Description

"I was a TV news reporter for almost fifty years, most of them in Cleveland, specializing in investigative reports. During that time I saw a lot of things. Historic events. Horrific crimes. Bizarre behavior. Heartwarming deeds. And sometimes just hilarious, silly stuff ..."

That's Paul Orlousky. After five decades on Cleveland TV (nightly on channels 3, 5, and 19), this veteran newsman has a lot of stories to share: What went on behind the camera ... Racing to the scene in a tiny helicopter or crouching inside a sweltering news van on a stakeout ... What he heard in a judge's chambers or a courtroom lobby after a tense trial ... How the internal workings of a news operation shaped the reporting viewers saw onscreen ... Threats from angry subjects of an investigation, like shady business owners, politicians, and sometimes even cops ...

Yes, over the years, Orlousky got a lot of threats--and more. He was yelled at, punched, kicked, spat on, menaced by dogs ... But he was also thanked--many more times--by regular people all over Northeast Ohio for digging into stories that mattered to them.Now, Orlousky shares his favorite behind-the-camera tales in these short, candid, informative, and often funny stories.

"My approach to life is simple," Orlousky writes. "You can look at it either as a tragedy or a comedy. I chose comedy, in part because that was a way to get through many of the tragic situations I reported on and that people I encountered were forced to deal with."

If you've ever watched local TV news, you'll enjoy these backstories behind the news stories. You'll get a few chuckles, and might even wind up a better informed news consumer.