James Harding, founder of Tortoise Media and former BBC director, dives into the surprising bid for The Observer, reflecting on the evolving media landscape. He shares insights on the motivations behind the bid and its implications for the historic newspaper's future. Award-winning journalist Carole Cadwalladr raises concerns about potential strike actions and the reaction within the newsroom. Together, they discuss the essential balance of journalistic integrity, funding challenges, and the broader implications for UK journalism.

The media fills our minds with vivid images of rare events from plane crashes to terrorist attacks. In his guide to thinking better, Professor Steven Pinker explores how we can stop the news from distorting our understanding of the world. He’s joined by: James Harding a former editor of The Times and director of BBC News, and now the co-founder of Tortoise Media.Anna Rosling Rutland, co-founder and vice president of the Gap Minder Foundation and co-author with Hans and Ola Rosling of “Factfulness; Ten Reasons Why We're Wrong About the World and Why Things Are Better Than You Think”Producers: Imogen Walford and Joe Kent Editor: Emma RipponThink with Pinker is produced in partnership with The open University

James Harding, Tortoise editor and co-founder, and Robert Peston, ITV's political editor, join for a live recording to discuss the biggest stories of 2023, including the Israel and Gaza conflict, the decline of the Conservative Party, and the significance of AI. They debate whether the biggest story should be artificial intelligence or Octavist, ultimately concluding that Octavist will define 2023.

James Harding, Editor and Founder of Tortoise Media, discusses plans to acquire The Observer amid a turbulent media landscape. Max Tani, Media Editor at Semafor, dives into the complexities of U.S. election coverage, particularly post-Trump's victory. Alistair Jackson, Channel 4's Investigations Editor, sheds light on a joint investigation into the royal family's finances. The conversation explores the evolving dynamics of media influence, the impact of celebrity voices on politics, and the ethical dilemmas facing royal correspondents.

BBC's Director of News, James Harding, discusses the importance of public service journalism in the internet age. The increasing tabloidisation of journalism on the web is explored. The controversy surrounding The Sun's page three and its PR strategy is analyzed. The challenges of finding durable entertainment formats like Strictly and X Factor are discussed by industry experts.