dlsmall's review against another edition
4.0
From the days of Nellie Bly and the still mysterious Girl Reporter through the dawn of yellow journalism and on to a brief survey of modern undercover journalism. We meet true stunt reporters just trying to get a paying gig, as well as activist crusaders...all fascinating ladies.
lindsayb09's review against another edition
4.0
*disclosure: I received an uncorrected proof as part of a Goodreads Giveaway
I love learning more about little bits of history I've only encountered in passing. I had known about Nellie Bly and her famous expose on Blackwell's Island, but I had only a vague idea of what a large trend stunt reporting had been, and that so many women had left such a mark on the industry. This was a really well researched and engagingly written read that kept my interest throughout. I especially loved the closing chapters where the author examines the legacy of these women and the way their contributions are sadly still unacknowledged and overlooked in favor of men doing the same things. Typical.
I sometimes found it difficult to track all the many subjects of the book, especially since some of them go by several pseudonyms or changed their last names after marriage. The recap of their careers at the end helped to tie it all back together for me. Overall I found this really informative and inspiring and would definitely recommend it to others interested in women's history, the history of journalism, or even just the history of pop culture trends in the 19th century.
I love learning more about little bits of history I've only encountered in passing. I had known about Nellie Bly and her famous expose on Blackwell's Island, but I had only a vague idea of what a large trend stunt reporting had been, and that so many women had left such a mark on the industry. This was a really well researched and engagingly written read that kept my interest throughout. I especially loved the closing chapters where the author examines the legacy of these women and the way their contributions are sadly still unacknowledged and overlooked in favor of men doing the same things. Typical.
I sometimes found it difficult to track all the many subjects of the book, especially since some of them go by several pseudonyms or changed their last names after marriage. The recap of their careers at the end helped to tie it all back together for me. Overall I found this really informative and inspiring and would definitely recommend it to others interested in women's history, the history of journalism, or even just the history of pop culture trends in the 19th century.
amberinhonduras's review against another edition
4.0
I really enjoyed the first half of this book and admire the women who went to such great lengths to both expose wrongdoing and hold down a job. I felt like by the second half it became fairly redundant and less about individual stories. It was still very interesting to read about something I know nothing at all about. I would be interested to read more individual stories in the future.
drlainie's review against another edition
adventurous
informative
relaxing
slow-paced
4.0
Very interesting history!
caseykoester39's review against another edition
4.0
Packed full of stories and details about life as a reporter in the early 1900s. It is at times a little hard to follow as the author switches between life stories of many different female reporters. I would have appreciated more photos or illustrations of the women to help keep them all straight (though I do understand that may not have been available).
The section about abortion exposes by female reporters was especially eye-opening. I had no idea white male doctors played such a role in the movement away from mid-wives and doulas, but it makes perfect sense. Definitely worth a read, even for just that portion.
The book overall immerses you in the fast-paced often grimy world of newspaper reporting, offering as many details as possible. Women covered stories ranging from worker strikes to natural disasters and it's amazing to realize how for a brief time, there were many women working as reporters in the US.
The section about abortion exposes by female reporters was especially eye-opening. I had no idea white male doctors played such a role in the movement away from mid-wives and doulas, but it makes perfect sense. Definitely worth a read, even for just that portion.
The book overall immerses you in the fast-paced often grimy world of newspaper reporting, offering as many details as possible. Women covered stories ranging from worker strikes to natural disasters and it's amazing to realize how for a brief time, there were many women working as reporters in the US.
anjreading's review against another edition
4.0
Maggi-Meg Reed does a fantastic job narrating this history of female reporters of the Gilded Age (Nellie Bly probably being the most well-known). I found some of the sections more interesting than others, but all these women trailblazers deserve to be remembered and lauded for their amazing contributions to journalism, especially considering how belittled and harassed they were not only in their own time, but how the history of journalism has often written them out of the picture or downplayed their achievements. I have to say that it was rather dry at times; if I had read this with my eyes instead of my ears I think it would have felt like more of a slog. 3.5 stars, rounded up.