Media Training update w/c 24th March

Morning all, it’s Monday 24th March. Let’s kick off with the week ahead…

Today: MPs debate Planning and Infrastructure Bill for the first time. 

US, Russian and Ukrainian officials hold separate talks in Riyadh.

Tuesday: US intelligence chiefs at Senate hearing on worldwide threats.

Verdict announced in Sepp Blatter and Michel Platini corruption appeal.

Wednesday: Chancellor Rachel Reeves delivers Spring Statement and OBR presents economic and fiscal forecast.

Thursday: France hosts ‘Coalition of the Willing’ meeting on Ukraine.

RFU holds vote of confidence in Bill Sweeney.

Friday: Reform UK local elections campaign launch.

Former Liverpool mayor Joe Anderson in court on bribery charges.

Saturday: FA Cup quarterfinals.

Partial solar eclipse. 

Sunday: Mothering Sunday.

Last week I quoted one of my old editors at 5Live who felt the current pace of the news agenda exposed a weakness in the podcast model.

Reader Ben emailed to say:

“I’ve definitely noticed them being “out of date” but I think we’re forgiving of it because of the investment/para-social relationship we have with the hosts. I think we relate to them being out of date in the way we might relate to a friend not having every single detail of the news agenda in a casual coffee conversation. In other words I think they occupy a different space to “news”.” 

Spot on. (Though would you meet your out-of-touch friend just a bit less often after a while? Time will tell.)

“Things Learnt (Then Forgotten)” – Week 11.

What links Freddie Mercury and Dr Seuss?

“If an entire newsroom can be sidelined overnight, what does that say about the state of press freedom?” 

The National Press Club reacts to the news the Trump administration is shutting down the Voice Of America after eight decades.

“An entire institution is being dismantled piece by piece. This isn’t just a staffing decision – it’s a fundamental shift that endangers the future of independent journalism.”

A White House statement said the order would “ensure taxpayers are no longer on the hook for radical propaganda”

READ MORE

Jack Blanchard, Politico

News In Brief:

The latest UK newspaper print circulation figures show the Daily Mirror under 200,000 for the first time since Edward VII was on the throne. A 100% increase in cover price over the last five years to £1.70 has helped defend circulation revenue (while at the same time probably hastening decline).

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The Independent is to launch a news service which it said will use AI tools to summarise its journalism for “time-poor audiences”.

READ MORE

Bucket List Moment :

I spent a brilliant three days working with the senior team at Buckinghamshire Fire And Rescue Service last week, and managed to tick this one off the bucket list…

Footnotes:

On this day: An oil tanker, the Exxon Valdez, ran aground off the Alaskan coast, releasing crude oil into the sea on this day in 1989.

Monday weather: Derby – 8 and cloudy, Aberdeen – 10 and cloudy.

Mutts: Leo, up close…

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