Whirlwind : my life reporting the news / Bill Kurtis.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Kurtis, Bill, Author.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Journalists--United States--Biography.

Journalists.

Kurtis, Bill.

Genre:

Autobiographies.

Physical Description:

x, 294 pages : illustrations ; 24 cm

Place of Publication:

Lawrence, Kansas : Plainspoken Books, an imprint of the University Press of Kansas, [2025]

Summary:

"Starting with his coverage of the largest tornado in Kansas history, legendary correspondent, anchorman, and producer Bill Kurtis details his whirlwind career reporting American history as it unfolded, from the Chicago Seven to Charles Manson to Agent Orange. A fast-paced, entertaining, and inspiring story about the potent combination of talent and luck in the network era of television. From his beginnings as a kid from Kansas working at local radio and television stations to pay for college and law school, Bill Kurtis had a hunger for telling stories and finding the truth. With passion, skill, and just the right amount of luck, Kurtis's reporting of the infamous Topeka Tornado of 1966 launched him into a whirlwind career in broadcast journalism. Only four years later, after passing the Kansas bar exam, Kurtis had already reported four of the largest trials of the twentieth century: Richard Speck, the Chicago Seven, Charles Manson, and Angela Davis. During his career as a West Coast correspondent for Cronkite's CBS Evening News, anchorman and foreign correspondent at the revolutionary local newsroom at WBBM-TV Chicago, co-anchor with Dianne Sawyer at CBS Morning News, and beyond, Kurtis brought history to the American people in real time. Recounting moments in his remarkable career as a television journalist, Kurtis brings us into some of the most iconic moments of the '60s, '70s, and '80s. He was in the streets during the riots at the 1968 Democratic National Convention in Chicago; he uncovered the truth about the deadly effects of Agent Orange during the Vietnam War; he was the first US television journalist to return to Chernobyl after the infamous nuclear disaster; and much more. Kurtis also offers an insider look at how television evolved from an emerging news source to the dominating force in American media. A natural storyteller, Kurtis remembers his career with honesty and insight and gives a rare picture of American history and broadcast journalism"-- Provided by publisher.

"Recounting moments in his remarkable career as a journalist and broadcaster, Bill Kurtis brings us into some of the most iconic moments of recent American history - the riots at the 1968 DNC; the trial of Charles Manson; uncovering the truth behind the effects of Agent Orange during the Vietnam War; and more. Throughout this first-hand account of history as it unfolded, Kurtis also offers an insider look at how television news evolved from second-rate reporting to the dominating force in American media"-- Provided by publisher.

Contents:

Preface: Whirlwind

The Topeka tornado

Learning lessons and chasing dreams

Finding my way

Richard Speck

Chicago on fire

Four days in August

Tokyo Rose

The trial of the Chicago Seven

Charles Manson

Earthquake

Angela Davis

Juan Corona

A new kind of news

The last days of Vietnam

The phone call

The massacre

Saving a life

Agent Orange

American faces

CBS morning news

The golden leaf

The plane that fell from the sky

Muhammad Ali

Back to Chernobyl

The anchorman

Wait, wait . . . don't tell me!

The journey continues.

Notes:

Includes index.

Other Format:

Online version Kurtis, Bill Whirlwind

ISBN:

9780700640041

0700640045

OCLC:

1513364477

Publisher Number:

90102506501