The rise and fall of South Africa’s far right
A piece assessing the waning fortunes of South Africa’s far right organisations.
Lake Chad: The World’s Most Complex Humanitarian Disaster
A thorough piece of reporting looking at a crisis caused by a toxic blend of issues – weak government, climate change, violent extremism, and structural weaknesses left behind by colonialism.
Wings of Desire: Why is an Obsessive British Collector Risking Jail to Kill Rare Butterflies
A look at the past and present of lepidopterists in Britain. That collectors of butterflies can risk prison time to capture endangered species for their collections, speaks both to the enduring fascination that these creatures have inspired in us, and to their market value.
Journal’s Best of the Best 2017
We’ve collected together pieces reviewing the best of 2017, covering journalism, music, cinema, podcasts and more. We’ve also picked one piece from each collection that we particularly liked. We’ll keep updating the post for the next week.
The ruins of Mosul have exposed the future of high-tech Warfare
The detritus of Daesh’s occupation reveals hacked-together weapons of all sorts.
A Terrifying Journey Through the World’s Most Dangerous Jungle
The Darien Gap between Colombia and Panama is a treacherous stretch of jungle filled with drug smuggling gangs that’s almost impassable. It is also a major route for migrants trying to reach the USA.
The Bloody Family History of the Guillotine
This piece examines the history of the guillotine and of France’s hereditary role of executioner – both inextricably entwined with the events of the French Revolution.
Trapped: The Grenfell Tower Story
A powerful and moving piece describing the horror of the Grenfell Tower fire through the experiences of a firefighter and a resident who survived the night.
The Devil’s Henchmen
A story looking at what happens to the Islamic State fighters of Iraq in defeat, and in death.
Speak, Memory
When Belarusian entrepreneur Roman Mazurenko died, his friend built a memorial to him – a chatbot that uses an archive of his text messages to recreate his voice and identity.