Every Monday and Friday three journalists battle it out to try and convince the editor that their pitch should lead the news.
Discover what goes on behind the scenes in a newsroom. Why do some stories dominate, while others fail to make the cut?
Tell us if you agree with the final running order - email newsmeeting@tortoisemedia.com
Book your place at a news meeting live in our newsroom - https://www.tortoisemedia.com/our-events
Executive Producer: Rebecca Moore
Producer: Casey Magloire
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Every Monday and Friday three journalists battle it out to try and convince the editor that their pitch should lead the news.
Discover what goes on behind the scenes in a newsroom. Why do some stories dominate, while others fail to make the cut?
Tell us if you agree with the final running order - email newsmeeting@tortoisemedia.com
Book your place at a news meeting live in our newsroom - https://www.tortoisemedia.com/our-events
Executive Producer: Rebecca Moore
Producer: Casey Magloire
Subscribe to The Observer today and get access to:
Click here to subscribe today for just £1 for your first month.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Will captured Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro get a fair trial in the US? Who is driving American foreign policy? How would Trump’s supporters view a military campaign?
Jasper Corbett is joined by The Observer’s Washington Correspondent Hugh Tomlinson, Reporter Phoebe Davis, and lawyer Robert McWhirtle as they give their assessment on the situation in Venezuela.
**We want to hear what you think! Email us at: newsmeeting@observer.co.uk
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Host: Jasper Corbett
Producer: Poppy Bullard
Executive Producer: Jasper Corbett
To find out more about The Observer:
Subscribe to TheObserver+ on Apple Podcasts for early access and ad-free content
Head to our website observer.co.uk
Download the Observer app – for a listening experience curated by our journalists
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Will the world turn against AI? Could the England men’s team finally win the World Cup? And who is the mysterious backbencher preparing to challenge Keir Starmer?
Rebecca Moore is joined by The Observer’s consulting editor for comment, Erica Wagner; deputy sports editor, Andrew Butler; and Whitehall editor, Cat Neilan, as they look ahead to the stories set to shape 2026.
**We want to hear what you think! Email us at: newsmeeting@observer.co.uk
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Host: Rebecca Moore
Producer: Casey Magloire and Poppy Bullard
Executive Producer: Rebecca Moore
To find out more about The Observer:
Subscribe to TheObserver+ on Apple Podcasts for early access and ad-free content
Head to our website observer.co.uk
Download the Observer app – for a listening experience curated by our journalists
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
It has been a busy year! The Epstein files were released, Prince Andrew is no longer a prince, The Lionesses won the Euros and Ozempic has taken hold of Hollywood. And they are just a few non-Donald Trump related headlines.
Giles Whittell is joined by The Observer’s Jeevan Vasagar, Poppy Bullard and Jessy Parker Humphreys, as they battle it out and pitch the top stories of the year.
**We want to hear what you think! Email us at: newsmeeting@observer.co.uk
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Host: Giles Whittell
Producer: Casey Magloire & Amalie Sortland
Executive Producer: Rebecca Moore
To find out more about The Observer:
Subscribe to TheObserver+ on Apple Podcasts for early access and ad-free content
Head to our website observer.co.uk
Download the Observer app – for a listening experience curated by our journalists
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Will European countries decide to give billions of frozen Russian assets to Ukraine? What did we learn about Trump’s White House from Vanity Fair’s 11 months of reporting? How should the government respond to the Palestine Action hunger strikers?
Giles Whittell is joined by The Observer’s Senior Producer Katie Gunning, Data and Graphics Editor Katie Riley, and Data Reporter Hannah Schuller as they battle it out for the top story of the day.
Find the team’s must reads:
**We want to hear what you think! Email us at: newsmeeting@observer.co.uk
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Host: Giles Whittell
Producer: Poppy Bullard
Executive Producer: Rebecca Moore
To find out more about The Observer:
Subscribe to TheObserver+ on Apple Podcasts for early access and ad-free content
Head to our website observer.co.uk
Download the Observer app – for a listening experience curated by our journalists
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It’s been a huge year for British sport: the Lionesses roared to victory in the Euros this summer, the Red Roses won the Women's Rugby World Cup and Lando Norris won Formula 1 drivers' championship.
In such a record-breaking year across the sports, who deserves to be crowned BBC Sports Personality of the Year? This year’s contenders are: Hannah Hampton, Chloe Kelly, Ellie Kildunne, Luke Littler, Rory McIlroy and Lando Norris.
Andrew Butler is joined by The Observer’s Assistant Sports Editor Jess Hayden, alongside sports reporters Jessy Parker Humphreys and George Simms, as they go head-to-head to debate who deserves to take home SPOTY.
Vote for who you think should win here: https://www.smartsurvey.com/t/observersport/
**We want to hear what you think! Email us at: newsmeeting@observer.co.uk
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@ObserverUK on X
@theobserveruk on Instagram and TikTok
@theobserveruk.bsky.social on bluesky
Host: Andrew Butler
Producer: Amalie Sortland
Executive Producer: Rebecca Moore
To find out more about The Observer:
Subscribe to TheObserver+ on Apple Podcasts for early access and ad-free content
Head to our website observer.co.uk
Download the Observer app – for a listening experience curated by our journalists
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Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has called the shooting attack at Bondi Beach, Sydney, an act of terrorism and anti-semitism. The Washington Post has introduced AI-generated podcasts, and pro-democracy Hong Kong tycoon Jimmy Lai has been found guilty of national security offences.
Rebecca Moore is joined by The Observer’s technology reporter Patricia Clarke, senior researcher Serena Cesareo, and our very own producer Casey Magloire, as they battle it out to pitch the top stories of the day.
**We want to hear what you think! Email us at: newsmeeting@observer.co.uk
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Host: Rebecca Moore
Producer: Amalie Sortland
Executive Producer: Jasper Corbett
To find out more about The Observer:
Subscribe to TheObserver+ on Apple Podcasts for early access and ad-free content
Head to our website observer.co.uk
Download the Observer app – for a listening experience curated by our journalists
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
The Iranian leader said the water problem in the capital “cannot be solved” and has suggested evacuating the city’s nearly ten million residents. Iran and Egypt, two countries that criminalise homosexuality, were picked to play the World Cup’s Pride Match in Seattle. And some councils are now regularly paying more than £250,000 a year to support children with special educational needs.
Rebecca Moore is joined by The Observer reporters Jon Ungoed-Thomas and Jessy Parker Humphreys, and Fronts Editor Evan Moffitt, as they battle it out to pitch the top stories of the day.
**We want to hear what you think! Email us at: newsmeeting@observer.co.uk
Follow us on Social Media:
@ObserverUK on X
@theobserveruk on Instagram and TikTok
@theobserveruk.bsky.social on bluesky
Host: Rebecca Moore
Producer: Amalie Sortland
Executive Producer: Gary Marshall
To find out more about The Observer:
Subscribe to TheObserver+ on Apple Podcasts for early access and ad-free content
Head to our website observer.co.uk
Download the Observer app – for a listening experience curated by our journalists
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Netflix’s acquisition of Warner Bros. - including its film and television studios, HBO Max, and HBO - is set to have major ripple effects on both TV and cinema. Meanwhile, the Kremlin is applauding the Trump administration’s newly released national security strategy. Why is Moscow welcoming it? A border dispute between Thailand and Cambodia is turning deadly. How are natural resources fuelling the tension?
Giles Whittell is joined by The Observer reporters Hannah Schuller and Stephen Armstrong, and Senior Writer Francisco Garcia, as they battle it out to pitch the top stories of the day.
**We want to hear what you think! Email us at: newsmeeting@observer.co.uk
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Host: Giles Whittell
Producer: Amalie Sortland
Executive Producers: Rebecca Moore & Jasper Corbett
To find out more about The Observer:
Subscribe to TheObserver+ on Apple Podcasts for early access and ad-free content
Head to our website observer.co.uk
Download the Tortoise app – for a listening experience curated by our journalists
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Will the next men’s football World Cup be the most politically tense in history? Did we learn anything from the latest round of peace talks between Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump’s envoys? Is overdiagnosis of conditions like Autism and ADHD leading to worse outcomes for neurodiverse people?
Rebecca Moore is joined by The Observer’s Ides and Comment Editor Alex O’Connell, Deputy Sports Editor Andrew Butler, and journalist and author Julia Ioffe as they battle it out to pitch the top stories of the day.
Buy Julia Ioffe’s book from the Observer Bookshop:
**We want to hear what you think! Email us at: newsmeeting@observer.co.uk
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Host: Rebecca Moore
Producer: Poppy Bullard
Executive Producer: Matt Russell
To find out more about The Observer:
Subscribe to TheObserver+ on Apple Podcasts for early access and ad-free content
Head to our website observer.co.uk
Download the Tortoise app – for a listening experience curated by our journalists
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Why did Prime Minister Keir Starmer decide to defend himself and the Chancellor over last week’s budget? Rightwing activist and regular GB News contributor Lucy White claimed Commons deputy speaker Nusrat Ghani should not be allowed in the house because she was born in Pakistan. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has asked President Isaac Herzog for a pardon in his corruption cases.
Giles Whittell is joined by The Observer’s Whitehall editor, Cat Neilan, senior researcher, Serena Cesareo, and producer Poppy Bullard, as they battle it out to pitch the top stories of the day.
Find the team’s Must Reads:
**We want to hear what you think! Email us at: newsmeeting@observer.co.uk
Follow us on Social Media:
Host: Giles Whittell
Producer: Amalie Sortland
Executive Producers: Rebecca Moore & Gary Marshall
To find out more about The Observer:
Subscribe to TheObserver+ on Apple Podcasts for early access and ad-free content
Head to our website observer.co.uk
Download the Tortoise app – for a listening experience curated by our journalists
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Will the shooting of two National Guards in Washington DC change US politics forever? Should the UK roll out screening for prostate cancer? Did Chancellor Rachel Reeves miss an opportunity to gear up the economy for growth?
Rebecca Moore is joined by The Observer’s Cat Neilan, Steve Bloomfield and James Tapper, as they battle it out to pitch the top stories of the day.
Find the teams Must Reads:
**We want to hear what you think! Email us at: newsmeeting@observer.co.uk
Follow us on Social Media:
Host: Rebecca Moore
Producer: Poppy Bullard
Executive Producer: Matt Russell
To find out more about The Observer:
Subscribe to TheObserver+ on Apple Podcasts for early access and ad-free content
Head to our website observer.co.uk
Download the Tortoise app – for a listening experience curated by our journalists
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
David Lammy has proposed scrapping jury trials in England and Wales for all but the most serious offences. Paramount Global has obtained exclusive streaming rights to the UEFA Champions League - a move that could redefine how football fans follow the sport in the future. Revelations that MAGA-supporting accounts on X are operated from countries like North Macedonia, Pakistan and Poland raise concerns about foreign-driven influence and its impact on political discourse.
Giles Whittell is joined by The Observer’s Head of Investigations Alexi Mostrous, sports reporter Jessy Parker Humphreys, and journalist, author, and presenter Jenny Kleeman as they compete to pitch the day’s top stories.
While we’ve wrapped up our live editions of The News Meeting for 2025, keep checking https://observer.co.uk/our-events if you’d like to join us at recordings in 2026.
**We want to hear what you think! Email us at: newsmeeting@observer.co.uk
Follow us on Social Media:
Host: Giles Whittell
Producer: Amalie Sortland and Poppy Bullard
Executive Producers: Matt Russell and Rebecca Moore
To find out more about The Observer:
Subscribe to TheObserver+ on Apple Podcasts for early access and ad-free content
Head to our website observer.co.uk
Download the Tortoise app – for a listening experience curated by our journalists
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Did international tourists go on “sniper safaris” to Sarajevo during the siege in the mid-nineties? Why do some campaigners want to halt the new medical trial into the use of puberty blockers? What lies behind renewed efforts to find a peace deal between Ukraine and Russia?
Rebecca Moore is joined by The Observer’s Stephen Armstrong, Bex Sander and Francisco Garcia, as they battle it out to pitch the top stories of the day.
**We want to hear what you think! Email us at: newsmeeting@observer.co.uk
Follow us on Social Media:
Host: Rebecca Moore
Producer: Poppy Bullard
Executive Producer: Jasper Corbett
To find out more about The Observer:
Subscribe to TheObserver+ on Apple Podcasts for early access and ad-free content
Head to our website observer.co.uk
Download the Tortoise app – for a listening experience curated by our journalists
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
A Russian spy ship has directed lasers at Royal Air Force pilots monitoring its movements near UK waters. What is President Vladimir Putin trying to achieve with this latest provocation? Scotland has qualified for the World Cup for the first time since 1998. Can this rare moment of sporting joy help unite the nation? Meanwhile, councils are weighing up the sale of youth and community centres. What consequences could these closures have for local communities?
Giles Whittell is joined by The Observer’s Assistant Sports Editor, Jessica Hayden, Data and Graphics reporter, Becky Pinnington, and Contributing Editor on National Security, Bernard Gray, as they battle it out to pitch the top stories of the day.
Get your ticket for the News Meeting Live HERE
**We want to hear what you think! Email us at: newsmeeting@observer.co.uk
Follow us on Social Media:
Host: Giles Whitell
Producer: Amalie Sortland
Executive Producer: Rebecca Moore
To find out more about The Observer:
Subscribe to TheObserver+ on Apple Podcasts for early access and ad-free content
Head to our website observer.co.uk
Download the Tortoise app – for a listening experience curated by our journalists
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
The Home Secretary has announced a raft of tough immigration controls to make the UK a less attractive destination for illegal migrants. The former Prime Minister of Bangladesh was sentenced to death, how is the UK connected to alleged corruption in her regime? And why does President Donald Trump suddenly want to release the Epstein files?
Rebecca Moore is joined by The Observer’s Cat Neilan, Bex Sander and Serena Cesareo, as they battle it out to pitch the top stories of the day.
Listen to our Londongrad podcast series HERE
Get your ticket for the News Meeting Live HERE
**We want to hear what you think! Email us at: newsmeeting@observer.co.uk
Follow us on Social Media:
Host: Rebecca Moore
Producer: Amalie Sortland
Executive Producer: Katie Gunning
To find out more about The Observer:
Subscribe to TheObserver+ on Apple Podcasts for early access and ad-free content
Head to our website observer.co.uk
Download the Tortoise app – for a listening experience curated by our journalists
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Twenty thousand documents from the estate of convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein have been released. Could emails referencing Donald Trump divide his loyal MAGA base? Has a No. 10 briefing warning backbenchers about a possible coup exposed a vulnerability in Keir Starmer’s leadership? And Donald Trump has threatened to sue the BBC for $1 billion, but is that even possible?
Giles Whittell is joined by The Observer’s Alexi Mostrous, Chloe Hadjimatheou and Poppy Bullard, as they battle it out and pitch the top stories of the day.
Get your ticket for the News Meeting Live HERE
**We want to hear what you think! Email us at: newsmeeting@observer.co.uk
Follow us on Social Media:
Host: Giles Whitell
Producer: Casey Magloire
Executive Producer: Rebecca Moore
To find out more about The Observer:
Subscribe to TheObserver+ on Apple Podcasts for early access and ad-free content
Head to our website observer.co.uk
Download the Tortoise app – for a listening experience curated by our journalists
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Why are so many prisoners being released from prison by mistake? What happens if Arts Council England goes under? And what can the Democrats learn from Mamdani’s New York City mayoral election victory?
Rebecca Moore is joined by The Observer’s Deputy Sports Editor, Andrew Butler, Arts and Media Editor, Vanessa Thorpe, and reporter Jon Ungoed-Thomas as they pitch their top stories of the day.
Must Reads:
**We want to hear what you think! Email us at: newsmeeting@observer.co.uk
Follow us on Social Media:
Host: Rebecca Moore
Producer: Amalie Sortland
Executive Producers: Matt Russell and Poppy Bullard
To find out more about The Observer:
Subscribe to TheObserver+ on Apple Podcasts for early access and ad-free content
Head to our website observer.co.uk
Download the Tortoise app – for a listening experience curated by our journalists
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Will there be any voter suppression in Tuesday’s US elections? Why did a British university prevent one of its academics from researching human rights abuses in China? Are Sudan’s rebels using British-made equipment on the battlefield?
Giles Whittell is joined by The Observer’s Data and Graphics editor, Katie Riley, Senior Audio Producer Katie Gunning, and Senior Researcher Serena Cesareo as they pitch their top stories of the day
Must Reads:
**We want to hear what you think! Email us at: newsmeeting@observer.co.uk
Follow us on Social Media:
Host: Giles Whitell
Producer: Poppy Bullard
Executive Producer: Jasper Corbett
To find out more about The Observer:
Subscribe to TheObserver+ on Apple Podcasts for early access and ad-free content
Head to our website observer.co.uk
Download the Tortoise app – for a listening experience curated by our journalists
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
What do we do with the knowledge that climate change made Hurricane Melissa worse? Why was there such a deadly police raid in Brazil? And why isn’t hospice care treated as an essential part of healthcare?
Rebecca Moore is joined by The Observer’s Data and Graphics editor, Katie Riley, and reporters James Tapper and Rachael Healy, as they pitch their top stories of the day.
Must Reads:
**We want to hear what you think! Email us at: newsmeeting@observer.co.uk
Follow us on Social Media:
Host: Rebecca Moore
Producer: Amalie Sortland
Executive Producer: Matt Russell
To find out more about The Observer:
Subscribe to TheObserver+ on Apple Podcasts for early access and ad-free content
Head to our website observer.co.uk
Download the Tortoise app – for a listening experience curated by our journalists
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
The storm caused widespread damage in Jamaica and is making its way to Cuba; is climate change to blame for its power? What - or who - is behind Donald Trump’s obsession with Venezuela? Is it good news that a cargo ship has made it through the North East Passage for the first time?
Jeevan Vasagar is joined by the Observer’s Erica Wagner, Jessica Hayden and Chloe Hadjimatheou as they pitch their top stories of the day, live from the Observer newsroom.
Must Reads:
**We want to hear what you think! Email us at: newsmeeting@observer.co.uk
Follow us on Social Media:
Host: Jeevan Vasagar
Producer: Poppy Bullard
Executive Producers: Rebecca Moore and Matt Russell
To find out more about The Observer:
Subscribe to TheObserver+ on Apple Podcasts for early access and ad-free content
Head to our website observer.co.uk
Download the Tortoise app – for a listening experience curated by our journalists
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.