Gonzo journalism emerged from the "new-journalism" of the '50s and '60s, and is a term used to describe a style of writing where the journalist recounts events as if he is the main protagonist in the story.
Where traditional journalism is all about objectiveness and providing facts and hard evidence, Gonzo writing is an "explosion" of storytelling and creative writing.
Structure and literary rules go out of the window, and the author paints a narrative that is reckless and defiant, with himself in the center of it all.
Gonzo journalism's popularity is chiefly attributed to American writer and Rolling Stone journalist Hunter S. Thompson.
His writing style has been described as everything from chaotic and satirical through to paranoid and hallucinogenic.
Thompson's wild antics and stories of drink and drug-fuelled mayhem whilst on the road reporting, commentating and living the 1960s and '70s won him fame and recognition.
The Gonzo piece he's best known for, Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, was made into a feature film starring actor Johnny Depp.
During the filming of the movie, Depp spent months living with Thompson, learning to "become" the neurotic and immensely talented author.
The origin of the actual word Gonzo is not known for sure. One idea was that the editor of the Boston Globe used it to describe Thompson's writing during the 1970s.Another possibility is that it was based on the French Canadian word gonzeaux, which means "shining path".
Thompson once suggested it was taken from a song by New Orleans rhythm and blues pianist James Booker.
One thing is for certain though, it has nothing to do with this guy:
