Media chaos seeps too from George Alagiah’s A Passage to Africa (TimeWarner, £7.99). Alagiah, a Sri Lankan raised in West Africa and now a news anchor at the BBC in London, rises above journalism’s desire for the simple, straightforward and unambiguous in this autobiography of his time reporting Africa. It is full of people he can’t quite believe, truths he’s none too sure about and optimism he can’t quite sustain. About as honest a take on both the continent and the business of reporting as you’ll find. And among the most readable.
More from New Scientist
Explore the latest news, articles and features
Technology
Test moderators use AI-generated writing to judge literacy standards
News
Mind
THC in cannabis may reduce nightmares in people with PTSD
News
Environment
Fishers detonate a bomb every hour on one Indonesian coral reef
News
Environment
How bad is the UK drought and how long will it continue?
News
Popular articles
Trending New Scientist articles