Covering Catastrophe

by Allison Gilbert, Phil Hirshkorn (Editor), Melinda Murphy (Editor)

Covering Catastrophe tells what it was like for TV and radio journalists to report the most terrifying story of their lives-and our time.

Genres: Nonfiction, History

316 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2002

About the author

Allison Gilbert is an Emmy Award-winning journalist, contributor to the New York Times, and one of the most influential writers and speakers on life’s deepest challenges. She is co-author with the late Dr. Ruth Westheimer of The Joy Connections: 100 Ways to Beat Loneliness and Live a Happier and More Meaningful Life.

Allison is the author of numerous critically-acclaimed books, including Passed and Present, Always Too Soon, and Parentless Parents, each inspired by the early deaths of her parents from cancer. For Listen, World!, her co-authored biography of Hearst syndicated newspaper columnist Elsie Robinson, she won the 2023 Northern California Book Award.

Nearly killed by falling debris covering the 2001 terrorist attacks, she is co-editor of Covering Catastrophe: Broadcast Journalists Report September 11 and host of “Women Journalists of 9/11: Their Stories,” a 20-part documentary series produced in collaboration with the National September 11 Memorial & Museum.

Reviews

[Megan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fascinating look into broadcast journalism on the most incredible and difficult day. Contributors range from local helicopter cameramen to Tom Brokaw, Dan Rather, and Peter Jennings. Contributes a lot of insight into my research as well.

[Lois Mitchell · Rating 5 out of 5]

At times inspiring and at other times maddening. I cried a lot reading this book and remembering 9/11.

[Ellison · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reporters share first-hand experiences of 9/11. Initially very insightful but eventually becomes a list of damage and lost lives. Coverage of the Pentagon and the Penn. field is interesting. Includes some B/w photos.