Road to Recovery
Louisville
TV journalist Boel
pens book on life experience
The
Wisconsin native
is back on the air at WAVE 3 Sunrise
By
Helen E. McKinney
Contributing Writer
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (March 2012) For more than
two decades, Beloit, Wisc., native John Boel has been one of Louisvilles
most recognized TV reporters. He has been a fixture at WLKY for many
years and considered by his peers as a pro at producing investigative
reports.
Boel has dedicated his life to reporting the news. But the tables turned
as 2010 came to a close, and Boel found himself to be the subject matter
of many news reports in a not-so-flattering way.
|
Photo
provided
John
Boel wrote a
book about his
experience of having
two DUI arrests.
|
During his lucrative career, Boel has been honored with
70 Emmy Awards, nine Murrow Awards and 39 first-place finishes in Associated
Press competitions. But all of this ended when Boel was arrested for
his second DUI, fired from WLKY, entered rehabilitation and served time
on house arrest.
The most difficult part has been in not looking back staring
at the mirror of what I lost my job, respect, a work family
I adored, and what I cost my family, said Boel. They have
a saying in recovery that its OK to look in the mirror, but dont
stare at it. Im having a hard time in that respect.
Boel was arrested in November 2010 in Bullitt County, Ky., after pulling
into a restaurant parking lot. He was charged with operating a motor
vehicle under the influence and with possession of an open alcohol container.
His blood alcohol level was reported to have been .207. Boel was taken
to the Bullitt County Jail and posted bond.
The well-known news anchor was previously arrested in October 2008 in
Shelby County, Ky., while driving on I-64. He was charged with the same
violations that he would repeat two years later.
Boel said he has learned how truly devastating it can be to be
publicly shamed and humiliated. I never really thought about it before,
despite all of the people who Ive exposed.
Exposing people for their misdoings was part of his news reporting job,
and he earned scores of awards for outstanding journalism as a result.
He has been labeled one of the best at investigative reporting. After
enduring such humiliation himself, Boel is coming to grips with his
past and a disease that could have ruined his life forever.
Boel has penned a new book, On the News
In the News: A Journalists
Own Story of Recovery and Self-Discipline, which recounts his
struggle with alcohol addiction. He shares stories from one side of
the camera and then takes readers to the other, more personal side of
his life.
He writes, As a journalist fresh out of college, my first investigative
report was on an alcohol treatment center. Now Im in one.
Sobriety has brought him a new outlook on life. Boel said he is a
more humble person. I care about others more. Im less likely to
fly off the handle. Im better focused on whats important,
and I have much more gratitude.
First and foremost, Boel said he is a journalist. Journalism is
about learning and sharing experiences and observations on life. Id
been writing that book for 15 years.
Boel said he had been ready to leave the local news business scene when
his arrest took place. But time off made me realize I have a passion
for storytelling. I love to write.
As Boel well knows, a good journalist tells the whole story. A
good TV journalist has a great ability to witness something and pull
the meaning out of it-the things others can learn from, he said.
On the News...In the News, was published by Butler Books,
a Louisville-based full-service publisher of trade nonfiction, fiction
and illustrated books. Butler Books was proud to publish John
Boels book, said co-founder, president and CEO Carol Butler.
She said Boel is a brilliant journalist and writer who has shown
a lot of courage over the past year, not only by tackling his own recovery
from alcohol addiction, but by being willing to share his very painful
and personal story with others.
Boel hopes his story will educate others about a chronic, progressive
disease he calls a brain disease that we cannot manage unless
we abstain and surround ourselves with help.
Butler said, John wrote his book to inspire others and to give
them courage and hope that they and their loved ones can also overcome
their addictions. As he said in his last chapter: If baring and
sharing my fame-to-shame story and my own rough road through recovery
can help even one person stay sober and stay alive, it will give my
life new purpose.
As a result of one year of sobriety, Boel completed the 140-mile-long
Ironman Triathlon in less than 12 hours in 2011. He is also back on
the air in Louisville, only this time on WAVE 3 TV, where he presents
the local news.
For more information or to purchase On the News...In
the News, contact Butler Books at www.ButlerBooks.com
or by calling (502) 897-9393. The book retails for $19.95.
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