QAnon is More Important Than You Think | The Atlantic (Adrienne LaFrance, US) Online conspiracy theories were something many of us considered fringe, but lately it feels as if everyone has friends, family members and/or colleagues who have fallen down the rabbit hole. This in-depth feature not only explains the rise of QAnon but projects – terrifyingly – into its future, and frames it as the start of a new religion.
The Parable of Lyle Shelton and Diane Thorley | The Monthly (Lech Blaine, Australia) A modern classic of Australian political reporting, and a classic Queensland story of regional politics, personal animus and some delightfully batshit characters you could not make up if you tried. Also any interviewer that gets former prime ministers swearing on the record gets a thumbs up from me. Remember Lech Blaine’s name – he’s a star writer in the making.
Either/Or | The New Yorker (Ariel Levy, US) An older piece, but one of the best by one of my favourite feature journalists of all time, Ariel Levy. Using Caster Semenya – the South African runner with an intersex condition – as her case study, this story throws up bigger questions about gender, sports and society that are hiding in plain sight, and once seen, cannot be forgotten.
Fiona Apple’s Art of Radical Sensitivity | The New Yorker (Emily Nussbaum, US) One of my favourite profiles of one of my favourite music artists. I defy you not to be fascinated by Fiona Apple after this.
How the Pandemic Defeated America | The Atlantic (Ed Yong, US) All the numbers and statistics about coronavirus can not only be overwhelming, but also … confusing. However, Ed Yong – one of the most brilliant science writers I’ve ever read – somehow manages to capture the operatic scale of destruction coronavirus has caused, and the extent of the collapse of a superpower before our eyes.
*
Benjamin Law is a frequent contributor to frankie, the Monthly, Qweekend and Good Weekend. He has written for over 50 Australian and international publications (including the Australian Financial Review, the Big Issue, Smith Journal, Sunday Life and Crikey) and has been anthologised in the Best Australian Essays twice. He is the author of The Family Law and Gaysia.
Join Benjamin Law for his online course Writing Narrative Journalism, starting Wednesday 23 September. Enrol now>>
If you want to be the first to read great advice from our incredible tutors, subscribe to our weekly e-newsletter Newsbite.
More from Writing NSW
Check out our full range of in-person writing courses in Sydney, our online writing courses and our feedback programs to see how we can help you on your writing journey. Find out about our grants and prizes, as well as writing groups across NSW, and sign up to our weekly newsletter for writing events, opportunities and giveaways.