Covering Catastrophe

by Allison Gilbert

Book Overview

Covering Catastrophe tells what it was like for TV and radio journalists to report the most terrifying story of their lives-and our time.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 156625180X
• ISBN13: 9781566251808
• Release Date: November 2003
• Publisher: Taylor Trade Publishing
• Length: 316 Pages
• Weight: 1.48 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.1" x 6.3" x 9.3"

Customer Reviews

A superb testimony to the craft of reporting

Listening to Robyn Walensky's eloquent retelling of the events of that fateful day at a booksigning in Washington, DC, and reading the minute-by-minute reconstruction of what it was like to cover these events, this book brings back all of the emotion and impact of September 11th, but from the vantage point of the working broadcast journalists who brought the story into the living rooms of the country and the world. Ms. Walensky and her co-editors and contributors have done an historical service to all future generations by putting their experiences collectively into the permanent record. If time ever can dull the memory of what happened that day, take this book down from the shelf and it will all come back, with clarity and purpose. Hopefully, a similar book will be assembled on what the print reporters experienced that day. A superb recounting of the working reporter's craft.

Covering Catastrophe

If you only buy one book about September 11th - this is the one to buy. There are several books out but this is the best for a moment to moment account from broadcast journalists who experienced that day from a news point of view. Everyone, from news program producers, sound techs, camera people, radio people are included in this excellent compilation of who saw what, when, how and what they felt as participants in the biggest story of this century. I'm a history nut and stayed home the day of the attack to watch TV coverage all day from all the different networks and I wanted a book that would really convey the events, the victims and the feelings and impressions of those who responded to the catasrophe of 9/11 in an accurate fashion for my children to read and, hopefully, my grandchildren to read in this one book and have some idea of what living this historical day was like. I consider this to be the most valuable book I have bought all year (and I buy lots of books).

Participating in history

Covering Castastrophe is a book that ought to be in everyone's library. It is an historic record of a horrific event in our history. It gave me the feeling of participating in history that eventful day. Frequently, I had to stop reading it because I felt I was walking beside every reporter, correspondent, producer, anchorman and camerman. There were times I could not breathe either. As a former New Yorker, who watched the towers being built, I was mesmerized and glued to the TV, as everyone else. Visiting Ground Zero was emotional. This book left an impact that has overwhelmed me. It has given me a better understanding of how determined these people work to get the story and get it right. What a great job they do. Another group of unsung heroes. Well done, all!!

History in the Making. This book is a must! Chilling..

Well, what can I say? I bought this book and finished it the same day! I absolutely could not put it down! This book offers an up close and personal account of one of the worst days in American History. Not only did these journalists risk their lives to bring breaking news to the American public, but they became PART of the horrifying event as it unfolded before our very eyes. This book is a personal account of what these people, not journalists, experienced on that chilling day as they put themselves in the line of fire trying to do their job. Like many of us, these journalists lost loved ones in the World Trade Center right before their very eyes, and ran for their lives when the towers collapsed. Some journalists were hurt, others put their job aside for a moment and headed in to assist the wounded. The world united as the tragedy of September 11th unfolded, and our country demonstrated the best in humanity. This book recaps this horrible day up close and personal through our journalists' eyes.The terrorist ttack on September 11th, was the worst thing tht has ever happend in my lifetime, and I was personally traumatized as events unfolded before me on the television set. I lost friends that day, and a city that I called home at one time was changed forever. This book made me cry at times as it reminded me of the details of that horrible day. I never want to forget what happend, which is why I purchased this book. I will use this book to help explain to my children what I, and everyone else in America went through on 9/11. This book spoke to me on a very personal and human level, and for that I am happy to add it to my collection. I read also, that all royalties will be give to the Citigroup Scholarship Fund and Societ of Broadcast Engineers Fund. I am glad to see that the money for this book is more of an extension of the humanity I witnessed on that day. I cant recommend this book enough.

Here The Press ARE Good Guys

How many times have you perhaps thought, and also heard that the press are really bad folks? The press has an agenda? The press is biased? Well, this great book reminds us all how truly wonderful the men and women of broadcast journalism covered the horrible events of September 11th. I will never forget how I saw Tom Brokaw, lower his head at one point and choke up. After a second or two he acknowledged to us all that he had an emotional moment. At one point, Peter Jennings, who had just received word that his kids were safe, looked at the camera and told the audience that we all should call our children. I dearly loved reading of the human sides of these men and women. Also, it was astonishing to see how radio and TV covered the story not knowing from moment to moment where the story was going. Local New York area radio and TV are covered as well as that of national TV networks.I really don't want to give anything more away. Buy this book and read it. This will be one that you will want to include in your home library for years to come. You won't want to be selling this one to a used book store or in a garage sale. It's a keeper.