The Reporter Who Made Himself King

"The Reporter Who Made Himself King" by Richard Harding Davis is a humorous story from the early 1900s that tells the tale of Albert Gordon, a smart reporter who wants a peaceful life for writing and somehow becomes the American consul on a faraway island named Opeki. The story follows Gordon's funny journey as he goes from being a reporter to becoming a king, making fun of colonialism, the media's love for exciting stories, and the desire to be famous. Arriving on Opeki, Gordon finds it's a pretty basic place with not many people. Instead of writing his novel, he gets caught up in crazy situations, meeting strange local kings, foreign leaders, and even a German warship. Trying to keep the peace and win over the locals, he uses his reporter skills to make up stories that get the world's attention. His actions lead to a fake war and his silly rise to king, showing how ridiculous power can be and making a statement about the pressures of being a journalist.