The Prosecutor and the Snitch

An informant comes forward and confesses that he gave false testimony that may have led to an execution of an innocent man. “Webb, who was facing a lengthy sentence, said he asked Jackson, ‘What’s going to be my deal?’ and Jackson said, ‘If you help me, that robbery will disappear … even if you’re convicted now, I can get it off of you later.'”

Published: Aug 3, 2014
Length: 21 minutes (5,427 words)

Why Do So Many People Pretend to Be Native American?

A new Longreads Exclusive from This Land Press: Russell Cobb on Native American identity and the story of Iron Eyes Cody.

Source: This Land Press
Published: Aug 5, 2014
Length: 15 minutes (3,976 words)

The Abortion Ministry of Dr. Willie Parker

A profile of Dr. Willie Parker, who tends to the needs of women at the one abortion clinic open in Mississippi. Last week a federal appeals panel voted to block a Mississippi law that would have shut down the clinic.

Source: Esquire
Published: Jul 30, 2014
Length: 33 minutes (8,280 words)

‘She’s Good, With a Capital G’: A Roxane Gay Reading List

If you haven’t had the privilege of reading Gay before, let this be a primer. She has written dozens and dozens of essays and short stories, many of which she lists on her website. I’ve included two wonderful recent interviews, a smattering of short stories and more.

Source: Longreads
Published: Aug 3, 2014

The Hargrave Four

They were the most talented line in amateur football history. They were all destined for NFL stardom. Then everything fell apart.

Source: SB Nation
Published: Jul 29, 2014
Length: 35 minutes (8,844 words)

Period.

“‘I’ve always been interested in how people deal with loss,’ he says.” A profile of an obituary writer.

Published: Aug 2, 2014
Length: 10 minutes (2,556 words)

Why Chefs Hate Yelp

For 10 years, the citizens reviewers of Yelp have showered restaurants with praise—and pummeled them with abuse. Now chefs are showing the psychological effects.

Published: Jul 28, 2014
Length: 16 minutes (4,025 words)

Wax and Wane

Sales of vinyl records have skyrocketed, but its comeback has come with many growing pains.

Source: Pitchfork
Published: Jul 28, 2014
Length: 14 minutes (3,580 words)

Disenfranchised

Inside the increasingly difficult business of running your own franchise—margins get tighter, and vendors assert even more control.

Published: Jul 31, 2014
Length: 6 minutes (1,667 words)

When the Bough Breaks

“Nichols steeled herself for the work that lay ahead, reminding herself, as she had so many times before, You wanted this job.” A profile of Sergeant Brenda Nichols, a former head of the Dallas Police Department’s Child Abuse Squad. The story goes deep on one of the hundreds of child abuse cases Nichols has investigated.

Source: D Magazine
Published: Jul 30, 2014
Length: 38 minutes (9,657 words)