

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

Jul 3, 2023 • 33min
France riots, Ukraine's counteroffensive, and affirmative action
In our first Monday episode the team discusses the violence that has erupted in France, Ukraine's faltering counteroffensive and the US Supreme Court's decision to overturn race-based college admissions.Listen to 'Into The Dirt', Tortoise's new investigative series, here.Get in touch to tell us about the story you think should lead the news. Email 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.

Jun 30, 2023 • 38min
Russian infighting, Thames Water, and Nicola Bulley’s inquest
James Harding is joined by Tortoise journalists Basia Cummings, Claudia Williams and Cat Neilan. They discuss Russia after the failed Wagner rebellion, the politics of water amid fears that Thames Water could collapse, and a coroner’s ruling that Nicola Bulley’s death was accidental.Get in touch and tell us about the story you think should lead the news. Email newsmeeting@tortoisemedia.com.Read more about Tortoise’s Global AI Index here.Listen to Wagner’s War here.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.

Jun 23, 2023 • 30min
Titanic sub, interest rate rise, and short children
James Harding is joined by Tortoise editors Jess Winch, Liz Moseley and Giles Whittell. In this episode they discuss the hunt for the missing Titan submersible, British children being shorter than their international peers and the Bank of England’s latest hike in interest rates.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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jun 16, 2023 • 30min
Jailed for abortion, Pacific warming and peerages
James Harding is joined by Tortoise editors Basia Cummings, Cat Neilan and Giles Whittell. In this episode they discuss a British woman jailed for using abortion pills, the El Niño effect in the Panama Canal and Boris Johnson’s honour’s list. 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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jun 12, 2023 • 33min
The News Meeting Live: Trump's toilet troubles, wildfires and the allegations against Crispin Odey
In this episode, recorded at Kite Festival on Sunday 11th June, James Harding is joined on stage by Tortoise editors Alexi Mostrous, Basia Cummings and Jeevan Vasagar.Tortoise is a newsroom devoted to slow journalism. For early access and ad-free listening subscribe to Tortoise+ on Apple Podcasts or join Tortoise for £60 a year. As a member you’ll also get our newsletters and tickets to live events. Just go to tortoisemedia.com/slowdown. 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.

Jun 9, 2023 • 32min
Ukraine dam explosion, Saudi sportswashing and economic policy
James Harding is joined by Tortoise editors Jess Winch and Giles Whittell, and Tortoise chairman Matthew Barzun who was US ambassador to London. In this episode they discuss the Kakhovka dam, the real difference between the economic policies of major political parties and golf’s PGA Tour merging with its Saudi-backed rival LIV Golf.Tortoise is a newsroom devoted to slow journalism. For early access and ad-free listening subscribe to Tortoise+ on Apple Podcasts or join Tortoise for £60 a year. As a member you’ll also get our newsletters and tickets to live events. Just go to tortoisemedia.com/slowdown. 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.

Jun 2, 2023 • 32min
MeToo in the media, Whitehall WhatsApps and deep-sea mining
James Harding is joined by Tortoise editors Jeevan Vasagar, Jane Bruton and Giles Whittell. In this episode they discuss the sexual harassment allegations against former Observer columnist Nick Cohen; the Cabinet Office’s battle over Boris Johnson’s WhatApp messages; and a new frontier in the fight against climate change – deep below sea level.Tortoise is a newsroom devoted to slow journalism. For early access and ad-free listening subscribe to Tortoise+ on Apple Podcasts or join Tortoise for £60 a year. As a member you’ll also get our newsletters and tickets to live events. Just go to tortoisemedia.com/slowdown. 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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

May 26, 2023 • 31min
Cardiff riots, rape trials and Tina Turner
James Harding is joined by Tortoise editors Liz Moseley, Keith Blackmore and Mark St Andrew. In this episode they discuss Cardiff police’s response to a fatal e-bike crash which sparked a riot, proposals to block using rape victims' sexual history as evidence in a trial and the death of music legend, Tina Turner. Tortoise is a newsroom devoted to slow journalism. For early access and ad-free listening subscribe to Tortoise+ on Apple Podcasts or join Tortoise for £60 a year. As a member you’ll also get our newsletters and tickets to live events. Just go to tortoisemedia.com/slowdown. 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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

May 19, 2023 • 31min
The News Meeting Live: Immigration stats, Ron DeSantis and Zelensky’s European Tour
James Harding is joined by Tortoise’s Alexi Mostrous, Liz Moseley and Katie Gunning in front of a live audience at London’s Picturehouse Central.Tortoise is a newsroom devoted to slow journalism.For early access and ad-free listening subscribe to Tortoise+ on Apple Podcasts or join Tortoise for £60 a year.As a member you’ll also get our newsletters and tickets to live events. Just go to tortoisemedia.com/slowdown.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.

May 12, 2023 • 35min
Contraceptives, monarchy and Trump liable for sexual abuse
James Harding is joined by Liz Moseley, Phoebe Davis and Keith Blackmore to discuss the stories they think mattered most this week. Tortoise is a newsroom devoted to slow journalism. For early access and ad-free listening subscribe to Tortoise+ on Apple Podcasts or join Tortoise for £60 a year. As a member you’ll also get our newsletters and tickets to live events. Just go to tortoisemedia.com/slowdown. 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.