Media Training Update w/c 3rd Feb

Morning all, it’s Monday 3rd February.

Ex of X

It’s a decision that will hardly leave much of a ripple in Musk’s murky pool, but after 15 years Inside Edge came off X last week. A bit like when they banned smoking in trains, it felt like something fairly obvious that should have been done ages ago. It’s partly because the place is a sewer and we don’t learn anything interesting anymore, but also – if I’m honest – because the algorithm means our content goes even less noticed than usual. Perhaps we’ll talk a little bit about Bluesky in the weeks to come, but if anyone has reached a similar decision for their organisation we’d be interested to hear your thoughts. 

“Things Learnt (Then Forgotten)” – Week 4. “Bringing the juice…”

Interview Case Study:

“I’m a Geographer so I think of it as an air river; when it slows down it meanders.”

Thanks to Charlotte who recommended we have a listen to Professor Mary Gagan talking to Evan Davis on PM last week about Storm Éowyn. This is exactly the type of interview we want to promote. A warm, authentic delivery, embracing complexity, but always accessible. As Charlotte says in her email, “I like how she draws the interviewer into her narrative.”

(She also manages to deal with a classic Davis-Non-Question-Question.)

Listen for yourself by clicking on the image of Evan and scrolling through to 43 minutes.

The week ahead:

Monday: Keir Starmer attends informal EU leaders’ meeting in Brussels.

Negotiations due to begin on second phase of Israel-Hamas agreement.

Tuesday: Donald Trump and Benjamin Netanyahu meeting expected in Washington DC.

Wednesday: Dame Sara Khan questioned by MPs on community cohesion.

Thursday: UK interest rate decision and BoE monetary policy report.

Friday: Critics’ Choice Awards.

Saturday: Hostages released under Israel-Hamas agreement.

Invictus Games

Sunday: NFL Super Bowl LIX.

Elections in Liechtenstein, Kosovo and Ecuador.

Crufts Best in Show (see Footnotes). 

News In Brief:

Sky News is planning a major overhaul of its newsroom that will see the broadcaster focus on ‘premium’ paid-for content over its traditional linear news. David Rhodes, chief executive, unveiled the Sky News 2030 strategy in a speech to staff last week. The 24-hour linear TV news channel will continue to run unaffected. For now. 

READ MORE

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The BBC World Service has announced it will cut 130 jobs as part of a plan to save around £6m in the next financial year.

READ MORE

Journalists often get a thrill from covering wars, but it’s not without moral ambiguity. And in the end there’s usually a cost.

This is a good listen from Chris Booth. A raw account of life as a producer on the frontline.

LISTEN HERE

Footnotes:

On this day: Three young rock ‘n’ roll stars including 22-year-old singer Buddy Holly, died when their plane crashed in the United States on this day in 1959.

Monday weather: 7 degrees and sunny in Brighton, 10 degrees and sunny in Newcastle.

Mutts: As it’s Crufts Week, we return to two dogs who have never been within a sniff of Best In Show…

Be part of the MMB. Thoughts on this week’s content, or interviews you’ve seen, heard, or (best of all) done. We’re @insideedgemedia or just reply to this email. 

Have a brilliant week.

All at Inside Edge