Distinguished Speakers: Channel 4's Lindsey Hilsum on the frontlines of war journalism

The impact of artificial intelligence on journalism and the importance of human eyewitness reporting were central themes in the latest Distinguished Speaker event with Channel 4 News International Editor Lindsey Hilsum at the University of London's Senate House.

Hosted by Kingsley Abbott, Director of Commonwealth Studies at the University of London, the discussion examined how modern technology is reshaping conflict journalism, alongside Lindsey’s extensive career from working for an NGO in Latin America to reporting from conflict zones including Rwanda, Kenya and Ukraine.

Lindsey, who witnessed the 1994 Rwanda genocide first hand, emphasised the critical importance of bearing witness to conflict: "Being an eyewitness is fundamental to journalism," she said. Later when addressing the challenges of modern journalism, Lindsey discussed how AI might impact the credibility of news reporting in the future, warning that "AI threatens the authenticity that is at the heart of quality journalism" and highlighted the need for human experience in conflict reporting.

The discussion also explored the critical role of local journalists in conflict zones, especially in Gaza and Sudan, with Lindsey underlining the importance of supporting networks like the Marie Colvin Journalist Network, which assists young female journalists in the Arab world.

During the event, Lindsey also read select passages from her recently published book, I Brought the War with Me, which pairs poetry by writers all around the world with her own experiences of reporting from conflict zones. She shared how carrying poetry books into war zones has provided perspective and solace to her, offering a form of expression that reaches beyond the factual constraints of journalism to capture deeper emotional truths about human experience.

This event was part of the University's Distinguished Speakers series for 2025. For more information about upcoming events, visit the University of London events pages.