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Thanks, PG!:Memoirs of a Tabloid Reporter
Thanks, PG! is a madcap, often bizarre, sometimes serious adventure into the world of tabloid journalism. Like the tabloid industry itself, this book is a combination of fact and fiction which recounts the life of fictional reporter Billy Don Johnson and the twenty years he spent working at the feet of his great hero, Padrone Gallione, the longtime editor and tabloid genius who sent him to the furthermost corners of the earth to cover the wildest, craziest, most unbelievable stories imaginable. Finally, this book is a tribute to the genius of Generoso Pope Jr., founder and publisher of the National Enquirer.
224 pages, ebook
First published September 12, 2014
15 people are currently reading
287 people want to read
About the author
John Isaac Jones
33 books76 followersJohn Isaac Jones is a retired journalist currently living and writing at Merritt Island, Florida. For more than thirty years, "John I.," as he prefers to be called, was a reporter for media outlets throughout the world. These included local newspapers in his native Alabama, The National Enquirer, News of the World in London, the Sydney Morning Herald, and NBC television. He is the author of ten novels, two short story collections and five novellas.
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
March 24, 2016
I wanted to read Thanks PG! because I have read and previously enjoyed one of John Isaac Jones’s books before, and I was eager to try another myself. I might not want to be a journalist in my future as a career, but I have always had an interest in journalism myself, so I was eager to read a bit more about it.
This one follows the story of Billy Don as he works his way through several newspapers until he finds a job working for PG. PG seems to have a reputation around him as being slightly whacky… but nonetheless a genius. His paper sells, he has money and he knows how to get the big inside scoops and hires the best investigators. Billy is lucky to have his job, and then has to continuously prove himself by finding plenty of cool stories and writing about them. He has to go to interesting lengths to get some of his information and we learn all about it.
What I liked about the beginning of this novel was the inside it gave into the journalism world. There’s a lot more that goes into publishing a newspaper than some people could begin to imagine, and it was interesting to follow along with Billy as he slowly learns how everything works. He works quite a few smaller jobs before he joins ranks with PG, so he gets to learn quite a bit. We get to see the point of view of many of the different jobs required to make a paper come together.
However, that does make me think that this book might not be for you if you have no interest in journalism. I knew I was enjoying it because I have an interest in journalism myself, and that might not be the case for those who tend to find it boring.
There was such a wide variety of news stories that Billy got to look into! And we get to hear about all the most interesting ones here. My favourite had to be when he had to go to China (which is my favourite country) and look into a story revolving around the historical figure of Chiang Kai-Shek (who I know about because we’ve studied him and China in history this year). But there are so many more… some revolving around Elvis, others around celebrities that I had no ideas about. Billy really does travel as he writes his stories too, so you’re never caught up in the same place for too long.
What made me think about this novel was that it really did push some of my morals. I couldn’t agree with everything in this book. There are no vivid descriptions, but there is a mention of sex at certain times and also the use of drugs. Then there is also the issue of exploiting celebrities for the sake of news. Things like bugs and hacking come into play, and sneakily taken photographs through what is supposed to be private affairs. Don’t get me started on stories that cover murder issues or the issues of deaths of celebrities. The families weren’t given peace, and I felt like sometimes they weren’t always as respectful to the deceased as they were dying as should be. But the thing is that, that’s how the journalism world goes. It really got me thinking about the way we idolize celebrities and take them off the pedestal that sees them as just another human as well. It also had me thinking about how we sometimes will do anything to get what we want. Now, this isn’t any criticism of the book itself – you’re not always going to agree with everything you read – but this book is thought provoking in that sense.
One thing that I wanted more of in this story is how the profession affected Billy’s life. It’s strictly all work and it makes it seem like his life was work and nothing else. Once he leaves his family, there is little mention of him ever going back there and visiting them. He goes through some girls but there is no mention of him wanting to ever settle down with one. And while this does focus on the journalism side of things, I wanted to see how his career bled into his normal life and what it cost him to be so focused on his work. I was hoping to see more of that.
All of this aside though, John Isaac Jones knows how to write. The story caught me in from beginning to end and I was intrigued all the way through!
This review and others can be found on Olivia's Catastrophe: http://olivia-savannah.blogspot.nl/20...
This one follows the story of Billy Don as he works his way through several newspapers until he finds a job working for PG. PG seems to have a reputation around him as being slightly whacky… but nonetheless a genius. His paper sells, he has money and he knows how to get the big inside scoops and hires the best investigators. Billy is lucky to have his job, and then has to continuously prove himself by finding plenty of cool stories and writing about them. He has to go to interesting lengths to get some of his information and we learn all about it.
What I liked about the beginning of this novel was the inside it gave into the journalism world. There’s a lot more that goes into publishing a newspaper than some people could begin to imagine, and it was interesting to follow along with Billy as he slowly learns how everything works. He works quite a few smaller jobs before he joins ranks with PG, so he gets to learn quite a bit. We get to see the point of view of many of the different jobs required to make a paper come together.
However, that does make me think that this book might not be for you if you have no interest in journalism. I knew I was enjoying it because I have an interest in journalism myself, and that might not be the case for those who tend to find it boring.
There was such a wide variety of news stories that Billy got to look into! And we get to hear about all the most interesting ones here. My favourite had to be when he had to go to China (which is my favourite country) and look into a story revolving around the historical figure of Chiang Kai-Shek (who I know about because we’ve studied him and China in history this year). But there are so many more… some revolving around Elvis, others around celebrities that I had no ideas about. Billy really does travel as he writes his stories too, so you’re never caught up in the same place for too long.
What made me think about this novel was that it really did push some of my morals. I couldn’t agree with everything in this book. There are no vivid descriptions, but there is a mention of sex at certain times and also the use of drugs. Then there is also the issue of exploiting celebrities for the sake of news. Things like bugs and hacking come into play, and sneakily taken photographs through what is supposed to be private affairs. Don’t get me started on stories that cover murder issues or the issues of deaths of celebrities. The families weren’t given peace, and I felt like sometimes they weren’t always as respectful to the deceased as they were dying as should be. But the thing is that, that’s how the journalism world goes. It really got me thinking about the way we idolize celebrities and take them off the pedestal that sees them as just another human as well. It also had me thinking about how we sometimes will do anything to get what we want. Now, this isn’t any criticism of the book itself – you’re not always going to agree with everything you read – but this book is thought provoking in that sense.
One thing that I wanted more of in this story is how the profession affected Billy’s life. It’s strictly all work and it makes it seem like his life was work and nothing else. Once he leaves his family, there is little mention of him ever going back there and visiting them. He goes through some girls but there is no mention of him wanting to ever settle down with one. And while this does focus on the journalism side of things, I wanted to see how his career bled into his normal life and what it cost him to be so focused on his work. I was hoping to see more of that.
All of this aside though, John Isaac Jones knows how to write. The story caught me in from beginning to end and I was intrigued all the way through!
This review and others can be found on Olivia's Catastrophe: http://olivia-savannah.blogspot.nl/20...
February 1, 2018
An extraordinary book. Clearly it’s largely autobiography, but it purports to be fiction. (Having been a tabloid newspaper journalist, the author, I presume, knows the cost of getting sued!)
Fortunately, therefore, he is able to tell a lot of highly salacious stories – which makes for good reading.
Because of the kind of paper he’s spent his life working, he’s no Truman Capote wordsmith, but that doesn’t matter, because the stories stand on their own. We are taken on a ride through the corruption and skulduggery that he discovers in Florida,Eastern and Mid America before he goes to Washington DC, and eventually to Hollywood – and story follows story as he doorstops Elvis Presley, Governor Wallace, Marlon Brando, OJ Simpson et al.
The book also gives us a good insight into the workings of a newspaper office – the gossip, the jealousies, the in-fighting, the tricks and the pranks (as well as the wild side). Added to this, we get to know the newspaper’s owner, a colourful and ruthlessly pragmatic American-Italian.
As a writer, I wish he had devoted more space to all the characters around him. But this isn’t Proust; it’s a book by a journalist from the good old ‘gutter’ press school of reporting, and there’s no time for that sort of wishy-washy, deep analysis nonsense!
Fortunately, therefore, he is able to tell a lot of highly salacious stories – which makes for good reading.
Because of the kind of paper he’s spent his life working, he’s no Truman Capote wordsmith, but that doesn’t matter, because the stories stand on their own. We are taken on a ride through the corruption and skulduggery that he discovers in Florida,Eastern and Mid America before he goes to Washington DC, and eventually to Hollywood – and story follows story as he doorstops Elvis Presley, Governor Wallace, Marlon Brando, OJ Simpson et al.
The book also gives us a good insight into the workings of a newspaper office – the gossip, the jealousies, the in-fighting, the tricks and the pranks (as well as the wild side). Added to this, we get to know the newspaper’s owner, a colourful and ruthlessly pragmatic American-Italian.
As a writer, I wish he had devoted more space to all the characters around him. But this isn’t Proust; it’s a book by a journalist from the good old ‘gutter’ press school of reporting, and there’s no time for that sort of wishy-washy, deep analysis nonsense!
January 22, 2016
In Thanks, PG!, John Isaac Jones takes us on an in-depth exploration of the world of tabloids through the eyes of Billy Don Johnson, a pharmacist turned reporter from Alabama whose ideals of reporting are not matching up to the realities of the traditional press. Driven to seek out something new and different, he tries out for the National Insider, a tabloid headquartered in Florida. Once there, Billy Don is immediately enthralled by the complete contrast of the Insider’s style with the papers he’s worked for previously, and awed by the mythos of PG, the owner and editor in chief. Billy Don goes on to cover everything from the history of the ascension of Mao Zedong to the many affairs of Marlon Brando.
John Isaac Jones’s protagonist is an Alabama boy with a yearning to break away from the expectations set on him, willing to take some risks to make his dream for his life come true. As a character, he is eminently relatable, and that underlies and links the cameo stories of events and people that comprise much of the book. Written in a quirky first person, this book will draw you into Billy Don’s life and offer a fascinating, insider view of the world of tabloid reporting. Thanks, PG! showcases the proverb that the truth is stranger than fiction. Definitely a recommended read.
John Isaac Jones’s protagonist is an Alabama boy with a yearning to break away from the expectations set on him, willing to take some risks to make his dream for his life come true. As a character, he is eminently relatable, and that underlies and links the cameo stories of events and people that comprise much of the book. Written in a quirky first person, this book will draw you into Billy Don’s life and offer a fascinating, insider view of the world of tabloid reporting. Thanks, PG! showcases the proverb that the truth is stranger than fiction. Definitely a recommended read.
December 15, 2015
Tabloids! We have all read them at one time or another, or at least everyone I know has. Some wild stories, some star stories, Self-help and hero stories, I have read them all and generally enjoyed them. But where did they come from? Who wrote them, how did they get the information----who knows? Are the stories real? Well, after reading Thanks, PG, I know---and you will too when you read it! John Issac Jones, a former reporter for the National Enquirer, has written a charming, fun and informative book telling the story of the fictional William Donald Johnson, better known as Billy Don, whose career ends up as a tabloid reporter, for which he is extremely thankful!
Billy Don very early in life realized he was a wordsmith, but was led by his parents into "the medical field" and began studying to be a pharmacist. However, his natural inclinations finally surfaced and he decided to become a reporter. Thanks, PG is the story of Billy Don's self-taught path to reporterhood, that eventually leads him to the amazing job as a reporter for the "National Insider"---a thinly disguised National Enquirer. To quote the Grateful Dead, "what a long strange trip it--- was"!
I loved the early years where he paid his dues working every lowly job having to do with a regular (non-tabloid) newspaper, eventually becoming a well respected investigative reporter for a large southern newspaper. (Billy Don is a self-professed redneck from Alabama). He learns from his own experience as well as the experiences of others and periodically throughout the book he points out where an early experience gained on the newspapers he worked for led to the knowledge he now has---and needs.
Billy Don's early years were actually a fascinating study of a self-taught man, However, the story really gains momentum when he goes to work for the National Insider, published and run with a genius iron fist by Padrone Gallione (another thin disguise--this time of Generoso Pope who owned and ran the National Enquirer with the same genius and iron fist). Working for the National Insider is a completely different world for Billy Don (and us) and he thrives on the experience for the next 20 years or so...
The rest of the book covers the amazing adventures of Billy Don as a reporter for THE major tabloid. His interesting and insightful stories touch on Elvis, Michael Jackson, O.J. Simpson, as well as older stars (Sammy Davis, Jr) and lesser known stars, world events, and historical and political events of our time.
I read the book in almost one sitting, just couldn't put it down. I felt I was there with Billy Don, watching life unfold in an unfamiliar but fascinating world. The title "Thanks, PG" refers to Billy Don's great appreciation of the genius of Padrone Gallione and his beloved National Insider, whose alter ego became a big part of our national consciousness, (Enquiring minds want to know....) not to mention made millions and millions of dollars. Along the way, Jones offers some interesting insights into what I believe is his own philosophy on life, which has a spiritual and metaphysical bent that rings true.
Thanks, PG is worth the read on many levels: it's interesting, offers insider's information on many events (O.J.trial, among others!) and just plain fun. You will never look at a tabloid the same way, believe me!
Billy Don very early in life realized he was a wordsmith, but was led by his parents into "the medical field" and began studying to be a pharmacist. However, his natural inclinations finally surfaced and he decided to become a reporter. Thanks, PG is the story of Billy Don's self-taught path to reporterhood, that eventually leads him to the amazing job as a reporter for the "National Insider"---a thinly disguised National Enquirer. To quote the Grateful Dead, "what a long strange trip it--- was"!
I loved the early years where he paid his dues working every lowly job having to do with a regular (non-tabloid) newspaper, eventually becoming a well respected investigative reporter for a large southern newspaper. (Billy Don is a self-professed redneck from Alabama). He learns from his own experience as well as the experiences of others and periodically throughout the book he points out where an early experience gained on the newspapers he worked for led to the knowledge he now has---and needs.
Billy Don's early years were actually a fascinating study of a self-taught man, However, the story really gains momentum when he goes to work for the National Insider, published and run with a genius iron fist by Padrone Gallione (another thin disguise--this time of Generoso Pope who owned and ran the National Enquirer with the same genius and iron fist). Working for the National Insider is a completely different world for Billy Don (and us) and he thrives on the experience for the next 20 years or so...
The rest of the book covers the amazing adventures of Billy Don as a reporter for THE major tabloid. His interesting and insightful stories touch on Elvis, Michael Jackson, O.J. Simpson, as well as older stars (Sammy Davis, Jr) and lesser known stars, world events, and historical and political events of our time.
I read the book in almost one sitting, just couldn't put it down. I felt I was there with Billy Don, watching life unfold in an unfamiliar but fascinating world. The title "Thanks, PG" refers to Billy Don's great appreciation of the genius of Padrone Gallione and his beloved National Insider, whose alter ego became a big part of our national consciousness, (Enquiring minds want to know....) not to mention made millions and millions of dollars. Along the way, Jones offers some interesting insights into what I believe is his own philosophy on life, which has a spiritual and metaphysical bent that rings true.
Thanks, PG is worth the read on many levels: it's interesting, offers insider's information on many events (O.J.trial, among others!) and just plain fun. You will never look at a tabloid the same way, believe me!
April 23, 2018
Fact or fiction is often a fine line and many times that line gets blurred; probably nowhere more than in the tabloids. Although this is a work of fiction the author, John I. Jones, clues the listener in that only the names have been changed to protect the innocent as he tells the story of what seems to be his experiences as a tabloid journalist. I have to admit two things right up front; I have never been a tabloid reader and was pleasantly surprised that I actually enjoyed even listening to anything having to do with the tabloids, but this turned into a fun and interesting listen. I attribute that to a few things; first of all it was great writing and often times I had to remember that I was listening to fiction as the author obviously knows the subject matter inside out. Secondly, the narration was really easy to listen to and brought the characters to life. Thirdly, there was a line in there that explained to me why folks like tabloids (aside from the UFO abduction stuff) when the main character, PG, claims that there is nothing wrong with putting a medical article next to a gossipy article because people want a little bit of everything.
Following that thought line of PG's, I found some of the chapters quite interesting and entertaining, while others were easy to listen to I really had little interest. Ah, the nature of the tabloid. Seriously though, there was a little of everything, from OJ, to the Himalayas, to a famous actor's love for his dying son, to Hollywood gossip, to the journalist's sexual adventures, to the eccentricities of the owner, to the peccadilloes of all involved. All in all, it was a mixed bag that ended up being well worth the listen.
I would highly recommend this book to those that enjoy the tabloids. In fact, this is a must have for those folks. For anyone else that is looking for a little something different, this work will likely leave you more than satisfied. A review copy of this audiobook was provided by the author, narrator, or publisher at no cost in return for this unbiased review. If you found this review helpful, please take a moment to click yes below.
Following that thought line of PG's, I found some of the chapters quite interesting and entertaining, while others were easy to listen to I really had little interest. Ah, the nature of the tabloid. Seriously though, there was a little of everything, from OJ, to the Himalayas, to a famous actor's love for his dying son, to Hollywood gossip, to the journalist's sexual adventures, to the eccentricities of the owner, to the peccadilloes of all involved. All in all, it was a mixed bag that ended up being well worth the listen.
I would highly recommend this book to those that enjoy the tabloids. In fact, this is a must have for those folks. For anyone else that is looking for a little something different, this work will likely leave you more than satisfied. A review copy of this audiobook was provided by the author, narrator, or publisher at no cost in return for this unbiased review. If you found this review helpful, please take a moment to click yes below.
December 29, 2017
An interesting book that is part nonfiction and part fiction. I would term this a “based on a true story” and for the topic of a tabloid journalist it seems apropos. What was most interesting was how unstrange the setting was which when dealing with stereotypical subject headlines of a tabloid made it strange. It was also interesting to learn how much effort was taken in verifying stories. I have a feeling this detail would have been expanded when contrasting the so called journalism of today’s mainstream media.
The book is a quick read and I would hav liked to have more details around the upper management editors and details on the head hancho PG. I do have a feeling that there is more truth than fiction in this book and you know what they say about truth and fiction. Final Grade - B
The book is a quick read and I would hav liked to have more details around the upper management editors and details on the head hancho PG. I do have a feeling that there is more truth than fiction in this book and you know what they say about truth and fiction. Final Grade - B
January 15, 2019
Ah, this was a truly enjoyable read. The book is captivating, amusing and well written. It's clear that Mr Jones knows what he is talking about :D
It brings to life the comings and goings of a newspaper office and the inner life of a tabloid and its reporters. Billy Don is a great character, and I loved the way he taught himself how to be a journalist until he becomes a respected investigative reporter. And then... the tabloid! Even I, who have never read an American tabloid could, by that kind of 'knowledge by osmosis', see that 'National Insider' is a thinly veiled disguise for 'National Enquirer'.
This was a very easy book to read, engaging, interesting and, by moments, really fun. A great read even for those who had never ever read a tabloid :P
It brings to life the comings and goings of a newspaper office and the inner life of a tabloid and its reporters. Billy Don is a great character, and I loved the way he taught himself how to be a journalist until he becomes a respected investigative reporter. And then... the tabloid! Even I, who have never read an American tabloid could, by that kind of 'knowledge by osmosis', see that 'National Insider' is a thinly veiled disguise for 'National Enquirer'.
This was a very easy book to read, engaging, interesting and, by moments, really fun. A great read even for those who had never ever read a tabloid :P
May 1, 2020
Thanks, PG! Indeed!
The like if Bill John has been incredibly! He went from a lowly job at a straight newspaper that caused him to be disillusioned with the "real" news world. By luck of a friend, he got his dream job full of incredible stories and eventually to cover the "Trial of the Century"! You'll love this book as much as I did!
The like if Bill John has been incredibly! He went from a lowly job at a straight newspaper that caused him to be disillusioned with the "real" news world. By luck of a friend, he got his dream job full of incredible stories and eventually to cover the "Trial of the Century"! You'll love this book as much as I did!
August 21, 2021
Thanks, PG!: Memoirs of a Tabloid Reporter was a good read by John Isaac Jones. This book recounts the life of fictional reporter Billy Don Johnson and the twenty years he worked under, Padrone Gallione. PG is the editor and tabloid genius who sent Billy all over the world. I enjoyed reading this book and can’t wait to read more by the author.
December 22, 2017
I really enjoyed this book it made me think and also laugh
And be glad I was not a tabloid reporter. I have always
Been interested in how they do their job and this book
Covers it. I recommend this book.
And be glad I was not a tabloid reporter. I have always
Been interested in how they do their job and this book
Covers it. I recommend this book.
December 28, 2017
Always interesting to get the inside scoops beyond your normal inside scoops.
March 26, 2018
Entertaining book that reads somewhat like the tabloid press the author is trying to describe. A quick read. Very enjoyable.
I received this book free from Goodreads First Reads.
I received this book free from Goodreads First Reads.
December 9, 2018
This is a very enjoyable memoir!! All we've heard about the "rag mags" made me happy to read about it first hand! AND this is an excellent book!! Couldn't stop reading it!!
May 2, 2019
This was an interesting look into tabloid news and the Author who was a reporter didn’t seem to have any reservations about what he or the paper did.
August 10, 2024
I enjoyed every minute of this audiobook and found it absolutely fascinating!
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews