Shows / The News Meeting
The News Meeting
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 Moore
Producer: Casey Magloire…
Episodes
The News MeetingSensemaker: 23andMe’s cybercrime crisis
A new class-action lawsuit is accusing the genetic testing company 23andMe of failing to protect the privacy of millions of its customers after the data…
The News MeetingTrendy: Going places: is social mobility alive and well?
The number of university graduates has never been higher, but what does that mean for social mobility? Has it stalled and if so, what does that reveal about…
The News MeetingSensemaker: Lewis Hamilton's new era
Lewis Hamilton is the most successful Formula 1 driver in history. At the age of 39, he has decided to make the biggest move of his career, to Ferrari. To find…
The News MeetingSensemaker: Imran Khan imprisoned
Once a world famous cricket captain and playboy, Imran Khan became Pakistan’s prime minister in 2018. Now, ahead of the county’s election on Thursday, he’s…
The News MeetingSensemaker: Kemi and the evil plotters
With Tory MPs casting around for solutions to their anticipated election defeat, cabinet minister Kemi Badenoch’s name keeps coming up as a potential leader…
The News MeetingNews Meeting: Strikes against the Houthis and the rising demand for ADHD medication
What should lead the news? Three people pitch the story they think matters most to Tortoise’s editor-in-chief James Harding. The Tortoise team is joined by…
The News MeetingSensemaker: A weightloss journey that ended in tragedy
A young woman died on the flight home after having weight loss surgery in Turkey. She’s one of at least 25 British people to die in similar circumstances…
The News MeetingNews Meeting: What does David Miliband think should lead the news?
What should lead the news? Three people pitch the story they think matters most to Tortoise’s editor-in-chief James Harding. David Miliband, the former UK…
The News MeetingSensemaker: The Taylor Swift deepfake scandal
When sexually explicit AI-generated images of Taylor Swift went viral on social media her loyal fans tried to drown them out with other content about the pop…
The News MeetingTrendy: The paradox of populism
Across Europe the radical right is making progress and winning elections. To understand why, Rachel and John speak to Professor Sara Hobolt from the London…
The News MeetingSensemaker: The Austrian extremist stirring up controversy in Germany
There have been mass protests against Germany’s far-right AfD party after senior figures attended a meeting where Martin Sellner allegedly presented a proposal…
The News MeetingNews Meeting: Why big events ultimately come down to chance
In this bonus episode the Tortoise team are joined by Dr Brian Klaas, Associate Professor in Global Politics at University College London and author of ‘Fluke…
The News MeetingSensemaker: Be the best: Britain’s shortage of soldiers
Why the head of the British Army raised the prospect of conscription and what he was trying to say about the state of our military. To find out more about…
The News MeetingSensemaker: A new test for Alzheimer's
A recent study found measuring levels of protein through blood tests could help diagnose Alzheimer's disease early. What could that mean for how we treat the…
The News MeetingNews Meeting: The death penalty and does Iran want a war with the United States?
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 team discuss…
The News MeetingSensemaker: How Trump saw off his rivals
After his victory in New Hampshire last week, it looks almost certain that Donald Trump will win the race to become the Republican party’s presidential…
The News MeetingNews Meeting: Trump wins again and why the British military is in such a state
What should lead the news? Three people pitch the story they think matters most to Tortoise’s deputy editor Giles Whitell. In this episode the team are joined…
The News MeetingSensemaker: Britain’s measles outbreak
The UK has declared a national incident in response to one of the worst measles outbreaks since the 1990s. Why are cases rising? To find out more about…
The News MeetingTrendy: Britain’s baby bust
Across the western world birth rates are declining. Why aren’t we having as many children as we used to? Is there still a link between marriage and having…
The News MeetingSensemaker: Why UK universities face testing times
The University of York has lowered the bar for some international students. What does it tell us about the state of higher education in the UK? To find out…
The News MeetingSensemaker: Fujitsu and the Post Office scandal
The Japanese technology giant has apologised for its role in one of Britain’s most widespread miscarriages of justice. How much damage could it do to the…
The News MeetingSensemaker: Hizb’ut-Tahrir banned in the UK
After almost 20 years of trying the British government has finally succeeded in banning the Islamist group Hizb’ut-Tahrir. But will the ban stick and is it…
The News MeetingNews Meeting: Tata Steel job losses and why are measles cases rising?
What should lead the news? Three people pitch the story they think matters most to Tortoise’s deputy editor Giles Whitell. In this episode the team discuss the…
The News MeetingSensemaker: Ecuador’s state of war
It used to be one of the most peaceful countries in Latin America. Now its president says it’s in a “state of war” against drug gangs. How did Ecuador descend…
The News MeetingNews Meeting: How important will immigration be at the next election?
What should lead the news? Three people pitch the story they think matters most to Tortoise editor Ceri Thomas. In this episode the team discuss the…
The News MeetingSensemaker: Iceland feels the heat
Molten lava from a fissure in the ground flowed into an Icelandic town on Sunday, setting several houses on fire. Is the country facing a new period of…
The News MeetingTrendy: The welfare state we're in
A quarter of all government spending goes on welfare, including pensions, housing and incapacity benefit. What challenges does the next government face when it…
The News MeetingSensemaker: The Bethany Cox abortion case
A 22 year-old woman from Stockton-on-Tees was found not guilty of having an illegal at-home abortion. She is one of six similar cases this year. Why is this…
The News MeetingSensemaker: Who is France’s new prime minister?
Gabriel Attal is the country’s youngest and first gay head of government. What does his appointment tell us about France? To find out more about Tortoise…
The News MeetingSensemaker: Bill Ackman and the battle for the future of Harvard
The billionaire investor led a successful campaign against the president of Harvard following her guarded response to accusations of antisemitism on campus…
The News MeetingNews Meeting: Iowa decides, but does it matter?
What should lead the news? Three people pitch the story they think matters most to special guest host Liz Moseley. Leslie Vinjamuri from foreign affairs think…
The News MeetingSensemaker: Journalists killed covering Israel-Hamas war
According to estimates by the Committee to Protect Journalists, at least 79 have been killed since the start of the war between Israel and Hamas. To find out…
The News MeetingNews Meeting: Who are the Houthis?
What should lead the news? Three people pitch the story they think matters most to Tortoise’s deputy editor Giles Whittell. He’s also joined by Iona Craig, a…
The News MeetingSensemaker: The British Library cyber attack
The British Library suffered a devastating ransomware attack in late October. Its recovery will cost millions of pounds. What went wrong? The British Library…
The News MeetingTrendy: When everyone hates you for the same reason
If the opinion polls are right the Conservatives could face one of their worst electoral defeats in their history in the upcoming general election. Can…
The News MeetingSensemaker: Boeing's tailspin
Once more questions are being asked about Boeing’s safety record after a major mid-air incident on board one of its jets. Download the Tortoise app - for a…
The News MeetingNews Meeting: The Westminster Accounts one year on
A year ago Tortoise and Sky News launched the first fully searchable database of the money being used to oil the machinery of British politics. In this bonus…
The News MeetingSensemaker: Challenging Trump’s presidential run
Could the US courts block Donald Trump from running over his involvement in the January 66th uprising? To find out more about Tortoise: Download the Tortoise…
The News MeetingSensemaker: An assassination in Beirut
A senior leader of Hamas was killed in Beirut last week. What might Saleh al-Arouri’s death mean for the Middle East? To find out more about Tortoise: Download…
The News MeetingNews Meeting: The Joe Biden problem and should the Post Office scandal be leading the news?
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 he’s joined by…
The News MeetingSensemaker: General Calamity
With a year under his belt as prime minister, Rishi Sunak has less than 12 months to go before he has to call a general election. What sort of campaign can we…
The News MeetingSensemaker: Artemis II: sending humans back to the moon
This year, NASA's Artemis II is due to carry a four-person crew to orbit the moon. If all goes to plan it’ll make history, but what's the mission’s ultimate…
The News MeetingSensemaker: Disney’s Mickey Mouse problem
2023 wasn’t Disney’s dream 100th anniversary year and far worse problems could be on the horizon. Not only does it have a weak slate for 2024, but the…
The News MeetingSensemaker: The Kamala Harris question
US Vice President Kamala Harris looks like she’ll be Joe Biden’s running mate again. But after three years in office, do voters think she’s the right choice?…
The News MeetingSensemaker: Jude Bellingham: England’s golden boy
The young midfielder has had a record-breaking start to his career at Real Madrid. Could he help the England men’s team end their long wait for a major trophy?…
The News MeetingNews Meeting: 2024 predictions
What might happen this year? James Harding is joined by Tortoise editors and reporters to make some predictions. The producer was Lewis Vickers. To find out…
The News MeetingNews Meeting: Robert Peston on why politicians need to get a grip of AI
James Harding sits down with ITV political editor Robert Peston to discuss his new book ‘Bust?: Saving the economy, democracy and our sanity’. This episode was…
The News MeetingSensemaker: How Dan Wootton became the story
In 2023 the outspoken king of celebrity gossip put GB News in a tight spot. What does its response tell us about the UK’s new media landscape? To find out more…
The News MeetingSensemaker: Sam Altman: who is the OpenAI boss?
The firing – and immediate rehiring – of OpenAI’s CEO rocked Silicon Valley this year. But what does Sam Altman’s story tell us about the fears around…
The News MeetingSensemaker: The Taylor Swift Era
This year there was one artist who smashed records. But what does Taylor Swift’s monumental success say about the future of the music industry? To find out…
The News MeetingNews Meeting: What was the biggest story of 2023?
In this special Christmas episode with Intelligence Squared the Tortoise team are joined by Robert Peston and an audience at The Tabernacle in Notting Hill to…
The News MeetingSensemaker: Sports Illustrated and its AI-generated authors
Sports Illustrated magazine has been accused of attributing online cont ent to fake, AI-generated authors. The articles have now been taken down. What does it…
The News MeetingSensemaker: Hostage deaths put pressure on Netanyahu
The recent deaths of hostages in Gaza has heaped more pressure on Israel’s prime minister. Could it lead to another pause in fighting? To find out more about…
The News MeetingSensemaker: Prince Harry hacked
The Duke of Sussex has won £140,000 pounds in damages in his phone hacking case against Mirror Group Newspapers. It’s the first victory in his battle against…
The News MeetingSensemaker: Zelensky’s fight for funding
As the war in Ukraine approaches its two-year anniversary and with ammunition running out, the country’s leader has been flying from Washington DC to Europe in…
The News MeetingNews Meeting: Michelle Mone’s change of tone and Jimmy Lai on trial
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 the best-selling…
The News MeetingSensemaker: Physician associates: what are they and why do we need them?
By 2037, the NHS hopes to have 10,000 physician associates. Now the government is beginning a legal process to set new rules around NHS staff in non-doctor…
The News MeetingNews Meeting: Was COP28 a success and why do politicians lie?
What should lead the news? Three people pitch the story they think matters most to Tortoise deputy editor Giles Whittell. In this episode he’s joined by…
The News MeetingSensemaker: The end of fossil fuels?
For the first time in three decades of UN climate talks, nearly 200 countries have agreed a deal to transition away from fossil fuels, including oil and gas…
The News MeetingSensemaker: 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…