by Connie Chung
First published 2023
Linda Mason stands in the CBS newsroom, one of the few women among the network's top producers. She works alongside legendary anchors Walter Cronkite, Charles Kuralt, and Dan Rather, determined to prove herself in the male-dominated world of television journalism. Mason faces the constant challenge of earning respect while delivering stories that shape American understanding of global events. She arranges Dan Rather's historic meeting with Fidel Castro in Cuba, coordinates coverage of Vietnam two decades after the war's end, and witnesses the dramatic protests unfolding in Tiananmen Square. Each assignment tests her resolve as she navigates office politics and professional skepticism. Mason develops her own philosophy for success: work relentlessly, avoid complaints, ask the right questions, and choose the perfect moment to advocate for advancement. Her journey reveals the personal cost of breaking through barriers in network news while capturing history as it happens. The story explores Mason's internal struggle between ambition and authenticity as she climbs the corporate ladder and mentors the next generation of media professionals.
Genres: biography, american-fiction, 20th-century, american, non-fiction, 21st-century, journalism
Vibes: emotional, fast-paced, thought-provoking
Tropes: ambition, breaking-barriers, mentorship
Setting: CBS, Cuba, Tiananmen Square, Vietnam
Period: 1970s, 1980s, 1990s
183 pages · Kindle Edition · Rowman & Littlefield