Say it with feeling

by Gerald Stone

Since his arrival in Australia from the United States in the early 1960s, Gerald Stone has been at the forefront of Australian news media from working on such legendary programs as This Day Tonight to founding executive producer of 60 Minutes. His career has spanned the glory days of free-to-air television and made him an intimate of the most famous names in the industry - whether proprietors such as Kerry Packer and Rupert Murdoch, or stars such as Jana Wendt, Ray Martin, George Negus and Richard Carleton. In this fascinating memoir, Gerald's journey through the world of Australian television is full of characters, genuine insights and illuminating stories. Gerald's own tale offers a panoramic yet intensely personal view of these never-before-heard stories behind some of TV's most treasured moments.

342 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2011

Reviews

[Dennis · Rating 5 out of 5]

In many respects this is a 'behind the scenes' view of some of our top TV current affairs program as well as a close up and personal view of the late Kerry Packer by someone who worked very closely with him. As, you'd somehow expect is a well ritten book that bowls along at a great pace and grasps your attention at the first page and never let's go. I found that my journalistic experience made it especially interesting but I'm not sure that every reader would not be so forgiving of the fact that TV journalists can treat people as fodder in stories that give them their 'five minutes of fame', but are very slow to correct errors or outright howlers. In that context I will expect that I am biased and would welcome other opinions, although the issue is that despite checks and balances human failure will still produce a percentage of mistakes. But, as an entertaining book, I give it top marks and recommend it as an excellent way of you spending a couple of highly informative hours.

[Peter Adams · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great insight into the TV industry, an iconic TV program, some of the Australian media moguls and interestingly the differences and similarities between US and Australian cultures.

[Angelo Mifsud · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very good view of a journalist world working in both the print and television media with one of the giants of media barons. I was impressed with his truthfulness. I enjoyed it.

[Garret · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not bad. But there wasn't really anything new. A lot of it was stories he's used in other books.