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Sensational
Sensational: The Hidden History of America's Girl Stunt Reporters | Kim Todd
12 posts | 9 read | 17 to read
A vivid social history that brings to light the "girl stunt reporters" of the Gilded Age who went undercover to expose corruption and abuse in America, and redefined what it meant to be a woman and a journalist--pioneers whose influence continues to be felt today. In the waning years of the nineteenth century, women across the United States went undercover, risking reputation and often their own safety--working in sewing factories to monitor conditions, fainting in the streets to test public hospital treatment, and infiltrating orphanages--to expose on the papers' front pages the often substandard conditions under which ordinary Americans lived and worked. Intrepid reporters whose in-depth narratives were published in weekly installments, these "girl stunt reporters" changed laws, helped launch a labor movement, championed women's rights, and redefined the role of journalism for the modern age. By 1900, more newspaper and magazine bylines belonged to women than by men. The newfound source of these sensational stories was a group of women journalists that flocked to city newspapers whose editors were searching for innovative writing to draw new readers in. Editors like Hearst and Pulitzer sought articles that reflected the many changes occurring in American society, exposing its ills and feeding its hopes. These journalists represented a new woman, an independent spirit moving from farms and small towns to big cities, finding jobs and living on their own. Yet the dramatic adventures the journalists undertook for the sake of their exposs often represented a freedom they didn't really have. After all, there were no laws protecting them from sexual harassment or marital rape, and they could not vote. Sure enough, within a decade, these trailblazers faced a public backlash for stepping outside the lines of feminine acceptability. Accused of practicing "yellow journalism," their popularity waned until they were finally stamped out by efforts to brand them as unworthy of public attention. But the influence of these women on the field of journalism would be felt across a century, from the Progressive Era "muckraking" of the 1900s to the personal "New Journalism" of the 1960s and '70s, to the "immersion journalism" and "creative nonfiction" of today. Bold and brave, these groundbreaking women changed how people would tell stories forever. Sensational features black-and-white photos throughout.
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Mitch
Mitch
Sensational: The Hidden History of America's Girl Stunt Reporters | Kim Todd
post image
Pickpick

These were serious investigators, putting themselves at risk of extreme dangers to cover stories of abortion, racism, poverty, malpractice and extreme hate filled violence. Todd does a fab job of ensuring their contribution to the world of investigative journalism is written back on the page as well as their business acumen and pioneering spirits respected.

Mitch It's a broad survey, meticulously researched - at times I would have like a narrower focus on the work and lives of just a few of the women - to enable an even deeper dive into the mark they've left on journalism and statute. 3y
87 likes4 stack adds1 comment
blurb
Mitch
Mitch
Sensational: The Hidden History of America's Girl Stunt Reporters | Kim Todd
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We‘ve just weather storm Eunice and storm Franklin has begun - barely 5 hours break in between! Hunkered down with a book in bed with headphones on to block out the wind! Happy Sunday!

AmyG Another one? Oy 3y
Leftcoastzen Hope you stay safe ! 3y
DGRachel That sounds scary. Are they like tropical storms/hurricanes?? Regardless, stay safe! 3y
See All 7 Comments
DivineDiana Oh my! ❤️ 3y
Mitch @AmyG I know right - 2 in 3 days is intense! And so unusual for us 3y
Mitch @DGRachel They're hurricane force winds ( evidently you can't call them hurricanes because a hurricane has to originate in the tropics - I'm learning a lot!) all gusty and unpredictable - blowing off roofs, unending major trees etc - scary to be out in. Woodford is not impressed! 3y
DGRachel @Mitch That‘s terrifying. I imagine Woodford is not happy. Scooter loses his mind in 20 mph wind gusts and neither dog likes thunderstorms. Stay safe! 3y
68 likes7 comments
blurb
Mitch
Mitch
Sensational: The Hidden History of America's Girl Stunt Reporters | Kim Todd
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Starting this today - humbled to remember the lengths women have gone to be professionals.

72 likes2 stack adds
blurb
Sharpeipup
Sharpeipup
Sensational: The Hidden History of America's Girl Stunt Reporters | Kim Todd
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Meant to post this yesterday in honor of small business Saturday. My new favorite weekday treat is an indie bookstore and coffeeshop who built a book tree!

📍Press‘d
Lakeland, Florida

tpixie Love book trees! 3y
Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks Pretty 📚 3y
41 likes1 stack add2 comments
review
AvidReader25
AvidReader25
Sensational: The Hidden History of America's Girl Stunt Reporters | Kim Todd
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Pickpick

Loved this nonfiction look at “girl reporters” in the late 1800s. Their efforts in investigative & stunt reporting helped create the genre we now call creative nonfiction. I can‘t believe all these women went through just to be journalists. It makes me value my job all the more. The reporters who worked in factories or spent time in asylums to researched a story were brave and inspiring.

22 likes
review
kissmehardy
kissmehardy
Sensational: The Hidden History of America's Girl Stunt Reporters | Kim Todd
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Pickpick

I picked this up because it gave me real Katherine Plumber vibes, and I loved it! I didn't know much about this era of journalism, and Todd's writing is compelling and easy to follow. #nonfiction

2 likes
blurb
Mitch
Mitch
Sensational: The Hidden History of America's Girl Stunt Reporters | Kim Todd
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#bookmail

Podcast listening sure does increase my TBR!

70 likes2 stack adds
blurb
BookishMarginalia
BookishMarginalia
Sensational: The Hidden History of America's Girl Stunt Reporters | Kim Todd
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#CurrentlyListening to this interesting account of “girl reporters” and their pioneering work in stunt reporting.

Aims42 I just finished this book last weekend, it was a very interesting read 👍🏻 Hope you continue to enjoy it 🙌🏻 4y
BookishMarginalia @Aims42 I did! 4y
Clare-Dragonfly How interesting, and timely to the current season of You Must Remember This! 4y
CaramelLunacy Ooh, like Nellie Bly? 4y
BookishMarginalia @CaramelLunacy Yes! 4y
83 likes4 stack adds5 comments
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MonicaLoves2Read
MonicaLoves2Read
Sensational: The Hidden History of America's Girl Stunt Reporters | Kim Todd
Mehso-so

Won this ARC from Goodreads.

A look at women reporters, mostly from the 1880's to 1900's. It was just okay to me. There were a few errors, that will hopefully be fixed before it hits the stands. Sometimes, the book just drug in certain chapters.

10 likes
review
Aims42
Aims42
Sensational: The Hidden History of America's Girl Stunt Reporters | Kim Todd
Pickpick

This book is a fascinating page-turner! I‘d definitely recommend to history buffs, journalism fans, as well as anyone wanting to learn more about strong women kicking butt! I‘m new to Miss Todd‘s writing but I will definitely check out her other books. I‘m definitely going to find ‘His Girl Friday‘ now to watch @BlueMoonJ 😃

24 likes
blurb
Aims42
Aims42
Sensational: The Hidden History of America's Girl Stunt Reporters | Kim Todd
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I watched an author talk with Kim Todd on her new book “Sensational: The Hidden History of America‘s ‘Girl Stunt‘ Reporters” and couldn‘t wait for my library hold to come in so I bought the book and can‘t wait to dive in!🕵️‍♀️🧥💼📰📝

BlueMoonJ OH! I can‘t wait to hear what you think of this! I saw His Girl Friday when I was really young and became obsessed with the idea of the girl reporter during that time period. Granted, that is a comedy (and wickedly funny) but would love to learn more about the serious side of it! 4y
Aims42 @BlueMoonJ I will definitely let you know how it is 🙌🏻 That movie is on my ‘to watch list‘ so now I‘ll have to see the comedic side 😃 This is the link to the talk if you want to see it: https://youtu.be/8hQl6HzGDAw (I think there were technical difficulties so you can skip the first 25 seconds and you won‘t miss anything) (edited) 4y
Moonprismpower Oooh. I have this typewriter. 🙂 4y
Aims42 @Moonprismpower It was my grandmother‘s, I love it 🥰 4y
31 likes1 stack add4 comments
blurb
Texreader
Texreader
Sensational: The Hidden History of America's Girl Stunt Reporters | Kim Todd
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Fascinating excerpt here: https://lithub.com/on-the-girl-stunt-reporters-who-pioneered-a-new-genre-of-inve...

I desperately wanted to be an investigative reporter growing up. I do lots of investigations now as a lawyer, so I guess I came close.

This looks like a must read!

54 likes2 stack adds