Newsroom Confidential is a well written account of Margaret Sullivan's career in journalism. Sullivan worked at the Buffalo News, The New York Times and the Washington Post, and she provides great insights to the coverage of the big stories of her 30 years in the newsrooms.
Sullivan offered a plausible explanation as to the election of Donald Trump. Sullivan was forthright in her assessment of her own writing and her humility was refreshing.
This is a very good book for those that want a behind the scenes view of the news.

I really enjoyed the first half of this book, focused on Margaret's time at the NYT, but the second half felt like a rehash of Trump-media criticisms I've heard before (although correct.) I'd recommend regardless to anyone interested or working in journalism! Margaret comes off as fresh, funny, and thoughtful.

Thanks to #netgalley for the copy!

I so tried to get into this story but it just didn't hold my attention. I'm sure it's a marvelous novel but just not for me.

This book is a challenge to the establishment of journalism. Margaret Sullivan wants to hold her colleagues, particularly those at the New York Times, accountable for the way they covered the Trump and Clinton campaigns and all that followed. Her unflinching commitment to truth and ethics shines through in the book, which make me admire her greatly.

The bulk of the book covered her time as public editor at the New York Times, a position I found fascinating. She represented public concerns and had the ability to quiz any editor or reporter on why they covered a story the way they did, stating that she never had a comfortable day at the New York Times. She campaigned against anonymous sources, stating that they were overused and damaged public trust in the paper. The book has moments of humor, such as when another editor ran a piece called: "On the Condition of Anonymity: A Poem for Margaret Sullivan."

Sullivan served as public editor for much of the 2016 campaign, leaving just before the election. She lays the blame for the coverage of Hillary's emails at the feet of the New York Times and blames journalists for the copious amounts of coverage Trump received, She believes journalists have a hefty amount of sway in an election cycle, and thinks critical mistakes led to Hillary's loss. She wants journalists at major newspapers to wrestle with their role in the election outcome. She's obviously someone who never shirks a tough conversation.

As someone interested in journalism but admittedly not following the careers of individual reporters at top papers, sometimes her references went over my head. I'm a former small-town journalist, and I hoped for more detailed stories about what went on in big newsrooms. Instead, Sullivan often reflects on the state of journalism as a whole and how it came to be derided as fake news in recent years.

She ends with a challenge to modern journalists: does covering both sides mean giving equal space, even when the facts support one side more than the other?

I found this quote to be particularly powerful:
"Objectivity doesn't mean both-sidesism. It doesn't mean balance. It doesn't mean neutrality or false equivalence. It does mean open-mindedness. It does mean a willingness to listen and learn. It does mean being thorough in our research. It means not thinking we start with answers but rather that we go seeking them. It represents an acknowledgement on our part that what we know, or think we know, pales in comparison to what we don't know (and may not have even thought to ask.)"

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance review copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

A behind the scenes look at our most highly rated newspapers Sullivan has a storied career in journalism. She explains how the Publix’s trust for mainstream meadow has eroded - a champion of diversity in the newsroom Sullivan also chronicles the rise of Trump - which is depressing in itself - eye interesting eye opening account

I was lucky enough to win an electronic ARC of NEWSROOM CONFIDENTIAL by Margaret Sullivan from a Shelf Awareness giveaway. Thank you for the early look, and have a safe and happy summer!