MEDIA
Denis is the author of Lost Horizons: A Foreign Correspondent’s Extraordinary Life Story (affiliate), a memoir forged from decades on the front lines of conflicts spanning the globe. As a foreign correspondent, he didn’t just report the news — he lived inside it, embedding himself in the chaos, danger, and humanity of war zones most people only see in headlines. Denis will sit down for a moderated conversation about his extraordinary life and career, drawing out the stories, close calls, and lessons behind the book. The conversation will be followed by a live Q&A, giving the audience a chance to dig deeper into the experiences that shaped one of journalism’s most well-traveled careers.
BIO
Denis David Gray was born Zdenek Mecir in 1944 as American and British warplanes were bombing his native city of Pilsen during World War II. Following the communist take-over of what was then Czechoslovakia the family was forced to flee their homeland, living in Germany where his father was recruited by the Central Intellgence Agency (and the family had to assume new names for security reasons). After residing in South Africa and Paris, he entering Yale University in 1962. He served as a U.S. Army captain in Japan and the Vietnam War and after returning to the United States was hired by The Associated Press in 1972. A year later the news agency assigned him to cover the continuing wars in Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia. After 1975 he was assigned as the AP bureau chief in Bangkok. He covered wars in Iraq, Afghanistan, Somalia, Kosovo and a dozen other conflicts as well as natural and environmental disasters, Olympic games and even some Hollywood stars during a 40-year career. His articles also appeared in international magazines. His book projects include the National Parks of Thailand, Americans in Thailand, Seven Days in Burma, The King of Thailand in World Focus and Lost Horizons, a memoire. He currently resides in a valley of northern Thailand, continuing to write and engage in Buddhist meditation.