The new face of Gonzo journalism?

Matt K. Lewis Senior Contributor
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For freelance writer and former Daily Caller reporter Jeff Winkler, pulling off crazy stunts is just part of doing the Lord’s work for journalism and providing a service to the general public.

Whether its his recent experimentation with hazing rituals like “butt-chugging” — or documenting the story of his broken penis — Winkler believes immersion journalism helps eliminate the authorial distance associated with traditional reporting.

“I hate writing about myself,” he insists when asked about the “butt-chugging” story. “But I thought, crap, this a good story, I can’t not write it. Sure, I degrade myself for a couple hours, but I’ve done worse.”

Whether it’s by design, or not, Winkler belongs to a new generation of young writers helping keep the tradition of Gonzo journalism alive. His antics rival Hunter S. Thompson taking acid and Christopher Hitchens getting a bikini wax and waterboarded.

When asked where his fans can find more of his work, Winkler advised people to check the police reports for the day in Austin and Arkansas.

Listen to my full conversation with Jeff Winkler or download the podcast on iTunes.

Matt K. Lewis