China and the DR Congo

Jacob Kushner, a young journalist with a grant from the Pulitzer Center, has produced a new e-book on China and the Congo, which can be downloaded on Kindle for just $1.99. Viewing his creative effort is well worth the small expense. Kushner traveled to the DRC, interviewing Chinese managers, Congolese officials, visiting the Sicomines project, and immersing himself in a challenging environment. While as journalism, this isn’t the detailed look at China and the DRC that scholars like Johanna Jansson have produced, it is a fascinating “new age of journalism” multi-media production. (Look past the catchy title: Kushner might have more usefully put “Congo Plan” in quotation marks, as he ends up doubting that there is a plan.) The talented Mr. Kushner combines short videos, excellent photographs, and traditional narrative to produce a book that is far more of an experience than simply a read. If this is the future of journalism as reflected in books, I’m looking forward to it.