

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 MagloireSubscribe to The Observer today and get access to:Our podcasts before anyone elseA daily edition, curated by our editors 7 days a weekPuzzles from the inventors of the cryptic crosswordRecipes for every occasionFree tickets to join Observer events in our newsroom or onlineClick here to subscribe today for just £1 for your first month. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Feb 19, 2024 • 35min
News Meeting: Alexei Navalny’s death and the fake restaurants on Companies House
What should lead the news? Three people pitch the story they think matters most to Tortoise’s editor-in-chief James Harding.The team discusses what we know about Alexei’s Navalny’s death in a Russian penal colony, why fake restaurants are being registered on Companies House and Labour’s position on a ceasefire in Gaza ahead of a vote in the House of Commons later this week.Email: newsmeeting@tortoisemedia.comGuests:Graham Barrow, host of the host of The Dark Money Files podcast and an expert who investigates fraud on Companies HouseCat Neilan, political editor at TortoiseChloe Hadjimatheou, narrative 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.

Feb 19, 2024 • 10min
Sensemaker: Biden: too old to be president?
When Joe Biden won the election in 2020 he was seen by many as the ‘safe’ option compared to Donald Trump. But during his presidency he’s become well-known for his gaffes and occasional stumbles. Many US voters are wondering: is 81 too old to run for president?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.

Feb 16, 2024 • 35min
News Meeting: UK in recession and has the vegan bubble burst?
What should lead the news? Three people pitch the story they think matters most to Tortoise’s deputy editor Giles Whittell.In this episode the Tortoise team are joined by food critic and podcaster Jimi Famurewa. They discuss the news that the UK is officially in an economic recession, a huge rise in antisemitic abuse since the Hamas attack on Israel and what the closure of the last two Veggie Prets tells us about our commitment to a plant-based diet.Email: newsmeeting@tortoisemedia.comGuests:Jimi Famurewa, journalist, food critic and host of Where’s Home Really?Cat Neilan, political editor at TortoiseStephen Armstrong, reporter at TortoiseHost: Giles Whittell, deputy editor 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.

Feb 16, 2024 • 7min
Sensemaker: Labour, Rochdale and the anti-Semitism row
Defending Labour’s long-held seat in Rochdale should have been a walk in the park. But with a fortnight still to go before the by-election there, the party has been forced to drop its candidate. How did Labour end up here?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.

Feb 15, 2024 • 31min
Trendy: A home of your own
One of the biggest policy challenges Britain faces right now is its housing crisis. How did we get into such a mess and how do we get out of it? John Curtice and Rachel Wolf are joined by Dr Tim Leunig who advised three secretaries of state on housing policy. If you want to hear more from Tortoise on housing, listen to Making sense of social housing. Email: trendy@tortoisemedia.comHosts: John Curtice and Rachel WolfTo 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.

Feb 15, 2024 • 8min
Sensemaker: Zelensky fires his top general
After a year of tension between the two men, the Ukrainian president fired his top military commander. What does it tell us about Volodymyr Zelensky’s plan for the next stage of the war with Russia?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.

Feb 14, 2024 • 6min
Sensemaker: Asylum hotels: hundreds evicted with a week’s notice
At the end of January almost 400 asylum seekers were given less than a week to leave the hotel they were being housed in. Where did they go and what does it tell us about the UK’s asylum system?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.

Feb 13, 2024 • 7min
Sensemaker: EU farmers ramp up protests
Farmers across the European Union are throwing eggs at buildings and setting tires on fire. What do they want?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.

Feb 12, 2024 • 32min
News Meeting: Israel’s Rafah offensive and Keir Starmer under pressure over antisemitism
What should lead the news? Three people pitch the story they think matters most to Tortoise’s deputy editor Giles Whittell.In this episode he’s joined by journalist and author Donald Macintrye, political editor Cat Neilan and climate editor Jeevan Vasagar to discuss the prospect of an Israeli ground operation in Gaza’s southern city of Rafah, allegations of antisemitism against Labour’s candidate in the Rochdale by-election and Taylor Swift’s private jet.Email: newsmeeting@tortoisemedia.comGuests:Donald Macintyre, journalist and author of ‘Gaza: Preparing for Dawn’Cat Neilan, political editor at TortoiseJeevan Vasagar, climate editor at TortoiseHost: Giles Whittell, deputy editor 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.

Feb 12, 2024 • 7min
Sensemaker: Keir Starmer and the mysterious case of the £28bn green plan
Keir Starmer finally killed off Labour’s £28bn green plan. This may have ended months of will-he-won’t-he speculation about the future of the policy - but it has sparked a new debate about what the Labour leader stands for.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.


