Fairness

If you read my last post with Olivia's scientific magnum opus, then you must surely understand that as her sister, I have a desperate need to prove myself of some worth in the light of her shining achievement. So, in what I believe is called "fairness", I have decided to post one of my own greater works---a piece on journalistic history that I had written for my Journalism class as a young freshmen, in hopes to impress my adviser  GL, and prove my worthiness and readiness to join the ranks of the real school newspaper. If you have any interest in publication of what is clearly a masterpiece from a fourteen year old's brain, please email me or contact or leave a message and I'll have my people call your people. And now...

Journalism History

by bailey

The Kentucky Derby is Decadent and Depraved is the first appearance of what the world calls “gonzo” journalism, a hastily thrown together style by the legendary Hunter S. Thompson. According to the student Encarta, gonzo journalism is a style characterized by first-person narrative, high subjectivity, and more of the journalists' personal experiences than the actual event. In his book The Great Shark Hunt: Strange Tales from a Strange Time (page 106), Thompson’s own words on gonzo journalism are:
 'Gonzo journalism is a style of reporting based on William Faulkner's idea that the best fiction is far more true than any kind of journalism - and the best journalists have always known this. Which is not to say that fiction is necessarily 'more true' than journalism - or vice versa - but that both 'fiction' and 'journalism' are artificial categories; and that both forms, at their best, are only two different means to the same end.'So how did this unorthodox style come about? According to The Great Shark Hunt: Strange Tales from a Strange Time, as Thompson's deadline for the coverage of the 1970 Kentucky Derby approached for Scanlan's Monthly, Thompson became desperate. He started to rip out pages from his notebook, numbering them, and sending them to his editor. By doing so, he created a whole new form of literary expression, which ultimately became his trademark.
Gonzo journalism has lived on by evolving and adapting to modern technology- specifically, blogging. A blog is a site where a person can post anything- news, opinions, and personal accounts- unedited, raw, and straight to the point. Blogging is a way for many people to tell their stories they way they see it. Much of blogging is based on current events and personal experiences- just like gonzo. The style is not only a modern trend, but now mass media via internet- you can find thousands of blogs devoted to just one or all subjects.
Gonzo journalism is just one example of how journalism can never truly die- instead it will adapt, evolve, and continue on informing the public as long as there is a story.