Lost and Found: Coming of Age in the Washington Press Corps

by Ellen Hume

This upbeat, funny and true story is about an American girl who found her superpowers by becoming Clark Kent. Determined to be a newspaper reporter, she discovered that the job wasn't open to girls. But she persisted, and succeeding beyond her wildest dreams, she covered some of the most tumultuous and colorful stories of her time, including the kidnapping of newspaper heiress Patty Hearst, terrorist Sara Jane Moore's attempt to kill President Ford, civil rights leader Jesse Jackson's historic presidential campaign, and the Reagan White House. Even though she hated politics, Hume's insistence on holding the powerful accountable took her to the top of the journalism heap in Washington, where as a reporter for the Los Angeles Times and Wall Street Journal, she figured out how the politicians manipulated the news, and vice-versa. This tell-all memoir is, remarkably, a love story as well as a rollercoaster ride through the American news media at the height of their power. No matter how bad things looked, Hume's motto was "Don't let the past kill the future!" Hume's fairytale romance at Harvard ended with a devastating divorce, followed by a series of romantic misadventures. But at the age of 43 she embarked on the most impossible and rewarding assignment of her taking on a new husband and four children, all in one year.

585 pages, Kindle Edition

Published July 14, 2023

Reviews

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a joy to read! This didn't feel anywhere near 500 pages, I sped through it in a few days. Hume has lived such a varied and exuberant life, covering, at the time and in this book, a shocking number of major domestic (and even some world) events of the 70s and 80s. I loved learning more about the news industry of that era, how Hume wrestled her way through the patriarchy to rise to the top of her field, and how she managed to meet everyone and be everywhere for decades (seriously - several presidents, A-list movie stars, and cultural icons knew her by name). All while being a charming, grounded, thoughtful, and ethical person! This book should make the rounds.

[Jo Thomas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Compelling

Ellen Hume became a journalist when women were shunned in the business, and this lively, engaging book tells us how she made her way from the bottom to the top, with integrity and wit. She met everyone who was anyone, and she pulls no punches in telling her story. I could not put it down. Highly recommended.

[Terry · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Thriller I Wasn’t Expecting!

Ellen Hume, in writing so honestly about her life and loves was able to keep me on the edge of my seat for the whole time. AND, she also schooled me on journalism in America. This is a wonderful read, thank you, Ellen!