Carol Hills

Senior Producer and Host

Carol Hills was part of the original team that created and launched "The World" in 1996. Currently, she is a producer, occasional reporter and host who proudly calls herself a generalist. Carol is interested in everything from US policy options in Afghanistan to the rise in pet ownership in the Middle East. She also has an interest in global humor (yes, sometimes it actually does translate) and produces a weekly narrated slideshow of political cartoons from around the globe. 

Over the years, Carol has reported from Cuba, Nigeria, and Vietnam. She was a Knight Fellow at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology during 2001-2002 and has a master's degree from The Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy. Carol got her journalistic start in Boston on "The Ten O’Clock News" with Christopher Lydon.

Supporters of Pakistan's former Prime Minister Imran Khan throw stones toward police during a protest against the arrest of Khan, in Karachi, Pakistan, May 9, 2023.

A shaky political situation in Pakistan could get worse with arrest of former PM Imran Khan

Paramilitary troops arrested former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan during a court appearance on Tuesday, sparking protests and complicating an already-fragile political situation in the country.

A shaky political situation in Pakistan could get worse with arrest of former PM Imran Khan
Artwork by Nelli Isupova, who lives in Kyiv, Ukraine.

A family of artists expresses how the war in Ukraine impacts their creative work

A family of artists expresses how the war in Ukraine impacts their creative work
A member of auction house staff poses for a picture with a 19-carat pink diamond at Christie's auction house, in London, Oct. 18, 2017.

Belgium faces pressure to support sanctions on Russian diamonds

Belgium faces pressure to support sanctions on Russian diamonds
The exterior of the newly opened Dikan Center for photography in Accra, Ghana.

The new Dikan Center in Ghana displays a collection of photography from across Africa

The new Dikan Center in Ghana displays a collection of photography from across Africa
building with barbed wire

Disappeared Uyghur author's novel translated into English for the first time

Disappeared Uyghur author's novel translated into English for the first time
A male African Cheetah named Dark is released at his enclosure at the Nehru Zoological Park in Hyderabad, India, May 12, 2012.

Cheetahs are being reintroduced to India after their extinction there 70 years ago

It is the first time a large carnivore is being moved from one continent to another and reintroduced into the wild.

Cheetahs are being reintroduced to India after their extinction there 70 years ago
The hind legs or 'pollen basket' of a pollinating bee clings to a Salvia 'Mystic Spires Blue' sage flower at the United States Botanic Garden in Washington

Alberta's diminishing bee colonies could have severe economic, environmental implications, expert says

Canada's Alberta province has seen a 50% loss in its bee colonies this year alone. Experts fear this could have a major impact on crops and honey production. Rod Scarlett, executive director of the Canadian Honey Council, spoke to The World's host Marco Werman about the situation.

Alberta's diminishing bee colonies could have severe economic, environmental implications, expert says
A man holds a child as they watch a dance performance at the International Grand Bazaar in Urumqi in western China's Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region

Leaked Xinjiang police files are a 'devastating' glimpse of abuses against Uyghur detainees in China, expert says

Darren Byler, who specializes in China's treatment of Uyghurs at Simon Fraser University in British Columbia, discussed insights from the leaked data with The World's host Marco Werman.

Leaked Xinjiang police files are a 'devastating' glimpse of abuses against Uyghur detainees in China, expert says
Ugandan author Kakwenza Rukirabashaija is seen in an undated photo posted to his Twitter Dec. 25, 2021.

'The torture of political prisoners is real' in Uganda, says poet and free speech activist

Ugandan poet Stella Nyanzi talks about her friend, the satirist Kakwenza Rukirabashaija, and his torture while recently under military detention. His crime? Calling Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni's son "obese" in a series of tweets last December.

'The torture of political prisoners is real' in Uganda, says poet and free speech activist
This image made available by NASA shows an artist's rendering of the Parker Solar Probe approaching the sun.

'Once in a lifetime': NASA makes historic trip through the sun's corona, solar physicist explains

NASA has announced that its Parker Solar Probe has flown through the sun's corona. Kelly Korreck, a solar physicist at NASA's headquarters, joined The World's host Marco Werman to discuss this remarkable feat that took 60 years to accomplish.

'Once in a lifetime': NASA makes historic trip through the sun's corona, solar physicist explains
Soldiers patrol along the Malecón seawall in Havana, Cuba

Cuban govt supporters resorted to tactics they haven't used in decades to suppress political dissidents, professor says

Lillian Guerra, a professor of Cuban history and the director of the Cuba Program at the University of Florida, described the culture of repudiation in the country to The World's host Marco Werman.

Cuban govt supporters resorted to tactics they haven't used in decades to suppress political dissidents, professor says
An image of a professional tree planter hard at work in British Colombia.

Professional tree planting: 'It's a combination between industrial labor and high-intensity sport'

Filmmaker and photographer Rita Leistner, who started planting trees professionally over 20 years ago, says the work is "brutal." Her new film, "Forest for the Trees," documents the hard labor and sense of community fostered among Canada's professional tree planters.

Professional tree planting: 'It's a combination between industrial labor and high-intensity sport'
Dissident Chinese artist Ai Weiwei walks by his work "Life Cycle", a migrants' boat made of bamboo, during a press preview of his new exhibition "Rapture" in Lisbon, Portugal

A new memoir by Chinese artist Ai Weiwei honors his father's poetry and politics

Chinese political dissident and artist Ai Weiwei has published a new book called "1000 Years of Joys and Sorrows." He took the time to discuss with The World's Carol Hills what it was like growing up as the son of a dissident poet.

A new memoir by Chinese artist Ai Weiwei honors his father's poetry and politics
Rappler CEO and Executive Editor Maria Ressa, right, stands in front of reporters as she arrives at the Court of Tax Appeals in Metro Manila, Philippines

Nobel Peace Prize is 'a testament to how truth prevails,' Rappler journalist says

The Norwegian Nobel Committee has given the Nobel Peace Prize to journalists for the first time since 1935. Sofia Tomacruz, who works at Rappler with one of this year's two winners, Maria Ressa, joined The World's host Marco Werman to discuss the significance of the announcement.

Nobel Peace Prize is 'a testament to how truth prevails,' Rappler journalist says
People wear masks of Paulo Freire during a protest against a massive cut in the education budget imposed by the administration of Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro at Cinelandia square, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Thursday, May 30, 2019.

A new doc highlights Paulo Freire's early vision of 'education as a tool for transformation' filmmaker says

"A is for Angicos," a new documentary by filmmaker Catherine Murphy, looks back at the pioneering work of Brazilian educator Paulo Freire.

A new doc highlights Paulo Freire's early vision of 'education as a tool for transformation' filmmaker says