A great review from Kirkus Review is in for Anchored
Crim reflects on his successful career as a journalist and his perennial struggles with his religious faith.
Crim grew up in Hamilton, Ohio, dreaming of becoming a preacher and following in his father’s footsteps. By the age of 16, he was an evangelist holding crowds in rapt attention, and he was an ordained a minister before he turned 18. He was also plagued by doubts about his faith, reservations that waged within him like an “intellectual war.” He discovered early on that his experience performing, as well as the fact that he “blessed with a good set of pipes,” could translate into a career on the radio. He got his start as a DJ at KLCN in Blytheville, Missouri. Eventually, he branched out into television, landed a job at ABC, and shared an office with Ted Koppel. The author became a notable anchorman in Detroit, a post he would hold for nearly two decades, all while continuing to host popular syndicated radio shows. Notably, Crim was the inspiration for Will Ferrell’s now iconic character, Ron Burgundy. The author candidly discusses not only his impressive professional career, but also his personal life, including his marriage. He furnishes a thoughtful assessment of the ways American journalism has changed, undermined by a “drift toward sensationalism” that has resulted in a diminishment in the public’s trust. Crim’s perch is a rare one—he’s experienced the industry from top to bottom and has witnessed its transformations from the inside. Moreover, Crim’s discussion of his religious faith is admirably forthcoming as well as thoughtful: “The fast-paced, competitive life of television news kept me moving, but I couldn’t outrun my anxieties about God. Sometimes in church, and sometimes in the quiet dark of a restless night, the questions would surface and trouble me.” While the remembrance runs a touch long—it’s overloaded with granular detail—it nonetheless provides an astute peek into the world of American journalism.
A fascinating recollection, edifying and entertaining.
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