American journalist and writer, Emmy Award-winning producer and well-known TV personality, Carole Radziwill joins INTERSOS as an ambassador in the US in support of humanitarian action
“I heard about your organization through a good friend – Carole Radziwill reveals – After reading about the work you do in nearly twenty countries around the world, I knew I wanted to help bring awareness of your organization to the United States”. We meet Carole Radziwill as she is joining INTERSOS as an ambassador in the US, to help the organization raise awareness on the importance of supporting humanitarian action worldwide. The decision of supporting INTERSOS is clearly in line with Radziwill’s illustrious professional career and current life trajectory: “When I left reality television – she tells – many people asked if I would return to network news. But I knew at the time I would never go back. First, network news was not as I remembered it from the 90s. News has become so partisan, more talk show TV than anything close to what I recall”.
The connection with INTERSOS is adding a new facet to Carole’s already rich and vibrant persona and is, in a sense, bringing her back to the roots of her successful career in journalism. “What I loved about working in news was the ability to bring awareness of the lives of others who, merely through the accident of birth, were not as privileged as I have been. Also, I think it’s important for people to understand the real-life consequences of the political policies of our country and other countries. Working with NGO’s is exactly like what I did for news without having to meet story deadlines. Win-Win.”
While committing to this new adventure, she feels “thrilled” to introduce INTERSOS to her friends, colleagues, and social community, with the hope “to do a little good in the world”, a strong appetite for new adventures, and a clear vision of what she can achieve: “Well – she confesses – I can’t say I would have predicted my journey in life would include a reality show but here we are: I’m known for my honest, straight forward, no nonsense talk. The “voice of reason” on what was, at times, a volatile and unpredictable show. It wasn’t always easy. But being on television for over six years has afforded me a large and loud platform. I’d like to use it, in part, to educate and inform and in that way get back to my first love — non-fiction storytelling.”
Carole Radziwill is committed to report from the frontlines of humanitarian crises
With her notable journalistic background, Carole is committed to travel and report from the frontlines of humanitarian crises. “I think it’s important to see first-hand the programs that you run in other countries – she underlines – There is nothing like boots-on-the-ground to give one a complete understanding, not only of the programs but of the stories that led to the crisis. Like most journalists, we aren’t afraid to go to places that normal people wouldn’t think about going. I recall after the Gulf War broke out, I was assigned to cover the SCUD missile attacks in Israel. I couldn’t think of another place I’d rather be, except for maybe Kuwait. It’s a thing with journalists, maybe we feel more alive in the frayed edges of life. I don’t know”.
Among the crises Carole has covered during her journalistic career is Afghanistan. She visited the country back in 2001, spending six weeks in Kandahar. A country where, 20 years later, INTERSOS is still present to help the population in need. “Like most Americans, I was saddened to see our troops leave last August amongst the violence –she says – and seemingly without shoring up the support the Afghans needed to build back their country. I would be honored to be even a small part in rising above the political fray and addressing the humanitarian goals that the people of Afghanistan are so deserving of. I am in awe of NGO’s and aid workers who stay and persevere without feeling completely hopeless.”
Carole’s home is in New York City, one of the richest, most diverse, culturally and politically active urban areas in the world. Is there space for a low-profile, high-impact NGO like INTERSOS in such an exciting and complex city? “Well, NYC is my first love. The threshold and measure for all the rest. I could prattle on about NYC forever. I saw the city build back stronger after 9/11. Recently, I’ve seen my city bounce back after the stranglehold of the pandemic. You hear a lot of talk about what doesn’t work or crime rates, when it’s actually one of the top ten safest cities in the country. It’s the NY hustle, that indefinable energy that attracted me to the city as a college kid, that moves the city forward no matter what it faces. New Yorkers are tough, we’re smart and because it’s so diverse, have a sense of the world outside of ourselves. INTERSOS needs to be here and be part of everything NYC has to offer, both educationally and financially”.