The new economics of book publishing explainedFor anyone confused by all the hype about e-readers and the “digital revolution” in the book publishing world, this article breaks it down perfectly: how Amazon makes money with the Kindle, how Apple will from the iPad, and why publishers are pissed off.
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Haiti: every horror story has a human face
Much of the media coverage has slowed, but the after effects of the Haiti earthquake are still being dealt with in Port-au-Prince. Jon Lee Anderson explains the plight of Nadia François, a young woman attempting to gain aid for her community.
The secret war in Afghanistan
An extraordinary piece of investigative journalism by Anand Gopal on the US’s “secret war” in Afghanistan: night raids, hidden detention centers, disappearances and the “Black Jail” of Bagram.
Crikey’s summer distraction corner
Crikey is here to help beat the ‘back at work during summer holiday time’ blues with a fun collection of holiday reading. Sit back, relax and enjoy the best of the internets.
Tora Bora: How Osama got away
Eight years since Osama bin Laden slipped through America’s fingers in the Battle for Tora Bora, The New Republic has the “definitive account” of what it describes as one of “the greatest military blunders in recent U.S. history.”
The world’s worst wildlife dealer exposed
A National Geographic expose on Anson Wong — the world’s most notorious smuggler of endangered species. Authorities spent decades bringing him to justice, so why is he now a free man, still trading in wildlife and about to open his very own zoo?
Murdoch: Quality journalism ain’t dead, but it ain’t free either
Technology is not to blame for the death of newspapers, because media businesses just have to adjust to what their readers want. But if readers won’t pay then they are thieves, says Rupert Murdoch.
John Kerry: How Bush stuffed up our chance to get Bin Laden
Al Qaeda’s power is growing as of late, so it’s too bad President Bush missed the chance to capture Osama bin Laden back in 2001. The decision to let Afghanistan troops lead have cursed the US military ever since, writes John Kerry.
Behind the surge: How Obama made the most important decision of his career
And extensive behind-the-scenes look from the NYT on the three months of meetings, analysis, debate and deliberation that led Barack Obama to send 30,000 more troops to Afghanistan.
Google: How we can save newspapers
Frustrated newspaper executives need to stop blaming Google for their woes, writes the company’s CEO Eric Schmidt: Google News provides their sites with billions of clicks every month — and it wants to work with them to build bigger audiences and make more money.
