Gonzo Journalism

By Deane Barker

This is a style of journalism in which the author’s opinion and perspective is injected into the story. It abandons notions of objectivity and dispassion, and tells stories from a clear perspective, often highly stylized and biased.

From an article at MasterClass:

Gonzo journalism is an unconventional style of journalism that relies on the reporter’s personal involvement in the story. While traditional reporting relies on hard facts, gonzo journalism takes readers a step inside the mind and feelings of the writer as the story unfolds.

The term was first used in 1970 by the editor of the Boston Globe to describe an article by Hunter S. Thompson.

From the prior article:

Thompson gets caught up in the Kentucky Derby society scene, then tells all, sparing nary a lascivious or debaucherous detail. Cardoso claimed the term “gonzo” was South Boston Irish slang to refer to the last one standing after drinking all night, though it is claimed that Thompson’s literary executor said the term came from James Booker’s 1960s song of the same name.

The Muppet with the same name also appeared that year, though I couldn’t find a connection. The name of the character was credited to writer Jack Burns. Etymology online says this:

The Muppets character so called debuted in 1970, but not with the name, which seems to have developed after Thompson’s use of the word.

Why I Looked It Up

I don’t remember.

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