Final Blog Post 2- Gonzo Journalism

Gonzo Journalism was popularized by Hunter S. Thompson in the 1970's. This approach moves away from polished newspaper-type articles; style is heavily favored over accuracy, and the reporter is generally included in these first-person narratives. Profanity is common; humor, sarcasm, and personal experiences are utilized to create a "gritty" realistic persona. The Boston Globe editor, Bill Cardoso, first coined this term when referring to Thompson's article: The Kentucky Derby Is Decadent and Depraved. Cardoso explained that "gonzo" was a South Boston Irish slang term for the last man standing after an all night drinking competition. Thompson based his style off of William Faulkner's (an American writer) idea of fiction being the best facts. He often used satirical angles to make his point as well as including alcohol and drug references to make the story more interesting and controversial.