How Paper Magazine’s Web Engineers Scaled Kim Kardashian’s Back-End

An in-depth look at how publishers on the internet prepare for an explosion of traffic.

Author: Paul Ford
Source: Medium
Published: Jan 22, 2015
Length: 14 minutes (3,500 words)

Finding Stories in Familiar Territory: An Interview With Miranda July

We spoke recently by phone about her relationship with her characters, the evolution of her work, and where her novel came from.

Source: Longreads
Published: Jan 22, 2015
Length: 14 minutes (3,540 words)

The Drought Fighter

Could a controversial farmer in California have found the most effective way to grow food in a warming world?

Source: Craftsmanship
Published: Jan 15, 2015
Length: 38 minutes (9,650 words)

The Megyn Kelly Moment

A profile of Fox News’ newest star, Megyn Kelly, and how her approach has brought praise from unlikely corners.

Published: Jan 21, 2015
Length: 28 minutes (7,048 words)

Band on the Brink

A year in the life of Nashville band The New Dylans as they navigate the business and the art of making music.

Source: The Tennessean
Published: Dec 1, 2014
Length: 36 minutes (9,070 words)

How Patient Suicide Affects Psychiatrists

For mental-health practitioners whose clients kill themselves, the death of a patient is not just an emotional trauma: they can also face stigma from their colleagues and potential lawsuits.

Source: The Atlantic
Published: Jan 20, 2015
Length: 12 minutes (3,130 words)

Really Old Stuff: A Reading List About Our Prehistoric Past

From an aspen colony that has been cloning itself for over 80,000 years to a coral reef fossilized eons ago, these stories bring to life irretrievable worlds and challenge our notions of time and durability.

Source: Longreads
Published: Jan 21, 2015

The Sports Startup Being Sued for Nearly $500,000 by Its Former Employees

A sports startup called Sport195 hired workers at a rapid pace despite having no customers, revenue, users, or a clear business plan. When the paychecks stopped coming, its CEO told employees that he had two revenue sources lined up—none of which came to fruition.

Source: Vice Magazine
Published: Jan 19, 2015
Length: 11 minutes (2,850 words)

The Hunting of Billie Holiday

How the Federal Bureau of Narcotics—an early predecessor of the Drug Enforcement Administration—targeted jazz, and Lady Day herself.

Source: Politico
Published: Jan 17, 2015
Length: 17 minutes (4,380 words)

The Real Batman

The true creator of Batman never got his due, and now his granddaughter is fighting to correct history.

Published: Feb 3, 2015
Length: 21 minutes (5,440 words)