Short Fiction · Chapter
XVI: Star Reporter for The Rabies explained
The narrator recounts his first assignment as a star reporter for The Rabies, covering the Helsh murder case.
What happens
The narrator recounts his first assignment as a star reporter for The Rabies, covering the Helsh murder case. The story satirizes sensationalist journalism, featuring a drunken city editor, a bizarre murder investigation, and the tabloid's over-the-top coverage.
Free preview opens on this chapter — companions, themes, and character notes appear beside the text.
Narrative arc
Story tension across the book — this chapter sits in Falling action.
- Setup
- Escalation
- Breaking point
- Aftermath
- Closing
This is the dramatic climax because it marks the psychological peak of the crowd’s self-deception, where their…
Full beat labels and climax notes unlock in the reader.
Follow the arc while readingThemes in this chapter
- Satire of Media and Business
The chapter mocks the sensationalism and absurdity of tabloid reporting, as seen in The Rabies' coverage of the Helsh murder.
Characters to notice
- Mr. Grant
The city editor who assigns the narrator to the Helsh case, described as violently drunk.
Key passages
“It was my first assignment as star reporter for The Rabies and the fact that I was chosen for the task speaks volumes for my city editor, who was violently drunk at the time.”
My first big story for The Rabies was a sign of my editor's poor judgment, as he was drunk when he picked me.
Highlights the satirical tone and the incompetence of the editor.
“Across the front page we had a streamer, “Child Murder Suspect Balks at Pins!” and under it were pictures of Lillian Gish, who had appeared on the screen at a Chestnut Street theatre that week, and of Chief Bender, making a balk.”
The front page featured a sensational headline about the child suspect and irrelevant celebrity photos.
Illustrates the tabloid's focus on sensationalism over substance.
