This time last decade, Daniel Simpson was an ambitious young foreign correspondent, based in Belgrade. When the New York Times hyped the invasion of Iraq, he resigned in disgust and went native, high on drugs.

He thought he'd found some more inspiring colleagues, and decided to stage a Serbian version of Woodstock - a festival on an island in the Danube. He thought the event would help transform the region. Instead, he got embroiled with Balkan gangsters.

His memoir, A Rough Guide to the Dark Side, relates this with honesty and humor. One reviewer calls it "reminiscent of Hunter S. Thompson [...] a compelling critique of the media, international politics, and, ultimately, the author himself."

While reflecting on the festival debacle, Daniel explains what he learned as a corporate reporter: that news is often skewed to suit the powerful, and drowns out most dissent with propaganda. He also shares his thoughts about solutions.