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On the News ... In the News: A Journalist's Own Story of Recovery and Self-Discovery
In On the News ... In the News, Boel shares 25 years of fascinating stories from one side of the camera, then takes readers to the other side, through his powerful and intensely painful journey from the public shame of two high-profile DUI arrests through recovery and self-discovery.
208 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2011
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
April 30, 2026
I just finished On the News, In the News by John Boel… and I’ve been sitting here for a minute trying to figure out how to explain it.
If you’ve ever watched someone deliver the news and assumed they had it all together… this book will change that.
John spent decades telling other people’s stories.
Then one day… he became the story.
And not in a small way.
DUIs. Addiction. Public downfall.
The kind of stuff that doesn’t just happen quietly… it plays out in front of everyone.
But what got me wasn’t the fall.
It was the honesty.
No excuses. No sugarcoating. No “look how great I am now” energy.
Just a man owning every bit of it… and working his way back.
There’s a line in there tied to Bible, 2 Chronicles 15:7 —
“But as for you, be strong and do not give up, for your work will be rewarded.”
That one sticks.
Because whether it’s addiction, setbacks, bad decisions, or just life hitting harder than expected… the message is simple:
Don’t quit.
Not polished. Not perfect. But real.
And honestly… we need more of that.
If you’ve ever watched someone deliver the news and assumed they had it all together… this book will change that.
John spent decades telling other people’s stories.
Then one day… he became the story.
And not in a small way.
DUIs. Addiction. Public downfall.
The kind of stuff that doesn’t just happen quietly… it plays out in front of everyone.
But what got me wasn’t the fall.
It was the honesty.
No excuses. No sugarcoating. No “look how great I am now” energy.
Just a man owning every bit of it… and working his way back.
There’s a line in there tied to Bible, 2 Chronicles 15:7 —
“But as for you, be strong and do not give up, for your work will be rewarded.”
That one sticks.
Because whether it’s addiction, setbacks, bad decisions, or just life hitting harder than expected… the message is simple:
Don’t quit.
Not polished. Not perfect. But real.
And honestly… we need more of that.
December 25, 2022
The only reason that this book is not more than three stars is how dark and heavy the “On the News” portion of the book is. Boel was and is a trusted investigative journalist in my home town, and his story is compelling and inspiring. Any potential reader should be prepared for the potentially disturbing nature of some of the stories Mr. Boel summarizes. However, the book is worth reading. Whether the reader is dealing with addiction or other struggles, Mr. Boel is an inspiration for overcoming obstacles.
February 27, 2014
John Boel is a local anchor who made his reputation as an investigative reporter, often publicly shaming people for any number of offenses, including driving under the influence. Ironically, Boel found himself making the news and being publicly shamed for receiving two DUI offenses in short succession. This experience led him to write this book, a compilation of both his personal trials and anecdotes from life as a reporter and anchor.
Unfortunately, Boel's book is fascinating for reasons I doubt he intended. His revelations in the book seem to conflict with other stories in the book. He talks about rehab making him realize he was arrogant and judgmental, but peppers the book with criticisms of other journalists and the people he covers, as well as numerous references to his multiple Emmy awards. He talks about a father who showed him the power of God and forgiveness, but then questions others who look to God's will to explain unfortunate events in their life. And in one disturbing chapter, he discusses how he boldly questioned the stories of the victims in several rape and sex abuse case and follows it with a story of his own sexual abuse. It could be poor editing or writing, but Boel doesn't make it clear if he still questions the victims, or his own repressed feelings led him to unfairly question the allegations.
What's missing from the book is a clear sense if realization or redemption. Perhaps he is simply too guarded or protective of his privacy to detail the full impact of his drinking on his family, but there is little sense of the full weight of his disease beyond what any person could guess. Boel seems blind to (or unwilling to provide) the details of how his disease impacted anyone but him, which makes the reader (however unfairly) question how much he learned from the experiences he's writing about.
The book is a quick read and will probably capture the interest of people in Louisville, but overall the book was disappointingly shallow.
Unfortunately, Boel's book is fascinating for reasons I doubt he intended. His revelations in the book seem to conflict with other stories in the book. He talks about rehab making him realize he was arrogant and judgmental, but peppers the book with criticisms of other journalists and the people he covers, as well as numerous references to his multiple Emmy awards. He talks about a father who showed him the power of God and forgiveness, but then questions others who look to God's will to explain unfortunate events in their life. And in one disturbing chapter, he discusses how he boldly questioned the stories of the victims in several rape and sex abuse case and follows it with a story of his own sexual abuse. It could be poor editing or writing, but Boel doesn't make it clear if he still questions the victims, or his own repressed feelings led him to unfairly question the allegations.
What's missing from the book is a clear sense if realization or redemption. Perhaps he is simply too guarded or protective of his privacy to detail the full impact of his drinking on his family, but there is little sense of the full weight of his disease beyond what any person could guess. Boel seems blind to (or unwilling to provide) the details of how his disease impacted anyone but him, which makes the reader (however unfairly) question how much he learned from the experiences he's writing about.
The book is a quick read and will probably capture the interest of people in Louisville, but overall the book was disappointingly shallow.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews