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THE NEWSROOM

Media Training Update w/c 17th February

A plate of spaghetti



Morning all, it’s Monday 17th February.

Tim Radford, the Guardian’s former science editor has died aged 84.

“He wrote for non-specialists, believing that science was part of our culture and that key ideas could be rendered accessible to us all.”

Sir Martin Rees, Astronomer Royal.

Back in 2011 Tim Radford wrote “25 commandments for journalists“, though it should be a manifesto for us all. It is brilliant. I’m going to quote from the piece over the next couple of weeks in the Briefing, but for now I’ll pick out commandment number 5…

5. Here is a thing to carve in pokerwork and hang over your typewriter. “No one will ever complain because you have made something too easy to understand.”

And commandment number 9, which is what I’ve been saying to spokespeople for years, yet nowhere near as eloquently…

9. If an issue is tangled like a plate of spaghetti, then regard your story as just one strand of spaghetti, carefully drawn from the whole. Ideally with the oil, garlic and tomato sauce adhering to it. The reader will be grateful for being given the simple part, not the complicated whole.

So for those of you who have been on our media training:

Top Line + specifics = one strand of spaghetti + oil, garlic and sauce.

READ MORE

“Things Learnt (Then Forgotten)” – Week 6.

Introverts and Extroverts…

As for the week ahead…

Monday: 500th day in captivity for remaining Israeli hostages.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio continues Middle East travel. 

Tuesday: UK employment and wage statistics.


Wednesday: Donald Trump expected to attend a conference in Miami alongside the TikTok CEO.

Manchester City play Real Madrid in UEFA Champions League playoff second leg.

Thursday: G20 foreign ministers meet in South Africa.

London Fashion Week begins.

Friday: UK public sector finances and retail sales figures.

Saturday: Hostages due to be released under Israel-Hamas agreement.

Sunday:  Parliamentary elections in Germany.

Screen Actors Guild Awards. 

Executive-level trolling of Nick Robinson’s X account…

Or as Amol Rajan put it the following morning:

“Our very own tech bro, the mighty Nick Robinson, has finally succumbed to the temptations online, and I see overnight, is launching a cryptocurrency. This is the big news in Britain, and what listeners want to know, Nick, is how do they invest?”

The explanation for what happened? READ MORE

See or hear a brilliant (or terrible) interview over the last 7 days? 

We’re always looking to build our library of news clips and examples.

Drop us a line 

News In Brief:

With The Observer set to transfer across to new owners Tortoise Media, Press Gazette understands around one third of staff have taken voluntary redundancy.

___

Leading AI assistants create distortions, factual inaccuracies and misleading content in response to questions about news and current affairs, research has found.

READ MORE

Footnotes:

On this day: China sent hundreds of troops into Vietnam after weeks of tension and a military build-up along the border on this day in 1979.

Monday weather: 8 degrees and sunny in Bristol, 6 degrees and rainy in Birmingham.

Mutts: Leo returns, and nothing has changed…

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

LinkedIn  Twitter

By |18 February 2025|

Media Training Update w/c 10th Feb

A Million Minutes…



Morning all, it’s Monday 10th February. Let’s kick off with the week ahead:

Monday: MPs debate Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Bill.

France hosts Global Summit on Artificial Intelligence.

Tuesday: Andrew Bailey speech on financial markets.

Manchester City face Real Madrid in UEFA Champions League play-off.

Wednesday: UK convenes Ukraine Defence Contact Group meeting.

US Senate votes on Tulsi Gabbard nomination for Director of National Intelligence.

Thursday: GDP figures for final quarter of 2024. 

High Court trial begins in Niger Delta communities’ case against Shell.

Friday: Munich Security Conference begins.

Saturday: Palestine Solidarity Campaign protest in London against Trump proposals for Gaza. 

Sunday:  BAFTAs.

“Things Learnt (Then Forgotten)” – Week 5.

How many hours will you work across your lifetime?

Ex of X

A flavour of the reaction from last week’s post on our decision to leave X…

“We discussed leaving X last year but decided to watch and wait as our engagement on there was still high and Bluesky wasn’t there yet for us. 

We are reviewing again this week…”

“Interesting to hear you’re coming off X/Twitter. I’m going to suggest that we do the same soon. To your point, the algorithms mean that our stuff is being viewed less and less, but also I find it impossible to find anything useful/relevant on the feed now.”

“X doesn’t really make much sense any more. I’m astonished that government departments and quangos still publish there.”

“I don’t think you’re alone in making this move. I’ve seen a number of businesses move their content from X & meta platforms to other places – LinkedIn being one of them.”

And the view from a Norwegian reader:

“Musk has far too much influence, even on my own country. I find that hard to swallow, especially considering we were occupied by people quite fond of such arm movements not too long ago. Thank you for being historically and politically aware. We cannot afford not to be.”

The article itself is behind a paywall, but this headline from Nature is telling…

“Alexander Armstrong is on a mission to get kids reading” announced Susanna Reid excitedly on last Monday’s Good Morning Britain, before cutting to a shot of the Pointless host holding a copy of his book. But he’s not on a mission is he? He’s just the 400 millionth celebrity this minute to think they can write (or in some cases ghost-write) this stuff.

Let’s at least call it out for what it is. 

See or hear a brilliant (or terrible) interview over the last 7 days? 

We’re always looking to build our library of news clips and examples.

Drop us a line 

“After over a million minutes of live tv news, more than anyone else in the world…”

Kay Burley signs off from her final show on Sky News with typical understatement… 

“After covering 12 separate General Elections I’m retiring from Sky News. Let politicians at every party just rejoice at that news.”

She’s not without her critics, but anyone who has been the face of a channel for 36 years (from its inception) deserves immense credit.

Or…

You can read this spectacularly mean-spirited piece by the Telegraph’s Camilla Tominey, who describes her as “TV’s Liz Truss.”

READ HERE (paywall)

News In Brief:

BBC Radio 4 essay series A Point Of View will come to an end in April as “part of the BBC’s need to make savings.”

___

RTS News Awards nominations:

Political Journalist of the Year: 

Paul Brand (ITV) – Sam Coates (Sky) – Beth Rigby (Sky)

Network Presenter of the Year:

Susanna Reid (GMB). – Anna Foster (BBC) – Sophy Ridge (Sky)

FULL LIST

___

RAJAR

Times Radio is up, GB News Radio is down, 5 Live is down. But overall, audio is doing OK according to the latest listener survey.

Footnotes:

On this day: Charles and Camilla announced their engagement on this day in 2005.

Monday weather: 5 degrees and cloudy in Edinburgh, 6 degrees and cloudy in Exeter.

Mutts: Special guest stars this week, thanks to Klare. Monty will be a mighty 17 in April, happily cuddled up with his 7 month old brother Basil.

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

LinkedIn  Twitter

By |16 February 2025|

Media Training Update w/c 10th Feb

A Million Minutes…



Morning all, it’s Monday 10th February. Let’s kick off with the week ahead:

Monday: MPs debate Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Bill.

France hosts Global Summit on Artificial Intelligence.

Tuesday: Andrew Bailey speech on financial markets.

Manchester City face Real Madrid in UEFA Champions League play-off.

Wednesday: UK convenes Ukraine Defence Contact Group meeting.

US Senate votes on Tulsi Gabbard nomination for Director of National Intelligence.

Thursday: GDP figures for final quarter of 2024. 

High Court trial begins in Niger Delta communities’ case against Shell.

Friday: Munich Security Conference begins.

Saturday: Palestine Solidarity Campaign protest in London against Trump proposals for Gaza. 

Sunday:  BAFTAs.

“Things Learnt (Then Forgotten)” – Week 5.

How many hours will you work across your lifetime?

Ex of X

A flavour of the reaction from last week’s post on our decision to leave X…

“We discussed leaving X last year but decided to watch and wait as our engagement on there was still high and Bluesky wasn’t there yet for us. 

We are reviewing again this week…”

“Interesting to hear you’re coming off X/Twitter. I’m going to suggest that we do the same soon. To your point, the algorithms mean that our stuff is being viewed less and less, but also I find it impossible to find anything useful/relevant on the feed now.”

“X doesn’t really make much sense any more. I’m astonished that government departments and quangos still publish there.”

“I don’t think you’re alone in making this move. I’ve seen a number of businesses move their content from X & meta platforms to other places – LinkedIn being one of them.”

And the view from a Norwegian reader:

“Musk has far too much influence, even on my own country. I find that hard to swallow, especially considering we were occupied by people quite fond of such arm movements not too long ago. Thank you for being historically and politically aware. We cannot afford not to be.”

The article itself is behind a paywall, but this headline from Nature is telling…

“Alexander Armstrong is on a mission to get kids reading” announced Susanna Reid excitedly on last Monday’s Good Morning Britain, before cutting to a shot of the Pointless host holding a copy of his book. But he’s not on a mission is he? He’s just the 400 millionth celebrity this minute to think they can write (or in some cases ghost-write) this stuff.

Let’s at least call it out for what it is. 

See or hear a brilliant (or terrible) interview over the last 7 days? 

We’re always looking to build our library of news clips and examples.

Drop us a line 

“After over a million minutes of live tv news, more than anyone else in the world…”

Kay Burley signs off from her final show on Sky News with typical understatement… 

“After covering 12 separate General Elections I’m retiring from Sky News. Let politicians at every party just rejoice at that news.”

She’s not without her critics, but anyone who has been the face of a channel for 36 years (from its inception) deserves immense credit.

Or…

You can read this spectacularly mean-spirited piece by the Telegraph’s Camilla Tominey, who describes her as “TV’s Liz Truss.”

READ HERE (paywall)

News In Brief:

BBC Radio 4 essay series A Point Of View will come to an end in April as “part of the BBC’s need to make savings.”

___

RTS News Awards nominations:

Political Journalist of the Year: 

Paul Brand (ITV) – Sam Coates (Sky) – Beth Rigby (Sky)

Network Presenter of the Year:

Susanna Reid (GMB). – Anna Foster (BBC) – Sophy Ridge (Sky)

FULL LIST

___

RAJAR

Times Radio is up, GB News Radio is down, 5 Live is down. But overall, audio is doing OK according to the latest listener survey.

Footnotes:

On this day: Charles and Camilla announced their engagement on this day in 2005.

Monday weather: 5 degrees and cloudy in Edinburgh, 6 degrees and cloudy in Exeter.

Mutts: Special guest stars this week, thanks to Klare. Monty will be a mighty 17 in April, happily cuddled up with his 7 month old brother Basil.

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

LinkedIn  Twitter

By |10 February 2025|

Media Training Update w/c 3rd Feb

Ex of X



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.

See or hear a brilliant (or terrible) interview over the last 7 days? 

We’re always looking to build our library of news clips and examples.

Drop us a line 

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

___


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

LinkedIn  Twitter

By |10 February 2025|

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