After a nasty and public war of words between the White House and Fox News, Barack Obama has finally appeared on the network, receiving a “lighting round” grilling from Fox’s White House correspondent Major Garrett.
Interviews 
Meet the man who killed the letter
In 1971, engineer Ray Tomlinson was asked to find something interesting to do with the newly created ARPANET computer network. So he invented email, inadvertently changing human communication forever.
Can Salon.com be saved?
Despite its iconic status, seminal news and opinion website Salon.com lost $4.6m last year and recently laid of 20% of its staff. PBS asks new CEO Richard Gingras whether the site can really be saved.
Before the fall: Gorbachev on 1989
Twenty years after the fall of the Berlin Wall, former Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev reflects on the events of 1989, the real end of the Cold War, and the advice he can give Obama about ending a war in Afghanistan.
Video of the Day: The future of News: an interview with Rupert
Media mogul Rupert Murdoch sits down with Sky News to discuss Google, paywalls, financial regulations and the future of newspapers. Watch out for his bagging of Mark Scott, public broadcasters and Barack Obama…
Westpac’s Gail Kelly gives the inside story on banking
Westpac CEO Gail Kelly sits down with Alan Kohler, Robert Gottliebsen and Stephen Bartholomeusz for an in-depth discussion on post-GFC banking, repricing business customers’ loans, and financial regulation.
The wisdom of washed up boy bands
The hey day of the boy band may be over, but choreographed side steps lives on. The Guardian interviews five boy band-ers on the difficulties of fame. What do you do when your screaming teeny bopper fans move onto indie rock?
The story behind the grieving chimps photo
You’ve probably seen the National Geographic photo that went viral this week, of a dead chimpanze being wheeled past her mournful chimp friends. Photographer Monica Szczupider explains what went on beyond the lens.
The private life of the Obamas
Barack and Michelle Obama are known for having one of strongest and most sickly sweet marriages in US political history. Just think of their date nights! NY Times Magazine is running a 10 page indepth feature on the Obamas’ marriage. Go on, you know you want to.
Roubini: The next big crash is already underway
The global economy may appear to be in recovery, but people are borrowing at negative interest rates and investing in risky assets like commodities, equities and credit. We’re creating an even bigger bubble than before, says Nouriel Roubini.
Video of the Day: Terry Gilliam interviewed by a cockroach
Nicholas the Talking Cockroach (no, we don’t know either) interviews Python, writer, film maker and all around genius Terry Gilliam, about his fascinating life and career.
Fighting fires: Australia vs. America
Australian-born journalist Christine Kenneally explains the aftermath of the Black Saturday bushfires to the The New Yorker, comparing the different tactics and challenges of Australian and American firefighters.
Mad Men style: the secret goss behind the typewriters
Mad Men is known for its slick visual styling, but where do all the props — from magazines to vintage taxicab meters — come from? Prop master Scott Buckwald dishes all the fascinating dirt, including how to remake an original Coke can.
Scroogenomics: Why you shouldn’t buy presents
Tight arses rejoice! Christmas may be around the corner but don’t splurge on unwanted gifts to boost the retail sector. Economist Joel Waldfogel says dead weight crap presents are a drain on the economy.
How Ted Turner lost CNN, Jane Fonda and $7 billion
An interview with (former) media mogul Ted Turner, who says he feels “like a dummy” for selling his cable TV channels, which are now worth billions, but he doesn’t have enough cash to get back into the media business.
Meet the president of hell on earth
In Somalia — the “land of a thousand gunshots” — Mark Scheffler interviews Sheik Sharif Sheik Ahmed, who’s battling his fledging presidency with violence, extremists and pirates.
Interview with Iranian blogger: stuff nuclear weapons, what about people’s lives?
Prolific Iranian blogger Mojtaba Saminejad updates the NY Times on the anger still bubbling inside Iran and why sanctions for nuclear weapons misses the human rights issues.
Maurice Sendak: concerned parents can “go to hell”
A great round-table interview with Where the Wild Things Are director Spike Jonze, screenwriter Dave Eggers and original author Maurice Sendak. The apparently latter has no time for parents worried the film will be too scary for their kids. (Bonus video of the chat here.)
VIDEO: Bill O’Reilly vs. Richard Dawkins
Hoo boy, you just know you’re in for an epic shit-fight: a smack-down between conservative commentator Bill O’Reilly and militant Atheist Richard Dawkins. Naturally, the f-word gets an airing: fascism, that is.
Q&A with Kamahl: why is Hey Hey so unkind?
Crooner Kamahl was used for a cheap laugh during ‘that’ skit on Hey Hey. What did he think of it? Crikey intern Melanie Mahony gets the full story.
VIDEO: The Wizard of Oz munchkins: where are they now?
It’s been 70 years since the release of classic (and let’s face it, still slightly creepy) film The Wizard of Oz. Newsweek has tracked down the film’s five surviving “munchkins” to share some on-set memories.
The secret life of publishing interns
Publishing may have the reputation of being a sexy, glamour job but what it is like if you’re just starting out? Estelle Tang interviews the lucky recipients of the Australian Publishers Association internships to get the real story.
Interview with Van Diemen’s Land director Jonathan auf der Heide
Luke Buckmaster chats to Jonathan auf der Heide, whose debut feature film Van Diemen’s Land is charmingly described as “one of the most realistic cannibal movies ever made.”
Kevin Smith: “I killed Seth Rogen’s career!”
An interview with cult film-maker Kevin Smith, who speaks bluntly about the woeful box office performance of his recent film Zack And Miri Make A Porno, and answers the big question: when are Jay and Silent Bob coming back?
Iranian elections meet cute cartoons
Iranian politics is combined with whimsical illustrations, podcasts and text, in an interview with Hooman Majd, author of Ayatollah Begs to Differ: The Paradox of Modern Iran. The docu-comic style has been dubbed the “cool new future for literary journalism.”
