

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

Sep 1, 2023 • 31min
Can the US and China be frenemies and is the UK still a Christian country?
What should lead the news? Three people pitch the story they think matters most to Tortoise editor James Harding.In this episode he’s joined by Ceri Thomas and Giles Whittell, and the Financial Times’s US Financial editor Brooke Masters. They discuss the ULEZ expansion, Gina Raimondo’s trip to China and massive pandemic relief fraud.What do you think should lead the news? Email your stories to newsmeeting@tortoisemedia.com.The producer was Rebecca Moore and the executive producer was Lewis Vickers. For the premium Tortoise listening experience, curated by our journalists, download the free Tortoise audio app. For early and ad-free access, subscribe to Tortoise+ on Apple Podcasts.If you’d like to further support slow journalism and help us build a different kind of newsroom, do consider donating to Tortoise at tortoisemedia.com/support-us. Your contributions allow us to investigate, campaign and explore, and to build a newsroom that is responsible and sustainable. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Aug 25, 2023 • 32min
Are the British Museum thefts more than just a whodunnit and is there too much coverage of US politics?
What should lead the news? Three people pitch the story they think matters most to Tortoise editor James Harding.In this episode he’s joined by Jess Winch, Keith Blackmore and former culture secretary Ben Bradshaw who used to be the BBC’s Berlin correspondent.The team discuss the thefts from the British Museum, Manchester United’s Mason Greenwood u-turn and the Republican presidential candidates.What do you think should lead the news? Email your stories to newsmeeting@tortoisemedia.com.The producer was Rebecca Moore and the executive producer was Lewis Vickers. For the premium Tortoise listening experience, curated by our journalists, download the free Tortoise audio app. For early and ad-free access, subscribe to Tortoise+ on Apple Podcasts.If you’d like to further support slow journalism and help us build a different kind of newsroom, do consider donating to Tortoise at tortoisemedia.com/support-us. Your contributions allow us to investigate, campaign and explore, and to build a newsroom that is responsible and sustainable. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Aug 24, 2023 • 24min
Bonus episode: After Prigozhin’s reported death, what now?
In this special episode of The News Meeting the team discuss what Yevgeny Prigozhin’s reported death means for Vladimir Putin, the Wagner Group, Ukraine and the West.James Harding is joined by Tortoise editors Giles Whittell, who was Moscow correspondent for The Times, and Basia Cummings, who reported on Prigozhin for an episode of the Slow Newscast called Wagner’s war.You can listen to that episode here.What do you think should lead the news? Email your stories to newsmeeting@tortoisemedia.com.For the premium Tortoise listening experience, curated by our journalists, download the free Tortoise audio app. For early and ad-free access, subscribe to Tortoise+ on Apple Podcasts.If you’d like to further support slow journalism and help us build a different kind of newsroom, do consider donating to Tortoise at tortoisemedia.com/support-us. Your contributions allow us to investigate, campaign and explore, and to build a newsroom that is responsible and sustainable. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Aug 21, 2023 • 28min
Why wasn’t Lucy Letby stopped sooner and what to make of the women's World Cup final?
What should lead the news? Three people pitch the story they think matters most to Tortoise editor James Harding.In this episode he’s joined by Keith Blackmore, Cat Neilan and Giles Whitell.The team discuss the Women’s World Cup final, the sentencing of Lucy Letby and Donald Trump’s refusal to attend the first Republican primary debate. What do you think should lead the news? Email your stories to newsmeeting@tortoisemedia.com.The producer was Rebecca Moore and the executive producer was Matt Russell. For the premium Tortoise listening experience, curated by our journalists, download the free Tortoise audio app. For early and ad-free access, subscribe to Tortoise+ on Apple Podcasts.If you’d like to further support slow journalism and help us build a different kind of newsroom, do consider donating to Tortoise at tortoisemedia.com/support-us. Your contributions allow us to investigate, campaign and explore, and to build a newsroom that is responsible and sustainable. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Aug 18, 2023 • 34min
Is Elon Musk “the space dictator” and why is the PSNI data leak so significant?
Alexi Mostrous, Cat Neilan, and Matthew Barzun join the podcast to discuss the significant PSNI data breach, Elon Musk's unchecked power as a 'space dictator,' and the challenges faced by Afghan refugees in the US. They debate which story should lead the news and emphasize the importance of effective communication and societal interests.

Aug 14, 2023 • 35min
Why is King Charles getting a pay rise and what’s happening in Niger?
What should lead the news? Three people pitch the story they think matters most to Tortoise editor James Harding.In this episode he’s joined by Basia Cummings, Giles Whittell and Will Brown.The team discuss whether there could be military intervention in Niger, King Charles’s 45% pay rise and the mountaineers criticised for continuing their ascent after finding a dying guide.What do you think should lead the news? Email your stories to newsmeeting@tortoisemedia.com.The producer was Patricia Clarke and the executive producer was Lewis Vickers. For the premium Tortoise listening experience, curated by our journalists, download the free Tortoise audio app. For early and ad-free access, subscribe to Tortoise+ on Apple Podcasts.If you’d like to further support slow journalism and help us build a different kind of newsroom, do consider donating to Tortoise at tortoisemedia.com/support-us. Your contributions allow us to investigate, campaign and explore, and to build a newsroom that is responsible and sustainable. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Aug 11, 2023 • 34min
Leaving the ECHR and Zelda Perkins on toxic workplace culture
What should lead the news? Three people pitch the story they think matters most to Tortoise editor James Harding.In this episode he’s joined by Giles Whittell, Jess Winch and special guest Zelda Perkins.Zelda was Harvey Weinstein’s personal assistant and is now a campaigner. She was one of the first women to break a non-disclosure agreement after she signed one with Harvey Weinstein. She’s the co-founder of Can’t Buy My Silence.The team discuss claims of “bullying, discrimination and harassment” at ITV daytime shows like This Morning, Conservative grumblings over the ECHR and the Ohio vote that delivered a win for abortion rights campaigners. What do you think should lead the news? Email your stories to newsmeeting@tortoisemedia.com.The producer was Patricia Clarke and the executive producer was Lewis Vickers. For the premium Tortoise listening experience, curated by our journalists, download the free Tortoise audio app. For early and ad-free access, subscribe to Tortoise+ on Apple Podcasts.If you’d like to further support slow journalism and help us build a different kind of newsroom, do consider donating to Tortoise at tortoisemedia.com/support-us. Your contributions allow us to investigate, campaign and explore, and to build a newsroom that is responsible and sustainable. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Aug 7, 2023 • 32min
What happens when you’re switched at birth and what does Rishi Sunak believe?
What should lead the news? Three journalists pitch the story they think matters most to James Harding.In this episode he’s joined by Basia Cummings, Jeevan Vasagar and Jess Winch.They discuss the jailing of Imran Khan in Pakistan, two Canadian men who discovered they were switched at birth and dozens of swimmers getting sick at the world triathlon championship. James also wonders what to make of Rishi Sunak What do you think should lead the news? Email your stories to newsmeeting@tortoisemedia.com.The producer was Rebecca Moore and the executive producer was Lewis Vickers. For the premium Tortoise listening experience, curated by our journalists, download the free Tortoise audio app. For early and ad-free access, subscribe to Tortoise+ on Apple Podcasts.If you’d like to further support slow journalism and help us build a different kind of newsroom, do consider donating to Tortoise at tortoisemedia.com/support-us. Your contributions allow us to investigate, campaign and explore, and to build a newsroom that is responsible and sustainable. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Aug 4, 2023 • 27min
Why is the latest Trump indictment so significant and who cares about wild camping?
Giles Whittell and the team discuss the latest charges against Donald Trump, assisted dying and wild camping returning to Dartmoor.What should lead the news? Three journalists pitch the story they think matters most to Giles Whittell.They discuss the latest charges against Donald Trump, assisted dying and wild camping returning to Dartmoor. We also hear from a listener about our coverage of the coup in Niger.What do you think should lead the news? Email your stories to newsmeeting@tortoisemedia.com.The producer was Rebecca Moore and the executive producer was Lewis Vickers. For the premium Tortoise listening experience, curated by our journalists, download the free Tortoise audio app. For early and ad-free access, subscribe to Tortoise+ on Apple Podcasts.If you’d like to further support slow journalism and help us build a different kind of newsroom, do consider donating to Tortoise at tortoisemedia.com/support-us. Your contributions allow us to investigate, campaign and explore, and to build a newsroom that is responsible and sustainable. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jul 31, 2023 • 32min
Why should you care about a coup in Niger and what is carbon capture?
What should lead the news? Three journalists pitch the story they think matters most to Liz Moseley. They discuss Rishi Sunak’s new carbon capture scheme in the North Sea, the coup in Niger and the death of Rianna Cleary’s baby in prison.Get in touch to tell us about the stories we missed. Email newsmeeting@tortoisemedia.com.The producer was Rebecca Moore and the executive producer was Lewis Vickers. For the premium Tortoise listening experience, curated by our journalists, download the free Tortoise audio app. For early and ad-free access, subscribe to Tortoise+ on Apple Podcasts.If you’d like to further support slow journalism and help us build a different kind of newsroom, do consider donating to Tortoise at tortoisemedia.com/support-us. Your contributions allow us to investigate, campaign and explore, and to build a newsroom that is responsible and sustainable. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.