Debut
Reporters: Some love them, some hate them, but most understand they are a necessary part of society if we want to stay aware of current events. Off the Air is Christina Estes’ first mystery novel and follows reporter Jolene Garcia, a TV reporter in Phoenix, Arizona. Jolene covers everything from puff pieces to in depth breaking news. She tries to hold onto her integrity to not reveal her sources, and to not publish information that isn’t verified and confirmed, despite the fact that other reporters around her have no qualms of just running with any crumb they’re given.
Nothing starts a media frenzy more than the death of a celebrity. In Off the Air, that’s Larry Lemmon. He was a controversial talk show host who focuses on immigration, and his own take on what it means to ‘keep the nation safe’. He has a slew of fans, referring to themselves as ‘Freaks’, and a wide audience. When he suddenly dies, foul play is suspected and feared immediately. Jolene is lucky enough to have recently interviewed him, and it’s the last one he will ever give. She is starting her investigation with a bit of a head start on the other news companies, but it will take all of her investigative prowess and reporter wiles to stay ahead. Especially when some of the competition doesn’t bother to wait for things like confirmed sources as they toss around theories on air.
As if it isn’t hard enough to stay ahead of the competition on a high profile case, Jolene is also having to adapt her reporting style to become more multi-media friendly. Her station heads want all their reporters to Tweet more, to post teasers on Facebook, and utilize as many different platforms as possible at all times to keep pushing their stories and keep their station in the public spotlight. However, Jolene’s standards of only releasing info with a credible source, and really digging into the story, make it possible for other reporters to ‘scoop’ her story away from her. On top of that, someone starts to send her some rather ominous letters and messages. She reports them to the police, and is content to let them look into that as she stays focused on her own investigation. However, she becomes desperate to remain relevant and to be the one to see the Larry Lemmon case brought to a close. Her moral integrity and her friendships, both coworker and sources, are pushed to their limits as she starts to buckle from pressure from deadlines, rival reporters, and the ever looming shadow of her directors.
I suggest Off the Air for readers interested in a behind the scenes look at the news. Christina Estes does a wonderful job of detailing the daily struggles of an up and coming reporter both on and off the air, and getting into the technical aspects of how things are run. Getting a look at the inner workings of a newsroom really helps to put things into perspective. It’s a very political field, where who you know often matters just as much as how talented you are at your job. The pressures of competition nipping at your heels, and managers that breathe down your neck with very little support for your ideals and determination to do the job right. makes for a very hostile work environment. Jolene does her best, but in the face of such pressure things can get a little dicey. Hopefully in her mad dash to find the whole story Joleen won’t end up like the title: Off the Air. – Carla Schantz