Catch and Kill

30 Rock is the famous address of NBC’s headquarters in New York City. Rockefeller Plaza is an open space in front of the building which is culturally linked with the NBC broadcasting network. Farrow uses the term 30 Rock to refer to the NBC headquarters and references the idea of the building as an aspiration for ambitious young journalists. Many people want to one day work at the NBC headquarters, and 30 Rock and Rockefeller Plaza are symbols of their professional ambitions. 

Catch and kill is a form of journalistic malpractice which gives the book its title. The phrase refers to how a news outlet can suppress a story that they do not want to be released to the public. The outlet will purchase the exclusive rights to a story from a witness or a source, thus “catching it.” The outlet then refuses to publish the story, thereby “killing” it. The process involves signing contracts and often paying large fees to sources and witnesses. The contracts mean that the witness or source cannot go to another outlet otherwise they risk being sued. The National Enquirer is portrayed as a frequent user of the catch and kill practice. The newspaper silences numerous stories as political favors for preferred politicians or celebrities.