📖Hal Eisner: Writing the First Draft of History

The best journalists don’t just cover history — they witness it, shape it, and sometimes survive it 💥

On this powerful episode of Amazing Women and Men of Power, Raven welcomes legendary broadcast journalist Hal Eisner, whose remarkable 58-year career spans radio, television, breaking news, and some of the most defining moments in modern American history.

From his early days in Dallas during the assassination of John F. Kennedy to covering landmark events in Los Angeles for CNN and Fox 11 Los Angeles, Hal has had a literal front-row seat to history. Fires, riots, celebrity trials, natural disasters, and national tragedies — he has reported them all.

Now, in his memoir, An Accidental Career: My 58-Year Adventure as a Broadcast News Reporter, Hal reflects on the unexpected postcard contest that launched his career, the “accidents” in life that can change everything, and the moments — big and small — that stay with you forever.

In this heartfelt conversation, Hal shares:

• How witnessing the JFK assassination as a teenager shaped his worldview
• The high school radio contest that redirected his life
• Why journalism is about capturing moments, not just headlines
• A moving story from Hurricane Harvey that still touches his heart
• What it was like to be struck by a drunk driver while reporting in Hollywood
• The resilience that brought him back to the camera
• Why retirement, for him, is simply a new chapter — not the end of the story

Through humor, humility, and honesty, Hal reminds us that careers are built one moment at a time — and that even life’s detours can lead to extraordinary destinations. This episode is a masterclass in storytelling, perseverance, and paying attention when opportunity knocks unexpectedly.