This work investigates the mechanisms of media-driven controversy and the public appetite for scandal in the late 20th century. Janet Street-Porter, a prominent British journalist and media personality, draws upon her extensive experience in the industry to analyze how news outlets manufacture and sustain public interest in sensationalist stories. The text serves as a critical examination of the symbiotic relationship between the press and the subjects of their scrutiny.

Readers frequently note the candid and sharp tone characteristic of Street-Porter's writing style. Experts highlight this text as a period-specific reflection on the aggressive tactics employed by the British press during the early 1980s.