Mouthing Off

The Night the News Anchor Became the Lead Story...and the Talk of the Town

In 1977, Annette Estes became the first female news anchor at a top 40 U. S. television station. She anchored the 6:00 P. M. and 11:00 P. M. newscasts for fifteen years with five different male co-anchors at two different stations. She was the highest-paid and, according to research, the most popular television personality in the market.

Then, one hot July evening in 1986, during the weather segment, she whispered a remark to her co-anchor that included the "F" word. She didn't know her microphone was open. Did she get fired? How did viewers react? You'll have to read the book to find out.


In this fast-paced book, Annette reveals stories from her career at three stations. Stories that are funny, sad, heartwarming, good, and bad. Stories of salary and sex discrimination, bloopers, nasty rumors, friends and enemies, lives taken, lives saved, politicians, presidents, celebrity interviews, and more.

If you want to know what goes on behind the scenes in television newsrooms and boardrooms, this book is for you.