so you see a new, or resurgent, interest in harder news?
hard news and news features. we're showcasing what makes us unique: our incredible credibility and our reputation for being the best reporters in the world in terms of global news gathering. people can be assured now, 25 years on, that cnn is still the place to turn to for big stories. that's great for people like me, and it's great for viewers.

why the change?
it's cyclical. we started with hard news, and then there was a period when people didn't think hard news sold well, but then they figured out it did. partly because of what's going on in the world, but also because they're coming to understand that great stories are what make journalism compelling.

one of the most important things right now, especially in our post-9/11 world, is good, credible, vigorous foreign reporting. more than any other time in my generation, america and every other country need to know what's going on at home and around the world, and nobody else out there is doing it. we have more people in the field than anyone else. we put more foreign news on the air than any other network, and that's vital to understanding the world.

has technology changed your job?
twenty-two years ago, we didn't even have cellphones.
technology has changed the mechanics of what we do. but in my view, it hasn't and shouldn't change the content, the guts of what we do. technology has made it easier and quicker to get things on the air. sometimes, however, technology can have the effect of weakening quality. you have to be careful that you only take advantage of shortcuts that allow you to take stories to viewers faster, but not shortcuts when it comes to getting the story right.

what do you consider cnn's most important legacy?