Buried within an abundance of “behind-the-curtain” stories, Mason, former Senior Vice President at CBS News, delivers three rock-solid strategies for overcoming obstacles in a tough profession: work hard, ask questions, and speak up. In a recounting that does not duck a few scandals, Mason shows how the implementation of these foundational strategies kept her moving up the organizational ladder. From Dan Rather to Charles Kuralt, from Watergate to 9/11, decades of major news events bring lessons beyond the obvious. With a standout chapter recounting Walter Cronkite’s funeral, the lessons learned shine a light on the personal and emotional side of journalism. Looking at our history as it was being made, accompanied by the drive to deliver those historic events with integrity, played no small part in blazing the trail for an historic career. Those looking for insider stories will line up alongside women seeking guidance in fighting for a place in male-dominated professions. Anticipate demand in public library collections.

Booklist

With details about pivotal moments in current events and Emmy Award–winning Mason’s own behind-the-scenes stories of harassment, double standards, and more, this well-researched and smartly written book reads like a special edition of a magazine for news buffs. As one of the first women network news producers and the first woman one for CBS Evening News with Walter Cronkite, Mason was—and remains—a trailblazer, whose 50 years (47 spent at CBS) in journalism helped pave the way for women. In sharing her story, she shows exactly what she had to do and navigate to achieve success at CBS. She infuses stories about her life and her ambition with dramatic accounts of globally significant moments, such as Dan Rather’s interview with Fidel Castro. Readers will learn how deeply entwined her identity is with the news reports she helped tell to the world. This book ranks as a powerful reminder of the resilience it takes for women to rise professionally in spaces traditionally reserved for men.

Library Journal

You will be inspired by her work ethic and courage to travel all over the world and put herself in breaking stories.

Forbes

At a time when TV news has been demonized and polarized, it's refreshing to read this colorful memoir by a groundbreaking journalist whose intelligence, integrity, and good humor propelled her to great heights—through the glass ceiling and beyond.

Andrew Heyward, former president, CBS News

Linda Mason blazed a trail across the tough and sometimes hostile terrain of network TV news and helped clear a path for every woman who followed her. It's an inspiring story of brains, guts, and determination along with a colorful insider's account of one of America's most celebrated institutions by a pioneer who was there every step of the way—whether the guys liked it or not.

Marcy McGinnis, former Sr. Vice President, CBS News

Linda Mason shows us what it took to report pivotal moments in history. At a time when trust in the news media needs it most, Linda explains the extraordinary work it took to get the story right, and the importance given to that effort. While she downplays just how remarkable it was that she, a woman, had a seat at the table, Linda Mason was at the center of that critical moment in the life of some of the most important stories of our time.

Elisa Lees Muñoz, executive director, International Women's Media Foundation