rigorous investigation – is not just important, but absolutely essential.
True journalism demands presence. It requires looking people in the eye, witnessing events firsthand, and telling stories as they truly unfold, even when those stories are uncomfortable or dangerous. Throughout my career, I’ve learned that initial assumptions rarely hold up under scrutiny. The reality is always more nuanced, more layered than imagined.
Truth matters. It’s a cornerstone of a just society, and it’s our responsibility to safeguard it and pass it on to the next generation. And that journey begins at home, with simple yet powerful questions: “Where did you hear that?” “Who is saying this?” “Why might they believe that?” “Is this actually true?”
These questions spark curiosity, fostering a genuine interest in the world around them. When children are encouraged to question, they become more engaged, more invested in understanding the complexities of life. That’s the spirit I aimed to capture in “Read All About It!” – to ignite their imaginations and inspire their pursuit of knowledge.
The story centers on a little hedgehog with a yearning for adventure. He sets out to explore, and quickly encounters a precarious situation: a baby owl fallen from its nest, threatened by a large bear. The hedgehog faces a critical choice. Does he prioritize his own safety? Does he wait for someone else to intervene? Or does he act?
The choice of a hedgehog wasn’t arbitrary. For years, I carried a small toy hedgehog with me, a gift from my daughter. It accompanied me on assignments around the globe, a tangible link to home. My daughter envisioned the hedgehog sending videos back to her, sharing our experiences and reassuring her that I was safe.
I later realized I needed that hedgehog as much as she did. During a harrowing attack in Ukraine in 2022, where colleagues Pierre Zakrzewski and Oleksandra Kuvshynova tragically lost their lives, that little hedgehog was tucked inside my body armor. In the aftermath, clinging to life, I held it tight, finding solace and strength in its familiar presence.
It was a reminder of my family, of everything I was fighting for, a quiet voice whispering, “You will go home. You will survive.” Even in the hospital, facing serious injuries, it was the hedgehog that “sent” messages back to my children, keeping them connected to my journey. That’s why family, and the hedgehog, are at the heart of this book.
Family is everything. Our children inspire us to strive for a better world, and journalism, at its core, is a tool for building that world. It’s about seeking truth, holding power accountable, and fostering understanding. It’s about more than just chasing a story; it’s about making a difference.
In “Read All About It!” the hedgehog *does* act, saving the day and spreading a vital warning throughout the forest. He doesn’t remain a passive observer. He empowers others with knowledge, understanding that truth is the catalyst for action. This is a central message of the book: don’t just witness, participate.
How often do we see events unfold, captured on countless screens, yet met with inaction? People filming, posting, commenting, but rarely intervening. We must teach our children that they are not meant to be spectators, but active agents of change. Journalism, and a genuine curiosity about the world, can inspire that engagement.
I hope “Read All About It!” sparks conversations, ignites imaginations, and instills values like adventure, courage, and a relentless pursuit of truth. By embracing these principles, we can collectively build a stronger, more just, and more hopeful world.
