Friday Reading S04E02
Friday Reading is a weekly series of recommended reads from journalist and designer Martin Belam covering journalism, media and technology.
“It may come as a surprise that the prison boasted a considerable library. Although they were forbidden from entering, prisoners were allowed to order up to five books at a time. On my first morning, I asked to see the list of books. The iron door of the cell had a small hatch at chest level. It clanged open and a bright young warder extended the list. I ran my finger down it — in a bittersweet moment, I was astounded to see four of my own books”
Essential reading from Can Dündar about being a journalist imprisoned in Turkey.
“Over the course of nearly a dozen emails and phone calls, that same producer asked Barzegar to coordinate the filming of police and counter-terror units, filming inside a prison, gaining access to a de-radicalization program, and interviewing a former ISIS recruit in the Paris suburbs, among other requests. Again, every time Barzegar asked about her pay rate, her question was tactfully avoided.”
Freelancers get treated badly all over the industry — this piece from the CJR exposes some awkward practices at Vice.
Fascinating look at online use of comics and cartoons as a news story-telling medium online: “Comics and cartoons are coming to life well beyond the printed page”
“But the truth is, with a few exceptions like genealogy databases and reader-advisory tools, the databases were too hard to navigate, and the public is just as happy to rely on Wikipedia and Google.”
We are always worrying about what digital has done to journalism — with my IA background I’ve always been fascinated in what digital has done to librarianship.
I missed this when it was written, but this is a cracking look behind the scenes at making of cult TV favourite “The Crystal Maze”
We launched a Guardian Facebook messenger bot to send out morning headline summaries. Go to our page in the Facebook app and send us a message to get started.
Powerful and personal writing about mental health issues from friend and former colleague Richard Beech: “We asked men questions about depression and two stats stood out as a concern”
Why would a straight, teetotal family man set up a gay bar in a Northern Irish border town?
This is one of the funnier follow ups to that ghastly “talk to women with their headphones on” article: “How To Talk To A Woman Even Though She’s A Ghost”
I was very mindful of not being a dick trying to interrupt women wearing headphones while I was prowling around various commuter trains gathering reaction to the announcement that the company owning one of the UK’s worst rail franchises had made increased profits.
I endorse the new Nick Cave single very much indeed.
A study shows that Nike and Pepsi out-performed most official Olympics sponsors in getting their brand associated with the event, despite not having any formal deal.
There’s a campaign to save my local library which is under threat of redevelopment.
The oddly titled Checkatrade Trophy started this week, mixing the U23 sides of teams from the top two divisions in England, with the first teams from the bottom two divisions in England. Fans are not amused, and organised the #BTeamBoycott. I crunched the numbers to see if it had any effect. It did.
Friday Reading is a weekly series of recommended reads from journalist and designer Martin Belam, covering journalism, media and technology. Martin is Social & New Formats Editor for the Guardian in London.
