What AI says about book - My Life as a Reporter
The book, My Life as a Reporter: I Cried at Disney World, a memoir by Canadian journalist Cal Millar. It was published very recently (April 2026) and is a lengthy, detailed account of his nearly 40-year career in journalism, primarily covering crime, breaking news, and spot news in Canadian newsrooms.
Cal Millar is a veteran reporter who started his career with an internship at radio station CKOC in Hamilton, Ontario. He went on to work at newspapers in Peterborough, Chatham, Windsor, and Toronto. His path included stints at the Toronto Telegram (until its closure in 1970), the Toronto Sun, and later the Toronto Star (starting in 1983), where he focused on breaking news and crime reporting. After retiring to the Niagara, Ontario area, he remained involved in the community by volunteering with Crime Stoppers. He has also co-authored books related to that organization.
The subtitle ("I Cried at Disney World") hints at a personal, emotional moment amid the often gritty and traumatic stories he covered—likely a reflective or humanizing anecdote that contrasts the heavy subject matter with a vulnerable personal experience.
At 531 pages, this is a substantial memoir that dives into the day-to-day realities of being a reporter from 1967 to 2005. Millar emphasizes the challenges of covering crime and spot news, which often involved exposure to violence, disasters, and unusual events that he notes weren't the kind of things you'd casually bring home to discuss with family.
Key topics and stories include:
Major disasters and emergencies, such as the 1987 Edmonton tornado outbreak (which killed 34 people), the Dupont Plaza Hotel fire in Puerto Rico (96 deaths), the 1979 Mississauga train derailment (which led to a massive evacuation), and coverage related to the September 11 attacks.
Local incidents like a 1966 school bus crash near Windsor that killed eight children, the mysterious death of jockey Dan Beckon, and lighter or odd stories (e.g., a missing seeing-eye dog).
Broader reflections on journalistic practices: relying on witnesses and sources under tight deadlines, striving for accuracy and fairness when reporting on traumatic events, and the emotional toll of the job.
The book paints a picture of old-school newspaper journalism in Canada—pre-digital era pressures, newsroom life across different cities, and the mix of routine grind with high-stakes assignments. Millar has described it as reflecting the nature of his work, and it's positioned as potentially useful reading for media students or anyone interested in how news gets reported.
It's an independently released title (available primarily via Amazon in paperback). Early mentions describe it positively in local Canadian media and journalism circles, with some calling it a "must-read" for those in or curious about the industry. It has appeared on at least one Amazon best-seller list in a relevant category (organized crime/true crime adjacent, given the crime reporting focus). There's limited widespread review coverage yet due to its very recent release, but it has received local buzz in places like Fort Erie, Windsor, and Toronto.
If you're into journalism memoirs, behind-the-scenes newsroom stories, or Canadian true crime/disaster reporting history, this sounds like a candid, insider look—raw in places, given the subject matter, but also personal (as the title suggests).
You can find the book on Amazon by searching the full title.
