Hunter S. Thompson vs. Deadlines

Hunter S. Thompson's longtime editor analyzes two of the toughest jobs in journalism, holding the gonzo journalist to a deadline — and fact-checking his stories (via Romenesko):

... my intention is to take you through the editing process for gonzo journalism as I knew it — inside the sausage factory. Each piece had its own considerations and contortions, but there were common elements, which in the years since, I have identified and classified.

One element: "The Sacrifice of the Young Male Assistant."

The story includes the best fact-checking advice ever:

“If you want to call someone a thieving pig fucker, you’d better be prepared to produce the pig.” — Hunter S. Thompson