Every day, hundreds of journalists risk their lives to cover news developments in volatile areas of the world. They have been beaten, kidnapped, tortured, and killed. Yet they continue to do their jobs, and new reporters join the fray. Their work as foreign correspondents in challenging environments carries a high price that is not fully recognized by news organizations, the public, and often not even by the correspondents themselves. This thesis helps provide an understanding of that human cost. The methodology is autobiography, which allows for an intimate look at the behind-the- scenes experiences and personal toll during a 30-year career in journalism. Salient themes include employment status - staffer vs. freelancer or stringer - as well as gender, ethics, and fear and its consequences. The need for such understanding has become increasingly relevant as many media organizations, under budgetary pressure, ask reporters to deliver more and ever faster from a dangerous world.