Cecilia Uddén is an award-winning journalist, foreign correspondent and radio-show anchor for the Swedish Radio. She is currently Middle East correspondent and bureau chief in Cairo. Previously, she was from 2006 to 2011 Middle East correspondent and bureau chief in Amman.

She is considered one of the most highly respected correspondents on Swedish Radio. She is also controversial and known for her frank comments, for her fearless approach to sensitive issues as well as authorities, and for her ability to describe places, situations and people, and to approach people and portray them in a way that brings the world closer to Swedish radio-listeners. (Source: https://www.journalismfestival.com/speaker/cecilia-udden )

To cover the Ukranian war and refugee crisis, Cecilia travelled from Egypt to Hungary and asked for my help. We've known each other in multiple capacities over 10 years now.. for this mission in Hungary, I basically became one of her 'Fixers' - a native person who speaks the local language, has networks, arranges logistics and coordinates interviews for a foreign reporter. 

We talked to multiple NGO representatives, refugee families both in Budapest and by the Ukrainian border towns. On our way to Záhony, we had time to kill and so I decided to ask some burning questions from Cecilia. Not only because we had the time, or because it was International Women Day and she is a person I deeply admire and respect - but also because I just thought that her voice, thoughts, and experience is so unique that I wanted to introduce her to you all. She is a role-model for me, as she is for so many others world-wide, and I assure you, if you listen to her in these 50 or so minutes, you will understand why.

We cover:
- what is good journalism?
- what is the state of the world today as she sees it?
- how to define fake news?
- the legitimacy of foreign correspondents for a public radio
- multiple stories from the Middle East to Sweden and the Unites States
and so much MORE!

My fav quotes from Cecilia:
'You have to try to create a 3 dimensional person out of anyone whom you describe, otherwise it becomes flat like a postcard of suffering'

'Be sceptical towards everything you see even as a journalist. KI need to make sure I see all angles not just one of them.There will always be subjectivity. ... If a journalist maintains a sceptical eye towards everything they see and question reality and whatever they observe it is essential and a good beginning towards finding out the truth'

'The advantage in being a journalist is...politicians go out to find proof of their theories. I do the opposite. As a journalist, I have an idea of what I'm going to see now, but I am happy to be challenged all the time and find out that my perception was not correct. Whatever I thought before I went to this event, I might not be correct. I don't need to search for proof of my own theory, that is not my job. That is what I love about journalism. Every time I go to report on a story, I am surprised, and if I'm not surprised, there is something wrong.'

PS1. sorry folks if my questions are silly, and also for the car background noise. this is just a car talk, after all LOL. 

PS2. the picture was taken in Záhony at the refugee tent next to the train station, where we interviewed a mother and her 6 years old son who was playing video games and seemed ok. They had escaped Kijev with just a small bag.

Kata Molnar