Loft Chronicles
Minimalist composer Phill Niblock has been living in his Chinatown loft since the late 1960s – and curating concerts there for almost as long.
Cultures collide at Cumbre Tajín folk festival
The Cumbre Tajín festival celebrates indigenous identity, combining scores of cultural activities with a distinctly popular musical lineup. Traditional folk dances share a stage with the likes of Fatboy Slim – but does this formula work?
This story was broadcast on Monocle 24 radio.
Fighting Corruption, One Bribe at a Time
A new app available in Russia is designed to collect anonymous reports of illicit payments and visualize them online – with the goal of quantifying the country’s rampant corruption problem.
For Mexican Prisoners, Music Brings Inner Freedom
In the streets around Santa Martha Acatitla prison in Mexico City, mangy dogs forage for scraps. Pickup trucks trundle around with guards in ski masks toting AK-47s. But on September 25, convicts found a welcome escape – metaphorically, of course...
Archery on the rise in NYC
The U.S. men’s Olypmic team won silver at London 2012, and “The Hunger Games” film broke box office records. The main character was a highly skilled archer – so could she be a new Robin Hood for today’s generation? This story was broadcast on Monocle 24 radio.
Saving Mexican culture with cocktails
By using traditional ingredients to create original beverages, a group of “etnomixologists” hope to preserve indigenous Mexican culture in today’s globalized world. This story was broadcast on Monocle 24 radio.
The multi-billion-dollar fight for national sovereignty
Felix Salmon explains the legal intricacies of Elliott vs. Argentina – one of those court cases so important and complex that only a Power Ranger, Transformers, Lego and wooden trains can possibly do it justice. This video was produced for Reuters TV.
Exploring dark energy with the world’s largest camera
Astronomers in Chile hope to unlock secrets of our changing universe with the most powerful sky-mapping camera ever built. A five-year study beginning in December aims to discover some 300 million galaxies and 4,000 supernovae. This video was produced for Reuters TV.
Interview: Pat Kiernan on the New York media world
One of the most familiar faces in New York television is Pat Kiernan. He’s anchored the morning show on NY1 – a 24-hour news channel – for the last 15 years, and it’s become an essential way to start the day for many in the city. This interview was broadcast on Monocle 24 Radio.
The Aftermath of Superstorm Sandy
France 24: Reporting live from New York early on October 30, after a deadly tropical storm devastated the city and surrounding states.
Interview: Todd Gitlin on Occupy and the election
Occupy Wall Street may have all but disappeared from the news, but Professor Gitlin – author of a book about the campaign – believes its impact on political discourse has been significant, and could shape policy in a second Obama administration. This interview was broadcast on Monocle 24 Radio.
Pussy Riot: From ragtag artists to global icons of dissent
Three members of the Russian all-girl punk band Pussy Riot were sentenced to two years in prison for “hooliganism” after playing in an Orthodox church. Reuters photojournalist Thomas Peter, who first met the artists in 2008, recalls his time with the group. This video was produced for Reuters TV.
Guar: The obscure bean worth a bundle
The little-known guar bean is now used for excavating natural gas, which caused it to achieve the equivalent of bean stardom. And with it, prices have skyrocketed. That’s good for Texas bean farmers but bad for gas producers searching for a cheaper solution. This video was produced for Reuters TV.