- A Newsman's Journey -

For five decades, Tim Scheld had a front row seat to history.

In My Front Row Seat, the award-winning broadcast journalist chronicles his remarkable journey—from catching the news "bug" in college to reporting on America's biggest stories and ultimately leading one of the nation's largest radio newsrooms. More than a memoir, this is an inside look at how history is witnessed, reported, and remembered by the people whose job is to tell the world what happened.

As a New York-based reporter, Scheld traveled across the country and around the globe covering defining moments of our time, including the Oklahoma City bombing, the Columbine school shooting, TWA Flight 800, the death of Princess Diana, and President Clinton's impeachment. Later, as News Director of WCBS Newsradio 880, he led award-winning coverage of Superstorm Sandy, the Sandy Hook tragedy, and the COVID-19 pandemic, helping guide one of America's premier news organizations through some of its most challenging days.

But this book isn't just about the headlines. It's about the people—from Mikhail Gorbachev to Pope John Paul II—and the extraordinary process of how breaking news comes together. Scheld pulls back the curtain on life inside the newsroom, sharing stories of racing to the Nanuet Mall after the first reports of the Brinks armored car robbery, bicycling into Manhattan on September 11 when every bridge and tunnel was closed, and following stories for years as their long-term impact continued to unfold.

At a time when trust in the media is under constant scrutiny and local newsrooms continue to disappear, My Front Row Seat is both a fascinating broadcast journalism memoir and a powerful reminder of why the profession still matters. These are the stories behind the stories—and the people who worked tirelessly to bring them to the public.

Perfect for readers of No Ordinary Assignment by Jane Ferguson, On All Fronts by Clarissa Ward, This Just In by Bob Schieffer, and anyone interested in journalism memoirs, broadcast news, American history, political history, and the behind-the-scenes world of breaking news.

PRAISE:

"Almost Zelig-like opportunities to report on virtually every major story in our lifetimes." — Kate O'Brian

"Reveals what TV cameras rarely show." — Allison Gilbert

"Arrives at exactly the right moment — when we need to remember why journalism matters." — Andrew Heyward

"One of the good guys in journalism, and in life." — Dan Shelley

"BREAKING NEWS: My Front Row Seat is a must-read." — Peter Maer

"What a ride!" — Scott Libin

by Tim Scheld
Page Count: 290
Trim Size: 6 x 9
Publish Date: July 28, 2026
Imprint: Sunbury Press
Genre: Memoir

BIOGRAPHY & AUTOBIOGRAPHY / Editors, Journalists, Publishers
BIOGRAPHY & AUTOBIOGRAPHY / Political
HISTORY / Modern / 20th Century