

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

Dec 14, 2023 • 9min
Sensemaker: Rishi Sunak’s hollow victory
The prime minister has won a crucial vote in parliament on his government’s plan to send some asylum seekers to Rwanda. What does it tell us about the state of the Conservative Party and the future of the Rwanda deal? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dec 13, 2023 • 7min
Sensemaker: El loco: Argentina’s chainsaw-wielding president
He was nicknamed “the mad man” in school. But can Javier Milei actually follow through on any of his controversial election promises?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.

Dec 12, 2023 • 35min
News Meeting: How to fix the economy
In this bonus episode James Harding sits down with Torsten Bell, chief executive of the Resolution Foundation, to talk about how to end the toxic combination of slow growth and high inequality.The producer was Rebecca Moore and the executive producer was Lewis Vickers. 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.

Dec 12, 2023 • 6min
Sensemaker: Infected blood scandal: a government defeat
Last week, parliament passed an amendment to speed up compensation for victims of the infected blood scandal. What happens next?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.

Dec 11, 2023 • 40min
News Meeting: How Russia wins
What should lead the news? Three people pitch the story they think matters most to Tortoise’s editor-in-chief James Harding.In this episode Chris Morris, chief executive of fact-checking organisation Full Fact, joins the team to discuss the risk of Ukraine fatigue, Cop28 and why a US university president was forced to quit.What do you think should lead the news? Email your stories to newsmeeting@tortoisemedia.com.The producer was Lewis Vickers. 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.

Dec 11, 2023 • 9min
Sensemaker: Boris Johnson at the Covid inquiry
Boris Johnson spent two days last week being cross-examined by the Covid inquiry. What did we learn from his evidence?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.

Dec 8, 2023 • 40min
Trendy: Oh Come, All Ye Faithful: religion, politics and values
Two thirds of us never go to a place of worship. Support for organised religion in the UK is in steep decline among most groups in the UK. Yet most of us will celebrate Christmas in a few weeks. So what’s going on? John Curtice and Rachel Wolf discuss whether the UK is now a secular country and the role that faith still plays when it comes to certain policies, for instance education. 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.

Dec 8, 2023 • 8min
Sensemaker: A revolting week for Rishi Sunak
It began with a government defeat in the House of Commons and ended with a resignation and revolt on the right of Rishi Sunak’s party. Where does it leave his premiership? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dec 7, 2023 • 37min
News Meeting: Rishi’s Rwanda revolt and Boris Johnson at the Covid inquiry
What should lead the news? Three people pitch the story they think matters most to Tortoise’s editor-in-chief James Harding.In this episode Green MP Caroline Lucas joins the team to discuss Cop28, the UN’s climate summit in Dubai and political editor Cat Neilan has the latest on the Tory revolt over the government’s Rwanda policy.News editor Jess Winch explores why evidence that Hamas raped women on 7th October took so long to come to light and Tortoise editor Ceri Thomas thinks Boris Johnson’s evidence to the Covid inquiry should get the attention it deserves. Click here to listen to Ceri’s episode of the Slow Newscast called ‘Unforgiveable: Boris Johnson and Covid’s second wave’.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. 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.

Dec 7, 2023 • 6min
Sensemaker: India implicated in New York assassination attempt
US investigators say they’ve foiled an alleged plot by Indian officials to assassinate an American citizen who was critical of the government in New Delhi.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.


