Brian Stelter, New York Times media reporter and former editor of TV Newser, is going long-form.
Stelter announced via his Twitter account on Monday that he's currently writing a book, tentatively titled "The Top of the Morning," about morning-TV offerings such as "Today" and "Good Morning America."
In an interview with TheWrap, Stelter noted that the morning slate has become increasingly influential.
"Morning TV is the axis on which the rest of the television news world news turns, and that's been particularly true since 9/11," Stelter said. "It's a book that really should have been written by now."
The book will be published by Hachette Book Group imprint Grand Central Publishing and offer "a candid look at the surreal lives of the surrogate families that we invite into our homes each morning — and why the shows matter so much to the fragmenting television business," Grand Central told Publishers Weekly.
"Surreal lives"? Is there a sordid Matt Lauer bombshell coming down the pike?
Not really — as far as Stelter lets on. He did marvel at how morning show hosts manage to appear to so chipper that early in the day. "Look at Robin Roberts and Ann Curry: they're the happiest people on the world at 7 in the morning, and they have hours that would make most of us quit our jobs," Stelter said. "What does it take to be on television at 7 in the morning?"
"The Top of the Morning" is slated for publication next year. Stelter is currently in the process of researching the book.
