"And So It Goes"

by Linda Ellerbee

Linda Ellerbee writes about her 14-yer career as a television reporter. A truly hilarious and telling memoir, as well as one of the most candid books on television news industry ever written .

Genres: Memoir, Biography, Nonfiction, Journalism, Biography Memoir, Tv, Autobiography

Paperback

First published January 1, 1986

About the author

Linda Ellerbee (born Linda Jane Smith) is a journalist who is most known for several jobs at NBC News, including Washington (DC) correspondent, and reporter and co-anchor of NBC News Overnight, which was recognized by the duPont Columbia Awards as "the best written and most intelligent news program ever."

Ms. Ellerbee's production company, Lucky Ducky Productions, has earned a reputation as a supplier of outstanding children's programming for network, syndication, cable, and public television. Originally from Texas, Ms. Ellerbee now divides her time between New York City and western Massachusetts.

Reviews

[Sundry · Rating 5 out of 5]

I remember loving this book. Linda Ellerbee was one of my heroes at the time.

[Kaethe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Linda Ellerbee is a funny memoirist, and an insightful reporter. I wouldn't want to live her life, but I'm always grateful for women like her, fighting the good fight, and founding Nick News.

Personal copy.

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

Linda Ellerbee is a delightful, empowered, inspirational woman. Her writing is full of personality. Her willingness to fearlessly (and sometimes foolishly) take risks makes her journey into the television industry incredibly entertaining to read about. Her ability to poke fun at herself and her situations, as well as her generally clever writing style makes this book absolutely worthwhile. She's a phenomenal lady and an unstoppable force, and for that I greatly admire her.

[VerJean · Rating 5 out of 5]

Linda Ellerbee & Lloyd Dobyns "NBC News Overnight" cost me more sleep!!
The best television EVER - and I think they won some awards that said just exactly that!!!
So disappointing to not be able to watch that any longer.
Loved the book - she's an unusual gal.
Read in 2005.

[Vanessa · Rating 2 out of 5]

She seemed a little too bitter when I read this and she made an odd stylistic choice to tell the story in a confusing (to me at any rate), non-chronological fashion. Some funny parts though.

[Mell · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read this memoir in high school, and really enjoyed. My journalism teacher made her students read one autobio or bio per academic year and then write a review. No surprise that I always picked women! And with four years of journalism, I know that I read four of them. Had forgotten about Ellerbee's until I saw her in an interview today. While I did not become a journalist, I admire her entry into what was (and is) a male dominated field. Ellerbee has great humor and writing style.

[Audra · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a good one for TV journalists. Some lessons to be learned, and some stories that you'll recognize and say "that happened to me!". Mostly though, it's about how bizarre TV news is.. and how the people who run newsrooms have clearly lost their minds. It was published a while back, but is defintely worth tracking down

[colleen · Rating 5 out of 5]

linda ellerbee was one of my first journalism heroes. she has style, brains and a take-no-prisoners attitude. i was privileged to hear her speak many years ago, and she writes just like she talks.

it really irates me when they don't have a cover photo.

[Valerie]

Many people think that the character Murphy Brown was based on Linda Ellerbee. True or no, she writes a good book. I think it's this first book that has the chapter titled If Your Cow Won't Give Milk, Sell Him

[brass · Rating 3 out of 5]

my mom bought me this book when it came out because i had a crush on linda ellerbee's voice.

[Vivian · Rating 4 out of 5]

so fun to be reminder of that era... how things have changed... and has there ever been a female anchor on the NBC nightly news?

[Karen GoatKeeper · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the world of television news before FOX News and similar programs changed how the news is done. Yet, television news was never quite what people thought it was.
The author moved from radio to NBC television news. She was first and foremost a reporter. This is a memoir about her time as one of the first women at NBC News. It is an eye opening read.
How easy it is to turn news into propaganda. How easy it is for executives to mess the news up. It seems easy to assume women don't know how to report the news for these executives. Unfortunately, there are women working in the news who really aren't reporters.
Being a reporter isn't what journalism class taught it was. Those anchorpeople at the news desks look good, but are they?
The book is easy reading. It seems a bit long in places. I enjoyed it.

[Sherry · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book from Ms Ellerbee. Even though it was written years ago, I'm sure a lot of what women journalists go through is still the same. She has a wonderful sense of humor which she probably really needed back then; and would need, now also, I would think. It's worth reading; try it.

[Darren · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good look at TV news in the 70s and 80s. As I do with Literary Authors, I felt that Ellerbee oversells the importance of reporters to civilization. Interesting, but I don't think I'll read any of her other books.

[Denise · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the first of three memoir/autobiographies of American journalist/anchor Linda Ellerbee. It ends in the mid-80s, when she was about 40, and deals mostly with her professional life. This is hardly a dry read about how to get into television journalism, however. The book is full of fun, ironic little stories that make for an enjoyable read. She holds no one up to ridicule, but can laugh at herself at the same time.

While there may be nothing too profound here, it is entertaining. There is also an undercurrent of an ironic outlook on life.

Please read the full review here.

[Amy Yellott · Rating 4 out of 5]

I first read this book probably 25 or 30 years ago and it is still a very good read.

[Andy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Funny book. Funnier for anyone who has every been a reporter.

[Vali Heist · Rating 5 out of 5]

Can't remember the last time I gave 5 stars but this was so fun!!

[Melissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5*