Behind the Scenes of News and Life: Carol Lin on Reporting History

Carol Lin spent her career inside newsrooms built for breaking news. She covered some of the most difficult moments in recent history, including being the first person to report the attacks on September 11. In this conversation, she reflects on her career in journalism and the behind-the-scenes moments that shaped her life. She also discusses what it was like to revisit those experiences while writing her memoir.

"And then I hear the music, the breaking news animation comes up and we are live."

Hear Carol talk about:

1. What it’s like inside a newsroom built for breaking news
2. The moment she realized she was going live on September 11 without a script
3. How anchors rely on producers, reporters, and unseen teams during national crises
4. The emotional discipline required to deliver information in uncertain moments
5. The intersection of her career with major personal turning points
6. Why writing her memoir required revisiting both professional and private pain
7. What she hopes readers — and her daughter — take away from her story

Mentioned in this episode:

1. The first moments reporting 9/11 (viewer discretion advised)
2. Carol Lin’s memoir, When News Breaks

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