
The News Meeting
Every Monday and Friday three journalists battle it out to try and convince the editor that their pitch should lead the news. Discover what goes on behind the scenes in a newsroom. Why do some stories dominate, while others fail to make the cut?Tell us if you agree with the final running order - email newsmeeting@tortoisemedia.com Book your place at a news meeting live in our newsroom - https://www.tortoisemedia.com/our-events Executive Producer: Rebecca MooreProducer: Casey MagloireTo find out more about The Observer:Subscribe to TheObserver+ on Apple Podcasts for early access and ad-free contentHead to our website observer.co.uk Download the Tortoise app – for a listening experience curated by our journalistsIf you want to get in touch with us directly about a story, or tell us more about the stories you want to hear about contact hello@tortoisemedia.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Latest episodes

Apr 25, 2025 • 32min
Is Trump losing patience with Putin?
Donald Trump has failed to resolve the conflict in Ukraine, how frustrated is he with Russia’s latest round of attacks on Kyiv? Ofcom published its news set of rules tech firms must comply with - or else. And how have the devastating attacks in Kashmir reignited tensions between India and Pakistan? Giles Whittell is joined by Rebecca Moore, Stephen Armstrong and Cat Neilan, as they battle to pitch the top story of the day.**Join us at the next edition of the News Meeting Live on Tuesday 29th April here: https://www.tortoisemedia.com/our-events/the-news-meeting-live-2 Get in touch and let us know what you think should lead the news. Send a voice note to newsmeeting@tortoisemedia.com Read more about the team’s guilty pleasure news stories here:The ‘Profound’ Experience of Seeing a New ColorA Roman Gladiator and a Lion Met in Combat. Only One Walked AwayFollow us on Social Media: @tortoise on IG and X, @tortoisemedia on tiktok @tortoisemedia.bsky.social on bluesky Host: Giles Whittell Email: newsmeeting@tortoisemedia.comProducer: Casey MagloireExecutive Producer: Jasper Corbett Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Apr 14, 2025 • 36min
The government’s race to save British Steel
What does the government’s takeover of the Scunthorpe steelworks mean for the future of UK industry? Why is a bin strike in Birmingham exposing deep cracks in Britain’s social fabric? And who’s paying the price for Trump’s cuts to US foreign aid?Rebecca Moore is joined by Katie Gunning, Stephen Armstrong and NPR’s Lauren Frayer as they battle to pitch the top story of the day.**Join us at the next edition of the News Meeting Live on Tuesday 29th April here: https://www.tortoisemedia.com/our-events/the-news-meeting-live-2 Get in touch and let us know what you think should lead the news. Send a voice note to newsmeeting@tortoisemedia.com Read more about the team’s guilty pleasure news stories here:US blocks Canadian access to cross-border libraryBatman and Robin costumed police make arrestsKaty Perry kisses the ground as she leaves capsuleListen to Stephen’s Slow Newscast episode, 'DIE, DIE, DEI’ here: lnk.to/8NMCoV Listen to Lauren’s report on the impact of US aid cuts in Syria here: https://www.npr.org/2025/04/14/nx-s1-5342255/how-trumps-cuts-to-u-s-foreign-aid-have-hobbled-syrias-war-crimes-investigations Follow us on Social Media: @tortoise on IG and X, @tortoisemedia on tiktok @tortoisemedia.bsky.social on bluesky Host: Rebecca Moore, executive producer at Tortoise Email: newsmeeting@tortoisemedia.comProducer: Casey MagloireExecutive Producer: Rebecca Moore and Jasper Corbett Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Apr 11, 2025 • 37min
What’s behind the allegations of insider trading following Trump’s tariff U-turn?
A few hours before he announced a 90-day pause on tariffs, the president posted “THIS IS A GREAT TIME TO BUY!!! DJT” on social media. Why has this led to accusations he manipulated the market for his own gain? The popularity of companion AI chatbots is rapidly increasing, but what safety nets are in place to protect young people? How have Big Law firms in America reacted to Trump 2.0?Rebecca Moore is joined by Hashi Mohamed, Patricia Clarke and Katie Riley, as they battle to pitch the top story of the day.**Join us at the next edition of the News Meeting Live on Tuesday 29th April here: https://www.tortoisemedia.com/our-events/the-news-meeting-live-2 Get in touch and let us know what you think should lead the news. Send a voice note to newsmeeting@tortoisemedia.com Read more about the team’s guilty pleasure news stories here:Did Scientist really bring back the Dire Wolf? Who is joining Katy Perry and Gayle King in space? Bulgarian footballer honoured with minute’s silence … despite not being dead Listen to Patricia’s Slow Newscast episode, 'My AI Girlfriend’ here: lnk.to/MyAIGirlfriend Follow us on Social Media: @tortoise on IG and X, @tortoisemedia on tiktok @tortoisemedia.bsky.social on bluesky Host: Rebecca Moore, executive producer at Tortoise Email: newsmeeting@tortoisemedia.comProducer: Casey MagloireExecutive Producer: Rebecca Moore Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Apr 7, 2025 • 34min
Global stock markets tumble as countries react to Trump’s tariffs
The United Nations says 15 medics have been killed by Israeli forces in Gaza, could this mark a turning point in how the West responds to the war? Is Keir Starmer right to suggest Donald Trump’s tariffs spell the end of globalisation? And with trillions wiped off global markets, will the President retreat from his punchy new policy?Giles Whittell is joined by Jasper Corbett, Chloe Hadjimatheou and Cat Neilan, as they battle to pitch the top story of the day.**Join us at the next edition of the News Meeting Live on Tuesday 29th April here: https://www.tortoisemedia.com/our-events/the-news-meeting-live-2 Listen to Chloe’s episode of the Sensemaker here: lnk.to/sensemaker Get in touch and let us know what you think should lead the news. Send a voice note to newsmeeting@tortoisemedia.com Follow us on Social Media: @tortoise on IG and X, @tortoisemedia on tiktok @tortoisemedia.bsky.social on bluesky Host: Giles Whittell, deputy editor at Tortoise Email: newsmeeting@tortoisemedia.comProducer: Casey MagloireExecutive Producer: Rebecca Moore Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Apr 4, 2025 • 30min
Are Trump’s tariffs the beginning of the end for the global economic order?
Will President Trump’s global tariff hike force countries to forge new alliances beyond the US? What is the government’s plan to tackle the problems involving young boys in Netflix’s Adolescence? And why are doctors sounding the alarm over the return of Victorian-era diseases?Jess Winch is joined by the Observer’s Rebecca Myers, along with Jasper Corbett and Stephen Armstrong from Tortoise, as they battle to pitch the top story of the day.**Join us at the next edition of the News Meeting Live on Tuesday 29th April here: https://www.tortoisemedia.com/our-events/the-news-meeting-live-2 Get in touch and let us know what you think should lead the news. Send a voice note to newsmeeting@tortoisemedia.com Follow us on Social Media: @tortoise on IG and X, @tortoisemedia on tiktok @tortoisemedia.bsky.social on bluesky Host: Jess Winch, news editor at Tortoise Email: newsmeeting@tortoisemedia.comProducer: Casey MagloireExecutive Producer: Rebecca Moore Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mar 31, 2025 • 35min
Deborah Frances-White on renters’ rights and the earthquake in Myanmar
One of the largest earthquakes in decades has wrecked parts of Myanmar, but how does a country still grappling with civil war and military rule handle a natural disaster of this scale? The Guardian investigates why senior Tory Lords and MPs are lobbying to thwart the renters’ reform bill. What does Prince Harry’s bullying allegations, brought forward by his former charity chief, reveal about the way we provide aid? Basia Cummings is joined by the Guilty Feminist’s Deborah Frances-White, plus Tortoise’s Katie Riley and Claudia Williams, as they battle it out to pitch the top story of the day. **Join us at the next edition of the News Meeting Live on Tuesday 29th April here: https://www.tortoisemedia.com/our-events/the-news-meeting-live-2 Take a look at Tortoise’s Peer Review tools here - https://www.tortoisemedia.com/peer-review-explore-tool Get in touch and let us know what you think should lead the news. Send a voice note to newsmeeting@tortoisemedia.com Follow us on Social Media: @tortoise on IG and X, @tortoisemedia on tiktok @tortoisemedia.bsky.social on bluesky Host: Basia Cummings, Editor at TortoiseEmail: newsmeeting@tortoisemedia.comProducer: Casey MagloireExecutive Producer: Rebecca Moore Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mar 27, 2025 • 34min
How did Trump’s top officials accidentally invite a journalist into their group chat?
Will there be any repercussions after top US security officials accidentally added the editor of the Atlantic to a Signal group used to plan airstrikes in Yemen? New government, new Spring Statement, but is this the same old politics? And why we need to talk about the growing fashion scene in Bath.Giles Whittell is joined by journalist Anu Anand, Bath Spa University Chancellor Sharanjit Leyl and Tortoise’s Chloe Hadjimatheou, as they battle it out and try to pitch the top story of the day. **Join us at the next edition of the News Meeting Live on Tuesday 29th April here: https://www.tortoisemedia.com/our-events/the-news-meeting-live-2 Get in touch and let us know what you think should lead the news. Send a voice note to newsmeeting@tortoisemedia.com Follow us on Social Media: @tortoise on IG and X, @tortoisemedia on tiktok @tortoisemedia.bsky.social on bluesky Host: Giles Whittell, Deputy Editor at TortoiseEmail: newsmeeting@tortoisemedia.comProducer: Casey MagloireExecutive Producer: Rebecca Moore Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mar 24, 2025 • 34min
Yalda Hakim on war with China and why did a fire shut down Heathrow airport?
Have the disruptions at Heathrow airport revealed key weaknesses in the UK’s infrastructure? Is the US looking to pull out of Ukraine so it can focus on a potential war with China? And what will happen to millions of people’s genetic data now that 23andMe has declared bankruptcy? Giles Whittell is joined by Sky News’ Yalda Hakim, alongside Tortoise’s Patricia Clarke and Cat Neilan, as they each pitch a story they think should lead the news.**Join us at the next edition of the News Meeting Live! Get your ticket for Wednesday 26th March in Bath here: https://www.tortoisemedia.com/our-events/the-news-meeting-live-3 And our London live show on Tuesday 29th April here: https://www.tortoisemedia.com/our-events/the-news-meeting-live-2 Listen to Tortoise’s latest episode of the Slow Newscast, The $Trumpcon - here Listen to The World with Richard Engel and Yalda Hakim podcast - here Follow us on Social Media: @tortoise on IG and X, @tortoisemedia on tiktok @tortoisemedia.bsky.social on bluesky Host: Jess Winch, News Editor at TortoiseEmail: newsmeeting@tortoisemedia.comProducer: Casey MagloireExecutive Producer: Rebecca Moore Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mar 21, 2025 • 34min
Are there plans to remove 2 million Palestinians from the Gaza Strip?
What is President Trump’s “voluntary transfer plan” for Gaza residents? As Trump clashes with a federal judge over mass deportation, is the Supreme Court willing to stand up to the President? Who were the Navajo code talkers, and why was their wartime legacy briefly erased from US military websites?Jess Winch is joined by Tortoise’s Katie Riley, Chloe Hadjimatheou and Jasper Corbett, as they each pitch a story they think should lead the news.**Join us at the next edition of the News Meeting Live! Get your ticket for Wednesday 26th March in Bath here: https://www.tortoisemedia.com/our-events/the-news-meeting-live-3 And our London live show on Tuesday 29th April here: https://www.tortoisemedia.com/our-events/the-news-meeting-live-2 Listen to Tortoise’s latest investigative series - Lucky Boy - here Follow us on Social Media: @tortoise on IG and X, @tortoisemedia on tiktok @tortoisemedia.bsky.social on bluesky Host: Jess Winch, News Editor at TortoiseEmail: newsmeeting@tortoisemedia.comProducer: Casey MagloireExecutive Producer: Rebecca Moore Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mar 17, 2025 • 35min
How did Trump deport hundreds to a mega prison in El Salvador despite a judge's ruling?
Are welfare reforms Labour’s only hope of saving money ahead of the Spring Statement? Who are the hundreds of Venezuelans who have been forcibly removed from the US? And what is the media getting wrong when it comes to reporting on femicide by an intimate partner?Giles Whittell is joined by Media Storm podcast hosts Mathilda Mallinson and Helena Wadia, along with Claudia Williams from Tortoise, as they each pitch a story they think should lead the news.**Join us at the next edition of the News Meeting Live! Get your ticket for Wednesday 26th March in Bath here: https://www.tortoisemedia.com/our-events/the-news-meeting-live-3 And our London live show on Tuesday 29th April here: https://www.tortoisemedia.com/our-events/the-news-meeting-live-2 Listen to Media Storm here - https://podfollow.com/media-stormFollow us on Social Media: @tortoise on IG and X, @tortoisemedia on tiktok @tortoisemedia.bsky.social on bluesky Host: Giles Whittell, deputy at TortoiseEmail: newsmeeting@tortoisemedia.comProducer: Casey MagloireExecutive Producer: Rebecca Moore Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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