Hey, Newsvine: Let's Interview Gonzo Journalist Matt Taibbi About His New Book And His Career

News Type: Other — Fri Jun 6, 2008 1:09 PM EDT

A reading from Taibbi's new book - to be specific the first paragraph of the introduction:

This book came into being by means of a ridiculously long and tortouous series of editor-writer discussions, grotesque literary failures, nervous collapses, abrupt about-faces, cop-outs, lies, and other types of grossly unprofessional behavior. And what's most funny about it is that it ended more or less where it started - as a long examination of where the American public's head is in advance of the 2008 elections, forged in a crucible of flailing, masturbatory nihilism.

If you're not familiar with Matt Taibbi you should be. Think a younger male Molly Ivins. Think a young Hunter Thompson before he lost his brain to drugs. Think a more political and zany Art Buchwald.

He's agreed to an interview via email for his new book. It will be a standard two-part interview – the first part will focus on his career and his book in general. The second part will be focused more on the book's contents.

He has made quite a name for himself. He covers politics for the Rolling Stone following in the footsteps of P.J. O'Rourke and Hunter Thompson (and he has some of the positive elements on both).

Here's a primer:
Taibbi on the Daily Show

Taiibi's new book excerpted via Alternet (here's the article and here's the discussion at Newsvine)

Real headline: Erica Jong Thinks I Want to Do My Mother: A Response

Taiibi doing a Washington Post chat

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{"commentId":1909569,"authorDomain":"sbutki"}

Scott (Scoop) Butki

I've not seen many interviews with him so this is somewhat of a coup. I thought it'd be funny to interview him together and the results will be published right here. This also will serve as a good counterpoint to the blowhard author I'm interviewing, the one about Confessions of a Political Hitman, and a hell of a lot more fun.

So suggest questions you'd like asked of him. I'll make the final say on what does and doesn't get ask but as was the case when I did the same thing with Roger Ebert I'll include as many questions as I can and give credit to the person who asked the question.

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#1 - Fri Jun 6, 2008 1:14 PM EDT

{"commentId":1916464,"authorDomain":"sbutki"}

Scott (Scoop) Butki

I've not seen many interviews with him so this is somewhat of a coup. I thought it'd be funny to interview him together and the results will be published right here. This also will serve as a good counterpoint to the author I'm interviewing, the one about Confessions of a Political Hitman, and a hell of a lot more fun.

{"commentId":1916464,"threadId":"281310","contentId":"1548246","authorDomain":"sbutki"}

#2 - Sat Jun 7, 2008 3:14 PM EDT

{"commentId":2020847,"authorDomain":"MinnieApolis"}

MinnieApolis

I take it you're a fan of this guy, right? And yet you criticized a woman blogger who has done basically the same thing -- attending an event or interviewing someone and not declaring oneself a reporter so as to alert the interviewee/victim that their words might be made a matter of record.
I think you need to explain a bit here first before we try to think up questions.
Or maybe put the question to Taibbi, the Political Hitman himself, to answer.
Questions about whether this evangelist has a right to privacy and questions about journalistic ethics (if there is such a thing anymore).
Not knocking journalistic ethics, just that it seems archaic in a world where government officials think it is OK to lie thru their teeth to the American people. Seems to be a time for guerrila journalism, you might call it. Hit-and-run journalism? Ninja journalism?

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1 vote

#3 - Sat Jun 21, 2008 11:12 PM EDT

{"commentId":2040007,"authorDomain":"sbutki"}

Scott (Scoop) Butki

Took me a second to follow your logic. You mean it wasn't fair for him to report on what you saw in church? I'm not sure yet if he's identified himself to the evangelist as a reporter. If he doesn't then I'll ask him about that because I do question the ethics of that.

I think the guy is a good writer but I have concerns about some of his ethics and plan to ask him about those.

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#3.1 - Tue Jun 24, 2008 1:19 PM EDT

{"commentId":2799439,"authorDomain":"sbutki"}

Scott (Scoop) Butki

Hmm, never heard back on this guy. Off to go check on that.

{"commentId":2799439,"threadId":"281310","contentId":"1548246","authorDomain":"sbutki"}

#4 - Sat Sep 6, 2008 7:07 PM EDT

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SCOTT (SCOOP) BUTKI

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Hey, Newsvine: Let's Interview Gonzo Journalist Matt Taibbi About His New Book And His Career

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