While oftentimes dismissed as mere purveyors of gossip, it is clear that female journalists writing for daily newspapers, popular magazines, industry trade papers, and fan publications were much more than that. They helped pioneer the art of movie reviewing, helped draw attention to the many women, not just high-profile stars, working in the new industry, and helped to foster a critical distance from Hollywood trends, all the while – yes – providing privileged access to the medium's ethereal celebrities and crafting a fan culture by, about, and for women.
