In ‘No Ordinary Assignment,’ Journalist Jane Ferguson Considers her Path

October 6, 2023

A person wearing a tan coat and blue jeans is speaking into a microphone on an outdoor stage. Behind them, there are autumn trees, a U.S. flag, and a statue. A wooden sign reads Brainstorm.

Ferguson speaking in Telluride, CO at an event with the Original Thinkers Festival.

A new memoir, titled No Ordinary Assignment, collects the memories and experiences of one public broadcasting’s most intrepid correspondents. Jane Ferguson has covered conflict zones in the Middle East, Africa, and Europe for nearly two decades, and her work has made her a trusted, and decorated voice in journalism today. 

Ferguson was in Telluride this past weekend for the Original Thinkers Festival. Gavin McGough of KOTO and Rocky Mountain Community Radio sat down with Ferguson to ask her about her work. She begins by reflecting on her childhood in Ireland during the troubles.

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