Good morning, it’s Monday 28th October. Eight days until the US Election and The Washington Post says it won’t endorse either candidate.

Will Lewis, former editor of the Telegraph and now Post CEO called it…

“…a statement in support of our readers’ ability to make up their own minds on this. … Most of all, our job as the newspaper of the capital city of the most important country in the world is to be independent.”

While legendary former Exec Editor Marty Baron called it…

“…cowardice, with democracy as its casualty. Donald Trump will see this as an invitation to further intimidate owner Jeff Bezos (and others). Disturbing spinelessness at an institution famed for courage.”

Former New York Times media columnist Ben Smith called it…

“…a second billionaire vetoing a presumptive Harris endorsement.”

“I am as comfortable in front of the camera as I am breathing” 

The great Oprah Winfrey brings down the curtain on Part 4 of Year Of The Expert, as we consider the importance of headspace. 

LISTEN HERE 

As we start on the last lap of our 12 month journey the final section is entitled ‘So What’s Stopping You?’, where any lingering doubts about media interviews can be voiced and addressed. Over to you… 

GET IN TOUCH 

The week ahead:

Monday: Tommy Robinson in court on contempt charges

Ballon d’Or ceremony

Tuesday: Alex Salmond funeral

One week until US presidential election

Results from Alphabet and BP

Wednesday: The Budget

Rishi Sunak’s final PMQs as Leader of the Opposition

Thursday: Conservative Party leadership election members’ ballot closes

Friday: RMT members begin series of strikes on the London Underground

Saturday: New Conservative Party leader announced

“Very often the big abstract idea is the most important message. But to convey that message a good, concrete visual example is often the best.”

Sapiens and Nexus writer Yuval Noah Harari talks to Elizabeth Day for her How To Fail podcast. (Thanks to James for recommending we have a listen.) 

There are some excellent insights into writing and speaking with impact. 

LISTEN HERE

The British Journalism Awards finalists are announced:

“Without journalism, Boris Johnson would still be prime minister, wronged postmasters would not have a voice, and victims of the infected blood scandal would not have a chance of compensation…”

This list of nominated journalists contains links to their articles: 

READ HERE

“…In a media world increasingly controlled by a few parasitic technology platforms it is more important than ever to celebrate the publishers willing to invest in and support quality journalism.” 

Dominic Ponsford

Chair of Judges

“I could trim the Lord’s Prayer if I had to,” she used to assure staffers, and no one doubted her for as long as she could tap a keyboard.”

Thanks so much to Laura who writes, “a much-loved editor from my Detroit Free Press days died last week and another former colleague wrote a hell of an obit”.

She’s not wrong. It’s a wonderful read. RIP Nancy Laughlin…

READ MORE

Footnotes:

On this day: The Cuban Missile Crisis ended on this day in 1962.

Quiz: Not sitting this week (again…)

Weather: 15 degrees in Folkestone, 12 degrees in Fife, 21 degrees in Fresno, California.

Coffee? Inside Edge is in London and Brighton this week

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. 

Have a brilliant week.

All at Inside Edge

Good morning. It’s Monday 21st October.

“Getting in the media is the best way to get something through to a politician, absolutely.”

Professor Tim Leunig 

Year Of The Expert takes a detour this week on account of an interview given by Professor Tim Leunig on BBC 5Live. It takes us right back to Part 1 – why bother engaging with the media. We think it’s worth 3 minutes of your time, particularly if you’re an expert yet to be convinced of the benefits of media engagement. 

LISTEN HERE

“When it comes to media freedom, all the warning lights are flashing.”

Tim Davie

BBC DG Tim Davie’s speech to the Future Resilience Forum included this line:

“The BBC World Service is a priceless global asset. The former UN Secretary General, Kofi Annan, once described it as possibly “Britain’s greatest gift to the world”. But the truth is, the World Service is now operating under intolerable pressures.”

READ MORE

“Yes, but…” Part 1…

“HARDtalk was never just another news show. A brilliant team of producers and researchers is being disbanded just as BBC DG Tim Davie is trying to persuade the British Govt that the journalism of the BBC World Service is such a vital expression of democratic soft power that the taxpayer must fund it.”

Presenter Stephen Sackur reacts to the news that HARDtalk is being axed, amid cuts across BBC News

READ MORE

“Yes, but…” Part 2…

Davie went on the Today Programme ahead of his speech and was inevitably asked about the fallout from Huw Edwards’ conviction. Nick Robinson asked him about the power of on air ‘talent’:

“I don’t think anyone is indispensable…we often refer to people like yourself as ‘talent’ – I’d like to ban that word…Everyone should be treated equally, regardless of rank…We’re sorting this culture.” 

The final word on Talent goes to Libby Purves in The Times (herself a former Today programme producer then presenter):

“If the culture changes, good. Let the affronted talent ease its vanity with Clive Myrie-type £10k dinner speeches. If the T-word itself gets banned, still better. It is widely hated by gifted, anxious programme makers who see their production money eroding and their intern runners living on Greggs pasties and student debt. “Got no budget,” they mourn. “Effing talent’s had it all.””

The week ahead:

Monday: Employment Rights Bill debated for the first time in the Commons

UN Biodiversity Conference (COP-16) opens

Tuesday: World Economic Outlook published 

Wednesday: Inquest into the death of Brianna Ghey

Thursday: Prime Minister Keir Starmer and King Charles in Samoa for CHOGM

Friday: Lionesses play Germany 

Sunday: Israel holds National Remembrance Day for October 7 attacks

Snap election in Japan 

The boss of the Institute for Fiscal Studies Paul Johnson is stepping down next year.

He’s a superb communicator. Never shies away from economic complexity, yet roots his numbers in the audience’s world. 

Reliable. Friendly. Generous with his time and expertise. Understands the impact media engagement can have.

Newsrooms and audiences will miss him.

A rare foray into sport for this week’s Monday Media Briefing…

“Gareth Southgate was not a naturally confident public speaker, but gradually honed his act until he perfected the art of saying nothing very wisely.”

Jonathan Liew’s excellent article about communication in elite sport.

READ MORE

“The analysis on why he died, written by the people who caused him such pain, who themselves have so little understanding, is at best ironic and at worse an insult.”

Former Sun Editor David Yelland on the Mail’s coverage of Liam Payne’s death:

Footnotes:

On this day: Tragedy hit the Welsh village of Aberfan as a coal slag tip engulfed a school burying at least 130 people and injuring many more on this day in 1966.

Quiz: Not sitting this week

Weather: 13 degrees in Edinburgh, 16 degrees in Exeter, 2 degrees in Edmonton, Canada.

Coffee? Inside Edge is in London, Birmingham and Pontypridd this week

Mutts: In warmer times…

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

Good morning. It’s Monday 14th October. The week ahead:

Monday: GB Investment Summit

Inquiry opens into the Novichok poisoning death of Dawn Sturgess

Nobel economics prize winner announced

Tuesday: Horizon IT director at Post Office inquiry

UK labour market statistics

Wednesday: Assisted dying bill introduced in the Commons

RIBA Stirling Prize Awards

Thursday: Premier League holds official clubs meeting

EU Summit Brussels (and Friday) 

Friday: King Charles in Australia (then Samoa) 

Saturday: Joni Mitchell performs in California 

Sunday: United States Grand Prix 

“We’ve received pushback to last week’s audio diary – which is rare. Usually we don’t get much reaction at all, which I take to mean everyone is delighted…”

Robust challenge from listeners following my advice to ignore the latest AI innovation. (It allows you to read notes from your laptop screen when undertaking a TV interview, yet give the impression to the viewer that you are looking at the camera).

“I would 100% use this feature. My constant dread in interviews is forgetting stats. To have just these in front of me means I can relax and actually try to perform well rather than just try to recall the numbers.” 

“It’s not about a script. It’s about my Top Line, a couple of specifics. Some areas to steer away from.” 

Both interventions get short shrift…

LISTEN HERE

“The owner of the New York Sun is the leading contender to buy the Daily Telegraph, but his fighting talk about the situation in the Middle East has sparked alarm among staff about the editorial influence and impartiality of their potential new owner.”

I’ve been meaning to link to this for a while, but The Guardian (and others) are right to ask…

Who is Dovid Efune, leading contender to buy Daily Telegraph?

READ MORE

Changes at BBC 5 Live.

Olympian Jeanette Kwakye is to present the weekend breakfast programme alongside Eleanor Oldroyd on Saturdays and Gordon Smart on Sundays.

After a decade presenting Drive, Tony Livesey is moving to the late evening show. Chris Warburton will now present with Clare McDonnell.

READ MORE

“What!? No quiz question?” Harsh but fair from reader Dylan.

(He’s not wrong. We did miss last week. But the quiz is back…)

According to Press Gazette, an email sent by Birmingham Live editor Graeme Brown suggested journalists should file at least how many stories per day unless they were newsgathering outside of the office?

Answer in the footnotes.

James Cox, who presented the Radio 4’s The World This Weekend for more than a decade has died.

READ MORE

Footnotes:

On this day: Yasser Arafat, Yitzhak Rabin and Shimon Peres were named the winners of the Nobel peace prize on this day in 1994.

Quiz: The answer is a whopping eight stories a day. READ MORE

Weather: 15 degrees in Deal, 11 degrees in Derby, 27 degrees in Denver.

Coffee? Inside Edge is in Brighton, Birmingham and London this week

Mutts: Another day at the coal face…

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

“Audiences just know. People can tell when you are being spontaneous and when you are simply reading or reciting.”

Jeremy Clarkson

Part 4, Episode 5 of Year Of The Expert poses the following question… 

If A.I. allowed you to read notes from your laptop screen, yet give the impression you were maintaining eye contact with the camera at all times, would you utilise it to undertake a TV interview?

The short answer should be “no, absolutely not”, however for a bit more nuance…

LISTEN HERE

Good morning. It’s Monday 7th October. The week ahead:

Monday: MPs return to Westminster

ESA launches Hera mission

Tuesday: Nobel Physics Prize winner announced

Wednesday: Votes today (and Thursday) will whittle the Tory leadership candidates down to the final two

Post Office CEO appears at Horizon IT system inquiry

Thursday: Release of Boris Johnson memoirs

Nobel Literature Prize winner announced

President Biden in Germany

Friday: Winner of the Nobel Peace Prize announced

Monthly GDP estimate

Jay Blades in court on controlling behaviour charges

Sunday: 100 days ago: new UK government formed

Quite the mea culpa from Laura K this week…

Sky News has also pulled its 1-1 Johnson interview, for different reasons:

READ MORE

As the Israeli offensive against targets in Lebanon continues, The Media Show assembles a stellar cast to discuss the challenges for journalists reporting the story from Beirut and Jerusalem.

Well worth a listen.

LISTEN HERE 

Whilst writing about Phillip Schofield’s “redemption arc” (I know…), PR consultant Mark Borkowski said this: 

“The public’s attention span is about as long as a TikTok clip, and the news cycle is just as fleeting. 80% of online news stories hit their peak within 20 hours, meaning that we collectively forget them faster than we scroll past useless ads.”

BORKOWSKI ARTICLE

The 20 hour stat intrigued me. It’s taken from research by consultancy MX3. Here’s some context I found interesting, with a link to the research below: 

“Articles focused on breaking news have shorter lifespans than deeper reads in science and technology. Reports on weather and disaster, for example, receive 80% of their page views in less than a day while articles related to science have a median completion time of 34 and 36 hours.”

MX3 RESEARCH

The Guardian was the biggest commercial news website in the UK in August, overtaking The Sun and Mail Online in Press Gazette’s monthly ranking.

READ MORE

Footnotes:

On this day: Ninety sets of Swedish identical twins travelled to Felixstowe for a brief shopping trip on this day in 1977. (For context: READ MORE)

Weather: A balmy 18 degrees in Canterbury. 16 degrees in Cardiff. 31 degrees in Cairo.

Coffee? Inside Edge is in Brighton and London this week

Mutts: Designated driver…

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