The News Sorority

Diane Sawyer, Katie Couric, Christiane Amanpour - and the (Ongoing, Imperfect, Complicated) Triumph of Women in TV News

By: Sheila Weller

Narrated by: Morgan Hallett

Length: 17 hrs and 17 mins

Publisher's Summary

For decades, women battered the walls of the male fortress of television journalism, until finally three - Diane Sawyer, Katie Couric, and Christiane Amanpour - broke through, definitively remaking America's nightly news. Drawing on exclusive interviews with their colleagues and intimates from childhood on, bestselling author Sheila Weller crafts a lively and eye-opening narrative, revealing the combination of ambition, skill, and character that enabled these three singular women to infiltrate the once impenetrable "boys club" and become cultural icons.

©2014 Sheila Weller (P)2014 Penguin Group

Riveting

In 1971 CBS hired a few women in the newsroom among them were Connie Chung and Lesley Stahl. In 1976 Barbara Walters became the first female anchorwomen. Now there are lots of women news anchors on local T.V. stations and PBS News Hour host the only all women anchor team with Gwen Ifill and Judy Woodruff.

The author primarily covers Diane Sawyer, Katie Couric and Christiane Amanpour. The author did not have direct access to these news anchors for information. Weller does quote various people from whom she has obtained information but she also has a number of unnamed sources that she quotes.

The author points out the continuing battle women have in the upper echelons of news industry as when Diane Sawyer stepped down as anchor on “ABC World News Tonight she was replaced by a male David Muir. I noted that Sawyer’s husband died shortly after she stepped down. Amanpour lost the anchor on ABC’s This Week in Review and was replaced by a male anchor; they also lost me as a viewer as it was Amanpour that attracted me to the show. Katie Couric was also replaced by a male anchor on CBS.

I must say that I was most impressed with Weller report about Amanpour; I thought she was the most outstanding of the three listed. I have to admire Amanpour’s courage and skill as a war correspondent. After reading about these women and the T.V. news industry one has to admire these women who battled with ratings, network politics, and without a doubt sexist executives, and a chauvinistic industry. The book is fairly long at 17 hours. Morgan Hallett narrated the book.

Superb - A must for all esp. Women in News Métier

I'm not even done listening. Yet, I'm captivated by this awesome life experiences by three women I greatly admire. Overcame adversity, each in her own life yet so many parallels to be found among them - not to be expected when knowing their background. One women, sadly, whom I admire greatly as well was omitted.... Robin Roberts! I can only suggest to anyone in the news business to get either the book or as I come to prefer - audiobook. My hats off to the exceeding any expectations I had - women!

Fascinating

Wasn’t sure I’d like at first, but it’s great. I’ve sat in many a parking space or driveway listening until I could find a place to stop. I highly recommend this.

Very informative

Informative. Nice to learn more about the women newscasters who shaped my world of information every night in my living room. I loved them all. This book seems a little harsh in places and slanted against them just like society apparently. I think Diane sawyer is one of the best news anchors ever. And c amanpour is unbelievably brave with great values.

Interesting look behind the scenes

I learned a lot about these ladies and the news business. Their strength in the face of sexism in the news business is admirable. The competitive nature of the business brings out the tigress in all of them. I will never look at the news the same!

Enjoyed The News Sorority

This book was very enjoyable, it contains a multitude of revelations and information.The background of some of them world events that were covered by the ladies may be be very surprising to you, it was to me. The inner workings of TV news and the anchors that host the news astonished me. The book even covers some celebrity personalities and foibles. What more could you want. 😊

An insightful and poignant look at 3 of titans of broadcasting

A very interesting read. The book profiles these women in a very fair way, displaying their strengths and very real human flaws. While also highlighting the hurdles these women overcame in a male dominated industry. I wasn’t as familiar with Christiane’s life and career but the book does a great job profiling each woman from their earliest pre-TV years. Highly recommend.