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: 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…
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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…
The News MeetingSensemaker: 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…
The News MeetingNews 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…
The News MeetingSensemaker: 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…
The News MeetingTrendy: 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…
The News MeetingSensemaker: 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…
The News MeetingNews 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…
The News MeetingSensemaker: 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…
The News MeetingSensemaker: A new era for women’s football in England
The Women's Super League and Championship will break away from the Football Association after the top two tiers unanimously agreed to be governed by a new…
The News MeetingNews Meeting: James Harding on Tortoise's case against the Tory party
How the courts denied our request but agreed the public needs more information. In this bonus episode James Harding explains how Tortoise tried to shine a…
The News MeetingSensemaker: Attacks in the Red Sea
The weeklong truce between Israel and Hamas ended on Friday. Two days later, a US warship came under attack in the Red Sea. Is this a sign that the conflict is…
The News MeetingNews Meeting: Assassination attempt strains US-India relations and Farage in the jungle
What should lead the news? Three people pitch the story they think matters most to Tortoise’s deputy editor Giles Whittell. The Tortoise team are joined by…
The News MeetingSensemaker: How close are we to green air travel?
The first transatlantic flight using 100% sustainable jet fuel took off last week, but it drew criticism from campaigners and climate experts. How “green” was…
The News MeetingWas Henry Kissinger a force for good and has Elon Musk finally gone too far?
What should lead the news? Three people pitch the story they think matters most to Tortoise editor-in-chief James Harding. In this episode he’s joined by…
The News MeetingThe Elgin marbles debate and could a pause in fighting become a ceasefire in Gaza?
What should lead the news? Three people pitch the story they think matters most to Tortoise editor-in-chief James Harding. He’s joined by David Aaronovitch…
The News MeetingWhen is a tax cut not a tax cut?
What should lead the news? Three people pitch the story they think matters most to Tortoise editor-in-chief James Harding. In this live recording he’s joined…
The News MeetingOpen warfare at OpenAI and Jess Phillips on why she voted for a ceasefire in Gaza
What should lead the news? Three people pitch the story they think matters most to Tortoise editor-in-chief James Harding. Last week Jess Phillips was one of…
The News MeetingAfter Rwanda, what next and could Israel’s raid on a Gaza hospital be a turning point?
What should lead the news? Three people pitch the story they think matters most to Tortoise editor-in-chief James Harding. He’s joined by political editor Cat…
The News MeetingBonus episode: Rory Stewart on Westminster’s failures and his political future
Former cabinet minister and author of ‘Politics on the Edge’, Rory Stewart, talks to Tortoise’s editor-in-chief James Harding about his political career…
The News MeetingRory Stewart on David Cameron’s return and Suella Braverman’s sacking
What should lead the news? Three people pitch the story they think matters most to Tortoise editor-in-chief James Harding. Rishi Sunak has sacked his home…
The News MeetingBonus episode: James O’Brien on the people who broke Britain and how we fix it
LBC presenter James O’Brien talks to Tortoise’s editor-in-chief James Harding about the people who he thinks broke Britain, why there aren’t any rules anymore…
The News MeetingJames O’Brien on Suella Braverman and why Shell is suing Greenpeace
What should lead the news? Three people pitch the story they think matters most to Tortoise editor-in-chief James Harding. James O’Brien, LBC presenter and…
The News MeetingShould pro-Palestinian marches go ahead on Armistice Day and can we feel sorry for Sam Bankman-Fried?
What should lead the news? Three people pitch the story they think matters most to Tortoise editor-in-chief James Harding. He’s joined by Ian Goldin, professor…
The News MeetingWhat we learnt from the Covid inquiry and what’s been happening at Bletchley Park?
What should lead the news? Three people pitch the story they think matters most to Tortoise editor-in-chief James Harding. He’s joined by Katy Searle, who was…
The News MeetingThe Dagestan airport riot and who is the new US House Speaker?
What should lead the news? Three people pitch the story they think matters most to Basia Cummings. She’s joined by Hashi Mohamed, Ceri Thomas and Giles…
The News MeetingWhat does Saudi Arabia want and are we facing an AI election?
What should lead the news? Times columnist Matt Chorley pitches his story and talks about his new book. He joins Tortoise editors Giles Whittell, Cat Neilan…
The News MeetingWhat’s delaying Israel’s ground offensive in Gaza?
What should lead the news? As Israel prepares to enter Gaza, former BBC Middle East correspondent Paul Wood explains why the ground offensive hasn’t started…
The News MeetingIsrael-Hamas war: what role can diplomacy play?
After Joe Biden announced an aid deal for Gaza, the question of the role and limits of diplomacy hangs over the Middle East. James Harding is joined by Lina…
The News MeetingIsrael and Gaza: Blinken’s diplomacy and Netanyahu’s next move
James Harding is joined from Jerusalem by journalist Noga Tarnopolsky and hears from Yousef Hammash, the Norwegian Refugee Council’s advocacy officer in Gaza…
The News MeetingIsrael and Gaza: what happens next?
James Harding, Tortoise editor-in-chief and former director of BBC News criticises the BBC’s policy to not call Hamas terrorists. In this episode Lawrence…
The News MeetingIsrael at war
Israel’s prime minister Binyamin Netanyahu has declared war on Hamas after the military group launched an attack from Gaza, killing hundreds of civilians and…
The News MeetingHow should we cover migration stories and why did Rishi Sunak cancel part of HS2?
What should lead the news? Three people pitch the story they think matters most to James Harding. In this episode he’s joined by BBC News and Mastermind…
The News MeetingSunak’s divided Conservatives and why do water companies want to increase bills?
What should lead the news? Three people pitch the story they think matters most to Basia Cummings. In this episode she is joined by Tortoise political editor…
The News MeetingWhy are six young people taking 32 countries to court and what is Suella Braverman up to?
What should lead the news? Three people pitch the story they think matters most to Giles Whittell. In this episode he’s joined by comedian Andy Hamilton and…
The News MeetingWhat’s happening with HS2 and should we celebrate Adidas’s new super-shoe?
What should lead the news? Three people pitch the story they think matters most to Giles Whittell. In this episode he’s joined by Basia Cummings, Alexi…
The News MeetingAre journalists too obsessed with bad news and did Rupert Murdoch make a secret deal with Prince William?
What should lead the news? Three people pitch the story they think matters most to James Harding. In this episode he’s joined by Steven Pinker, Harvard…
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The Russell Brand allegations and is climate change to blame for the Libya disaster?
What should lead the news? Three people pitch the story they think matters most to Basia Cummings. In this episode she’s joined by Giles Whittell, Jeevan…
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Keir Starmer on the offensive and is the UK in a recession?
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 former Bank of…
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How significant are the China spy allegations and why do we struggle to care about climate stories?
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 Tortoise…
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Is it right to scrutinise Volodymyr Zelensky’s marriage and should The Rolling Stones admit they’re a PR stunt?
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 Tortoise…
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Bonus episode: Is the NHS “fobbing off” the mother of a girl who died of sepsis?
In this special episode of The News Meeting, James Harding is joined by Merope Mills, the mother of 13-year-old Martha who died unnecessarily from sepsis, and…
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Why did Elon Musk buy Twitter and how did a 13-year-old girl die needlessly in the NHS?
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 Tortoise…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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Is Elon Musk “the space dictator” and why is the PSNI data leak so significant?
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 Alexi…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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?…
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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…
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How do you report climate science and should UFOs ever lead the news?
What should lead the news? Three journalists pitch the story they think matters most to Tortoise's deputy editor Giles Whittell. They discuss a new law that…
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Odesa cathedral, green policies reconsidered and Cookham Wood
In this episode Liz Moseley is in the editor’s chair. She’s joined by Tortoise editors Jess Winch, Cat Neilan and Ceri Thomas. They discuss the Russian attack…
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Post Office scandal, Starmer benefit row, and grain deal
In this episode, recorded in front of an audience in the Tortoise newsroom, James Harding is joined by Guardian columnist Gaby Hinsliff, Liz Moseley and Katie…
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European heat storm, inheritance tax, and Hollywood strikes
The team discusses the record-breaking heatwave in southern Europe, potential plans to scrap inheritance tax, and why Hollywood’s actors and writers are going…
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El Niño, mortgage costs, and missing migrant boats
Basia Cummings is in the editor’s chair. She’s joined by Cat Neilan, Claudia Williams and Stephen Armstrong who pitch rising mortgage rates, migrant boats…
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Bonus episode: the BBC presenter and privacy
In this special episode James Harding explores why the media is reluctant to name the BBC presenter accused of paying a teenager for explicit images. He’s…
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BBC presenter suspended, NHS & big pharma, and cluster bombs
Before founding Tortoise James Harding was head of BBC News. In this episode he’s joined by journalists Liz Moseley, Will Brown and Ceri Thomas, a former…