ABSTRACT
Tailoring its often barbed message to the political and social climate of the Lone Star state, the Texas Observer, published biweekly in Austin, appears in an unpretentious letter-size format with quiet typography and graceful line drawings. Sometimes called the "political conscience of Texas," the Observer always offers a liberal evaluation and seems never to be intimidated by oil or banking interests. Published in Boise, Idaho, the Intermountain Observer fulfills much the same function as the Texas Observer but serves the northern mountain states. Aware of the counterculture and new life styles, the Observer still sees itself as a medium for social change as it pursues the culture and politics of the state with vigor. As the paper has aged, its tone has become less strident and more mature, more given to humor and satire rather than invective. The editorial formula is better paced and offers readers a mix of muckraking exposes and quieter and more measured prose.
