Behind the Eye: My Life in Media

by Gene Jankowski

Behind the Eye is the lively story of how a little boy from Buffalo, enchanted with moving pictures, rose to become president and chairman of CBS Broadcasting during television's Golden Age in the 1970s and 1980s. Ever the optimist, dealmaker, and creative mind, Gene Jankowski was largely responsible for CBS's meteoric rise to the coveted position of number-one network-and for keeping it there. Jankowski tells the stories behind the headlines about such bold-faced names as Walter Cronkite, Dan Rather, William S. Paley, Martha Stewart, Ted Turner, Donald Trump, and other newsmakers. His tales touch on the "Mad Men" era of Madison Avenue advertising, the glamor and glitz of Hollywood, and the power and politics of Washington, D.C. Interwoven are events from Jankowski's colorful personal life, and tales from the intersection of the two. If you're nostalgic for a time when there were three major TV networks, competing fiercely every week to be the U.S.'s #1 source of news, entertainment, and sports, then Behind the Eye is the book for you.

228 pages, Paperback

Published September 18, 2025

Reviews

[Antony Wairiuko · Rating 5 out of 5]

Compact, History-Rich Retrospection

Behind the Eye: My Life in Media is a September 2025 book by Gene Jankowski. The 215-page, 20-chapter book’s preface states thus: this book concerns a Great Depression-era Buffalo boy’s rise to the CBS Broadcasting presidency amid creative pioneers, Hollywood’s golden age and Washington’s powerplay—“record of events from my career…from my personal life and stories from the intersection of the two.”

From the “Beginnings” chapter through “President, CBS Broadcast Group: The Early Years” chapter to “Post CBS,” Behind the Eye promises an eventful educative and informative narrative of immeasurable proportions.

“Beginnings” especially traces the author’s background and formative years: born in May 1934 as Eugene Francis Jankowski, his home birth, tough childhood amid the 1930s Great Depression, familial background, basic and tertiary education, and suchlike information. 

The book’s chapters continue in the vein, setting the stage for Gene’s personal and career prospects, including: the “College” chapter, it had “lifelong repercussions of the greatest importance”; “The Navy” chapter when he “lived away from home for the first time…discovered another America…a growth experience,” experiencing social ills and military events that impacted his post-service managerial positions; and the “Graduate School” chapter’s realization of combing his journalism and technology interests.

The “New York City, A New Job, And a New Adventure” chapter highlights the watershed moments, especially the 1961 “day I began my association with the Columbia Broadcasting System…brought home a broadcasting manual…sending letters to companies…appointments…CBS…first day: September 11, 1961.” The rest is history. 

From stints in the CBS Radio Network’s and Television Network to associations with influential people and multiple promotions—from low-level and mid-level management to cross-sectoral senior-level executive roles, culminating in “president of the CBS Broadcast Group in 1977…retired from CBS in 1989”—this book informs and educates.

Behind the Eye: My Life in Media is a compact, history-rich retrospection of motivating personal and career achievements.

[Rose Auburn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Born in Buffalo, New York, during the Great Depression, Eugene Jankowski never imagined he would one day become the President of CBS Broadcasting. But that’s precisely what he did, overseeing the network’s most successful tenure to date.

In this highly readable and entertaining memoir, Jankowski takes the reader with him on his journey from a young boy in 1940s Buffalo, mesmerized by the movies, to college and the Navy, through his ascent along the ranks of the CBS Corporation, and his directorship of the American Film Institute.

Jankowski writes with an easy style and breezy tempo. BEHIND THE EYE: MY LIFE IN MEDIA, a compact, well-presented memoir that primarily focuses on his twenty-eight years at CBS, including its disastrous takeover by the Tisch Organization in the late 1980s.

He impresses as a personable, perpetually optimistic, if single-minded man, full of integrity and common sense, who sprinkles his enjoyable story with a host of amusing, interesting anecdotes featuring broadcasting luminaries, journalists, Hollywood greats, and political power players of the 1970s and 80s, among others.

Aside from being autobiographical, BEHIND THE EYE: MY LIFE IN MEDIA provides an absorbing socio-historical chronicle, loaded with nostalgic charm, and affords a fascinating glimpse into the industry’s Golden Age movers and shakers. Jankowski unfolds his reminiscences and reflections with a light, inclusive touch and a refreshing lack of pretension.

Additionally, he shares personal stories and includes a nicely complementary selection of photographs, as well as a revealing, consolidatory interview with The Library of American Broadcasting from the mid-Nineties.

BEHIND THE EYE: MY LIFE IN MEDIA is an engaging account of a captivating life and an impressive career, written with verve and humility. Well worth a read.

[Kibet · Rating 5 out of 5]

A glimpse into TV’s golden age

This novel captures a timeline where the national television mainly played out on television. Jankowski is a Buffalo native and he climbs up the ranks and becomes CBS’s president at its peak. His leadership was pure quality and excels in timing, and creativity to ensure that CBS remained as competitive as it could be and stand out as a national figure. Jankowski’s storytelling makes this book exceptional as he takes us behind the scenes into key decisions that shaped his time at CBS from issues such as dealing with ad agencies, overseeing newsrooms and participating in key boardroom meetings.
TV might not be a standout media platform at the moment, but during Jankowski’s time, it was highly influential and so were the various leaders such as Dan Rather and Walter Cronkite. He showcases that even though TV is performative, there are different issues behind the scenes that drive proceedings, with people having varying principles, personalities, and how much power that they wield. It is a perfect depiction of what goes on in a media ecosystem as large as CBS and the industry at large.

[Constance · Rating 4 out of 5]

Behind the Eye: My Life in Media by Gene Jankowski is a memoir of the man who would eventually become president of CBS broadcasting studio. Set during the Great Depression and afterwards, it chronicles Gene’s life from birth, till his rise in the CBS Network.

In a time where CEOs of mega-corporations are often seen as greedy and soulless, Jankowski delivered a very humanizing, warm memoir that focuses not on his work, but his personal life. I particularly enjoyed the part of the book where his wife described the circumstances behind their meeting.

Jankowski’s Behind the Eye is a true behind-the-scenes, not just for a broadcasting studio, but for a morally upright, friendly, and persistent family man.

[Meghan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Behind the Eye is an engaging and nostalgic journey through the golden age of American television, guided by Gene Jankowski’s sharp memory and insider insight. His rise from a movie-struck boy in Buffalo (My Hometown) to CBS chairman is told with warmth, energy, and plenty of behind-the-scenes intrigue. Jankowski’s anecdotes about iconic figures like Walter Cronkite, Dan Rather, and William S. Paley add depth and sparkle, while his reflections on advertising, Hollywood, and Washington politics capture a fast-changing era. Though occasionally dense with detail, the memoir remains lively and rewarding. It’s an enjoyable read for anyone fascinated by classic TV history and media powerhouses.

[Bob Leah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gene Jankowski gives a detailed autobiography in this book. He started right from the beginning- his birth during the Great Depression- and continued up till his career days and rise through the CBS Broadcasting ranks.

This was a very personal, intimate read, highlighting parts of Gene's life that the world would otherwise have never experienced. It's straightforward, and every chapter highlights a different era of his life. Throughout his memoir, he describes times when he met with various popular media personalities, giving us glimpses into their personalities behind-the-scenes.

[Phin Ejike · Rating 4 out of 5]

From his birth in Buffalo New York to when he became president of CBS in 1977, Eugene Francis Jankowski led a special and intriguing life. His childhood and college years may be relatable to some, but upon joining CBS, the story really begins to ramp up, giving us behind-the-scenes insights into the workings of one of the largest entertainment companies in the world.

Behind the Eye is a heartfelt remembrance of the life of one of media’s most influential figures, and it focuses not only on his business life, but on his private life and childhood.

[John Obi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Behind the Eye: My Life in Media is an autobiography by Eugene Francis Jankowski, president of CBS broadcasting. Jankowski delivered a very heartfelt rememberance of his early years, childhood, and love life, before discussing his forray (and success) in the media world.

Written in simple, straighforward english and ordered chronologically, Jankowski designed this book to be very easy to follow along. He drops nuggets of behind-the-scenes info and drama he's faced during his time at CBS, and as the novel progresses, we begin to see more of the world behind the camera.

[Charles Malumba · Rating 4 out of 5]

Behind the Eye: My Life in Media follows Gene Jankowski, former president of CBS. It's a very hearfelt memoir of his life, born during the height of the Great Depression, and how that shaped him through adulthood into the man he became. The memoir also touches on his romantic and professional life, with his wife even writing an interlude about the man she came to love during their college years. This is an eye-opening BTS look at the workings of Hollywood before the modern era.

[Tima · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a truly inspirational and authentic story by Gene Jakowski. Born in Buffalo, he lived a grounded, genuine life driven by self-belief and determination. From earning admission to a Jesuit college to enlisting in the Navy as an officer, and then starting over once again in New York, his journey is remarkable. Year after year, he climbed the ladder, moving from radio work to ultimately becoming President of the CBS Network.

What makes the book especially memorable is the way Jakowski writes it. The small details from his childhood, the lessons his mother taught him, and the jobs he worked during college to cover expenses all add depth and honesty to the story. His growing fascination with cameras, television, and the larger world of journalism feels organic and deeply personal.

Gene clearly understood how the media world worked, something evident in both his experience and the way he initiated and negotiated meaningful change throughout his career. I was genuinely happy to see him succeed and even more grateful that he chose to share this incredible journey in Behind the Eye: My Life in Media.