Media Training Update w/c 14th April

Good morning. It’s Monday 14th April.

“Things Learnt (Then Forgotten)” – Week 14.

Pinball machines, and the burden of knowledge…

Stories scheduled for the next seven days:

Today: South Korean President Yoon Suk-Yeol’s criminal trial begins.

Blue Origin New Shepard launches with Katy Perry and Lauren Sánchez aboard.

Tuesday: High Court holds first hearing in case against Andrew Tate.

David Lammy hosts conference on the humanitarian crisis in Sudan.

Wednesday: Supreme Court rules on Scottish gender recognition case.

UK inflation data.

Thursday:  Donald Trump hosts Giorgia Meloni at the White House.

ECB interest rate decision.

Friday: Vatican marks Good Friday as Pope Francis continues recovery.

NASUWT teachers’ union conference begins.

Saturday: US ‘50501’ protests against Trump administration.

Sunday: Review of US foreign aid programmes due

“It’s 8 o’clock, you’re (still) listening to Today on Radio 4…”

Well at least some of you are, albeit through gritted teeth. Following my moan about the programme losing its way, some feedback from you…

“I think the bromance of Nick and Amal has become overbearing and in terms of Nick, I have always found him to prefer his own voice to that of the person he is interviewing – I remember one time when he interrupted a Professor of Psychology with his own (wrong) theory taking up the valuable time allocated”.

“I find Today too naval-gazey these days promoting BBC news and current affairs programmes and framing them as ‘news’ when some of the output is questionable in its bias and lack of balance.”

“Today has lost its way and lost its tone. Editorially I don’t know what they stand for any more. The only reason I still listen is because I don’t know where else to go for morning news.”

The General Medical Council (politely) joins the Twitter/X exodus…

News In Brief:

Press Gazette has a brilliant investigation into fake experts being widely quoted in the national press.

They include a science educator called “Rebecca Leigh” who put herself forward after a journalist put out a call on X for insight on the environmental impact of avocados. Apparently she doesn’t exist.

It’s an intriguing (and complicated) tale – we’ll talk more about it after Easter.

A US judge has ordered the Trump administration to restore the Associated Press’s access to presidential events after the White House blocked the news agency in a dispute over the term “Gulf of America”.

READ MORE

Nigel Farage has bagged himself a 10th job, making £25,000 as a commentator for the Rupert Murdoch-backed Sky News Australia. 

(Take note, voters of Clacton.)

READ MORE

Footnotes:

On this day: An explosion on board Apollo 13 caused one of the most critical situations in American space history on this day in 1970.

Monday weather: Exeter – 15 degrees and drizzle. Ramsgate – 14 degrees and sunny.

Mutts:

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.

The Briefing takes a break for a couple of weeks but we’ll return on Monday 5th May.

Have a great fortnight.

All at Inside Edge