andreweverett360 Book Review, General

WCVB-TV Boston: How We Built the Greatest Television Station in America


WCVB-TV Boston: How We Built the Greatest Television Station in America
by Robert M. Bennett (1927-2016)

In this memoir, the highlight of television executive Bob Bennett’s career was launching and growing WCVB-TV, Channel 5 in Boston. A major theme is his commitment to locally-produced programming. Another theme is Bennett’s leadership style, whereby he encouraged new ideas and risk-taking from his lieutenants, and inspired a sense of pride which brought out the best in people at all levels of the organization. It’s also a high-risk, high-reward story that could have turned out very differently.

The book is comprised of Bennett’s recollections interspersed with commentary from former colleagues.

Continue reading “WCVB-TV Boston: How We Built the Greatest Television Station in America” →
andreweverett360 Book Review, General

Every Life a Story: Natalie Jacobson Reporting


Every Life a Story: Natalie Jacobson Reporting
by Natalie Jacobson

Natalie Jacobson was a household name in greater Boston, with a 35-year career as a reporter and news anchor at WCVB, channel 5. For two decades the husband-and-wife team of “Chet and Nat” anchored the 6:00pm and 11:00pm weekday newscasts. This memoir includes stories of her personal life, career, colleagues, significant news events she covered, and some of the people she met. She also shares her views on the decay of broadcast journalism.

Continue reading “Every Life a Story: Natalie Jacobson Reporting” →
andreweverett360 Book Review, General

WBCN and the American Revolution


WBCN and the American Revolution: How a Radio Station Defined Politics, Counterculture, and Rock and Roll
by Bill Lichtenstein  

WBCN was a Boston rock and roll radio station from 1968 to 2009. It was instrumental (pun intended) in launching the careers of major bands. It was also part of the social fabric of the Boston college scene. This book and a companion video documentary tell the story of the early years of the station in the context of the era.

Continue reading “WBCN and the American Revolution” →