The Racket is a terrific book about what it's like in the outer orbits of pro tennis, written by someone who was there, and took notes. Well played, Conor Niland

I haven't read Dark Wire, but I have read almost every piece Joseph Cox has written about the An0m trap, encrypted phones, and the dark world of organised crime. He's a superb reporter. Can't wait to get stuck into the book.

Deceit, fraud and suicide in the Church of England.

Out of this world reporting by Tim Wyatt and co at the Fence, as ever doing reporting few have the contacts/vision/gumption to do:

the-fence.com/in-the-shadow-…

Tom Gray now Free To Run.

(This joke only lands if you attended university around the turn of the millennium.)

It’s been nearly 11 months since our brilliant colleague, ⁦Evan Gershkovich, was wrongfully detained by Russia for doing his job as a journalist. It’s an absolute outrage. We will continue to shout from the rooftops until he is released. #JournalismIsNotACrime #IStandWithEvan

In 2007, Putin chose the Munich Security Conference for declaring what would become his war against the West. Now, with this war in full swing, Putin has been excluded from the conference, but the murders committed by his regime dominate the proceedings. newyorker.com/news/postscrip…

Now, of all days: Free Evan

Strong portrait. Although it looks like the ECB censors have airbrushed out a smouldering cigarette in the former England captain's right hand, and a large glass of red wine in his left.

Unforgettable story by Patrick Radden Keefe. newyorker.com/magazine/2024/…

A note of praise for Backstory | London bookshop's nonfiction book club. A top idea. One book a month. Everyone in the club gets the book, then meets the author over Zoom, ask qs etc. I did an event last night for The Moth and the Mountain. Searching questions. Convivial atmosphere. Huge fun.

Class. Magic ball, magic reaction.

So I guess I’m saying subscribe to print (or digital version) if you value that kind of journalism because it’s not easily replaced. And Pitchfork’s work won’t be replaced either.

You may have noticed that Q’s entire brand was sold off to someone who uses it for nothing more than scraps of clickbait news. A ghost ship.

Re: Pitchfork, I was told 20 years ago that print would die out but don’t worry, there would be lots of great music journalism online. But most of the great websites have been shut down or gutted and nothing has replaced the magazines. We’ve just ended up with less.

Campaign to get this version released.

Love this pic of JPR Williams (can't see a credit, apologies.)

British Lions v Northern Transvaal, 1974.

The Houthis may be blowing apart the notion that inflation has peaked

Federer v Nadal in the 2008 Wimbledon final, but make it darts.

Oh for Sid Waddell right now.

Time for my end of year list of the best journalism published in 2023. 1. This searchlight investigation (quote below) by Róisín Lanigan for The Fence Magazine .
2. TK
3. TK

1/1