Origin of Gonzo Journalism
The term “Gonzo” in connection with Hunter S. Thompson was first used by Boston Globe magazine editor Bill Cardoso in 1970. He described Hunter S. Thompson’s “The Kentucky Derby Is Decadent and Depraved”, which was written for the June 1970 Scanlan’s Monthly, as “pure Gonzo journalism”.Cardoso claimed that “gonzo” was South Boston Irish sland describing the last man standing after an all night drinking marathon. Cardoso also claimed that it was a corruption of the French Canadian word “gonzeaux”, which means “shining path”, although this is disputed.
