Media Training update w/c 10th March

John Thornhill writes in the FT about “inner emigration” – the idea that as the planet feels increasingly volatile, people lose interest in the news, retreat from public life and prioritise their inner world. 

He quotes the technologist and philosopher James Williams who described President Trump as like a “distributed denial of service attack against the human will”. Nice line. 

As a news junkie I’ve always harboured a sneaky jealousy for those who can pay passing interest in what to me feels seismic (until the next news cycle when it’s relegated or even forgotten), however as Thornhill concludes, “democracies depend on the active participation of engaged citizens, not just passive acceptance. Inner emigration can morph into dangerous escapism, leaving the field open for extremists to exploit.” 

READ MORE (whopping paywall)

Morning all, it’s Monday 10th March. Everyone OK?

The week ahead…

Monday: King Charles and Princess of Wales among senior royals attending Westminster Abbey’s Commonwealth Day service. 

Volodymyr Zelenskyy meets with MBS in Saudi Arabia ahead of US-Ukraine talks.

Tuesday: New Employment Rights Bill amendments debated.

Kyle Clifford sentencing.

Wednesday: US tariffs on steel and aluminium imports enter into force.

European defence ministers meet in Paris/G7 foreign ministers meet in Quebec.

Thursday: Court of Session hears challenge to Winter Fuel Payment reductions.

Friday: Monthly GDP figures.

Thomas Tuchel’s first England squad announcement.

Saturday: Chelsea face Manchester City in the Women’s League Cup Final. 

Sunday: The mighty Geordies take on minnows Liverpool in what’s expected to be the most one-sided Carabao Cup final in years.

“Things Learnt (Then Forgotten)” – Week 9.

Pace and posture…

“We must deploy AI to support, enable and accelerate our innovation and growth.”

Deborah Turness, BBC News Chief Executive

BBC News is to create a new department that will use AI to give the public – amongst other things – more personalised content.

(What could possibly go wrong?)

READ MORE

“Senior television producers with decades of experience are working as high street shelf-stackers, car park attendants and in pubs, as a prolonged crisis continues to sweep through the TV world.”

The extent of the crisis in TV production is laid bare in this Guardian piece by Michael Savage.

READ MORE

News In Brief:

BBC News at One presenter Anna Foster will be announced as the new presenter of Radio 4’s Today programme.

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“The media recruits graduates from the arts, humanities, and they tend to be metropolitan and to have a point of view you could describe as liberal centre, centre left. We kind of reflect that.” 

Chair Samir Shah calls for more diversity at the BBC in a Sunday Times interview 

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And FT CEO John Ridding is stepping down in June after leading the newspaper group for almost 20 years.

Footnotes:

On this day: A court in Baghdad imposed the death sentence on The Observer journalist Farzad Bazoft on this day in 1990.

Monday weather: Southampton: 14 and sunny. Edinburgh: 7 with light rain.

Mutts: Crufts on TV. Gripped. Can’t even coax him out for a walk…

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