

The News Meeting
The Observer
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.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Mar 15, 2024 • 10min
Editor's Voicemail: The princess and the tortoise
Who decides what's real? James Harding reflects on the challenges that modern newsrooms face when trying to provide accurate information. He also has some news about his family's pet tortoise.To find out more about Tortoise:- Download the Tortoise app - for a listening experience curated by our journalists- Subscribe to Tortoise+ on Apple Podcasts for early access and exclusive content- Become a member and get access to all of Tortoise's premium audio offerings and moreIf 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.

Mar 15, 2024 • 43min
News Meeting: Disgraced Tory donor Frank Hester and has levelling-up made any difference?
Tortoise understands that the Conservatives have received an as-yet-undeclared £5 million sum from Frank Hester, the party donor embroiled in a race row. In this episode James Harding is joined by Cat Neilan, Tortoise’s political editor, to discuss her exclusive story.The Guardian revealed on Monday that at a meeting in 2019, Frank Hester said seeing Diane Abbott on TV made “you want to hate all black women” and that the long-serving MP “should be shot”. He has apologised for the remarks but denied they were motivated by race or gender.They’re also joined by James Mitchinson, editor of the Yorkshire Post, and journalist and author Peter Pomerantsev.Plus, Kevin Sullivan and Mary Jordan’s first Postcard from America.Email: newsmeeting@tortoisemedia.comClick here to book tickets to The News Meeting Live with Elizabeth Day: https://www.tortoisemedia.com/thinkin/the-news-meeting-live-with-elizabeth-day/ Guests:Peter Pomerantsev, journalist and author of How to Win an Information WarJames Mitchinson, editor of the Yorkshire PostCat Neilan, political editor at TortoiseHost: James Harding, editor-in-chief at TortoiseProducer: Rebecca MooreExecutive producer: Lewis VickersTo find out more about Tortoise:- Download the Tortoise app - for a listening experience curated by our journalists- Subscribe to Tortoise+ on Apple Podcasts for early access and exclusive content- Become a member and get access to all of Tortoise's premium audio offerings and moreIf 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.

Mar 15, 2024 • 7min
Sensemaker: Will the US ban Tik Tok?
The US House of Representatives has overwhelmingly voted in favour of a landmark bill that could see TikTok banned in America.To find out more about Tortoise:- Download the Tortoise app - for a listening experience curated by our journalists- Subscribe to Tortoise+ on Apple Podcasts for early access and exclusive content- Become a member and get access to all of Tortoise's premium audio offerings and moreIf 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.

Mar 14, 2024 • 44min
Trendy: Where’s all the money gone?
The state of public finances is dire: government debt is high and so too are taxes. How did we get into this mess and what choices does the next government have?Guest: Paul Johnson, director of the Institute for Fiscal StudiesHosts: Professor John Curtice and Rachel WolfTo find out more about Tortoise:- Download the Tortoise app - for a listening experience curated by our journalists- Subscribe to Tortoise+ on Apple Podcasts for early access and exclusive content- Become a member and get access to all of Tortoise's premium audio offerings and moreIf 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.

Mar 14, 2024 • 9min
Sensemaker: Lee Anderson’s political journey
Lee Anderson began his political life as a member of Arthur Scargill’s mineworkers union. He was a Labour councillor before joining the Conservatives and has now defected to Reform. Will voters follow the Ashfield MP on the latest leg of his political journey? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mar 13, 2024 • 36min
News Meeting: Who is the real Keir Starmer?
Tom Baldwin has written a biography about the Labour leader. In this bonus episode he tells Giles Whittell and Cat Neilan how the book came about, Keir Starmer’s upbringing and what sort of prime minister he might be.Email: newsmeeting@tortoisemedia.comClick here to listen to Eight Years’ Hard Labour: https://podfollow.com/eight-years-hard-labour Guests:Tom Baldwin, journalist and author of Keir Starmer: The BiographyCat Neilan, political editor at TortoiseHost: Giles Whittell, deputy editor at TortoiseProducer: Lewis VickersTo find out more about Tortoise:- Download the Tortoise app - for a listening experience curated by our journalists- Subscribe to Tortoise+ on Apple Podcasts for early access and exclusive content- Become a member and get access to all of Tortoise's premium audio offerings and moreIf 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.

Mar 13, 2024 • 8min
Sensemaker: Kate’s photo-editing experiment blows up
The Princess of Wales admitted that she edited an image of her and her three children after international news agencies withdrew the picture over concerns it had been digitally manipulated. What does the media storm around that photo say about the fragility of the Royal Family?To find out more about Tortoise:Download the Tortoise app - for a listening experience curated by our journalistsSubscribe to Tortoise+ on Apple Podcasts for early access and ad-free contentBecome a member and get access to all of Tortoise's premium audio offerings and moreIf 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.

Mar 12, 2024 • 6min
Sensemaker: Getting aid into Gaza
There are reports of malnutrition and even starvation in Gaza. Why isn’t aid getting in and what’s being done to provide the relief that’s needed?To find out more about Tortoise:- Download the Tortoise app - for a listening experience curated by our journalists- Subscribe to Tortoise+ on Apple Podcasts for early access and exclusive content- Become a member and get access to all of Tortoise's premium audio offerings and moreIf 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.

Mar 11, 2024 • 37min
News Meeting: That Kate photo and Sathnam Sanghera on slavery reparations
What should lead the news? Three people pitch the story they think should lead the news to Tortoise’s editor James Harding.In this episode the team are joined by journalist and historian Sathnam Sanghera to discuss whether the intrigue surrounding the edited photo of the Princess of Wales is newsworthy.He also explains why the Church of England’s decision to pay reparations for its links to slavery has implications for a host of other national institutions and they look at the row brewing over the government’s new extremism definition.Email: newsmeeting@tortoisemedia.comClick here to book tickets to The News Meeting Live with Elizabeth Day: https://www.tortoisemedia.com/thinkin/the-news-meeting-live-with-elizabeth-day/ Guests:Sathnam Sanghera, journalist, historian and author of EmpireworldCat Neilan, political editor at TortoiseGiles Whittell, deputy editor at TortoiseHost: James Harding, editor-in-chief at TortoiseProducer: Rebecca MooreExecutive producer: Lewis VickersTo find out more about Tortoise:- Download the Tortoise app - for a listening experience curated by our journalists- Subscribe to Tortoise+ on Apple Podcasts for early access and exclusive content- Become a member and get access to all of Tortoise's premium audio offerings and moreIf 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.

Mar 11, 2024 • 8min
Sensemaker: How spies recorded a German military meeting
A recording of a private call between German air force officials where they discussed sensitive and secret information relating to the war in Ukraine has been leaked.To find out more about Tortoise:Download the Tortoise app - for a listening experience curated by our journalistsSubscribe to Tortoise+ on Apple Podcasts for early access and ad-free contentBecome a member and get access to all of Tortoise's premium audio offerings and moreIf 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.