Stop The Press!
The podcast where we peel back the headlines and dive into the dynamic, ever-evolving world of journalism and media. Listen to Bill Martin, Nick Copson, and Rob Chadwick as they go from current affairs to investigative storytelling, from where news and media came from, to where it's heading, we explore the forces shaping how information is reported, consumed, and manipulated in today's fast-paced digital age.
We aim to empower media professionals, current and former journalists, and aspiring storytellers by exploring the challenges, opportunities, and ethics of the industry. Through candid conversations with industry leaders, academics, and change-makers, we seek to provide a platform for learning, reflection, and inspiration, ensuring journalism continues to thrive as a pillar of truth, accountability, and creativity in the digital age.
Episodes
31 episodes
#31: Is social media dead?
A landmark ruling in Los Angeles has sent shockwaves through Silicon Valley, with tech giants like Meta and Google found liable for contributing to the worsening mental health of a young woman who argued their platforms were deliberately design...
#30: Special Guest Episode with Pete Holdgate - War, Newsrooms, and the Power of the Image
This week on Stop The Press!, the team sit down with Falklands War veteran and former Western Morning News and Plymouth Herald photographer Pete Holdgate for a powerful conversation about the craft and courage behind ...
#29: The Blair Years - His legacy and his leadership
In this episode of Stop The Press!, Nick, Bill, and Rob discuss the recent Channel 4 documentary series The Blair Years and revisit the political era shaped by former UK Prime Minister Sir Tony Blair. From the landslide victor...
#28: Iran invasion: War, Restraint, and the Media’s Reckoning
The Middle East is once again at war. Following the joint Israeli and American strikes on Iran, the geopolitical consequences are unfolding at speed - from retaliation across the region to rising tensions between allies and growing uncertainty ...
#27: Hacked Off! Will it mean more press regulation?
In this episode of Stop The Press!, Nick, Bill and Rob unpack a week where media accountability, political influence and public broadcasting all collide.First, the team examines the latest developments in the Hacked Off trial...
#26: Epstein Fallout: Andrew under arrest, the monarchy and the battle for the truth.
In this episode of Stop The Press!, Nick Copson, Bill Martin and Rob Chadwick dig into the latest developments surrounding the Jeffrey Epstein case and the continuing ripple effects across the media and the monarchy.With fresh d...
#25: A round-up of the news and how it affects the media! And there's lots of it.
In this week's episode of Stop The Press! Bill, Nick and Rob discuss what's been happening in the news, (or rather what's been happening in Trump-land) because that's the only show in town at the moment, and there's lots to discuss.The g...
#24: Expose or Entrap? Sven, Big Sam, and the limits of the press
In Part 2 of the press and England sport pod, Bill, Rob, and Nick take on one of the biggest ethical questions in journalism: does the press go too far in pursuit of a headline?Using the historic but high-profile sting operations ...
#23: From tabloids to Bazball - England sport’s never-ending media battle
England’s Ashes tour of Australia didn’t just take place on the pitch - it played out in headlines, columns, and outrage too. From stories about drinking culture to fierce criticism of Bazball tactics, the coverage often felt less like analysis...
22: Our wildly fanciful, slightly irreverent, almost certainly wrong... predictions for 2026
What’s going to happen in 2026? Almost certainly not what we predict… which makes this episode perfect Stop The Press! territory. Bill, Nick and Rob each bring three predictions for the year ahead across news, media, politics and culture - and ...
21: 2025 - A Year in Review – Winners, Losers and the Wild Ride of 2025
In this special year-in-review episode of Stop The Press!, Bill, Nick and Rob take a deep breath and dive into the whirlwind that was 2025. From Trump’s escalating tariff battles to the latest round of turmoil inside the Labour Party, ...
20: From Thatcher to Boris: How Britain’s Leaders Handle the Media
This week, Rob, Bill and Nick, look back at 30 years of crossing paths with every British Prime Minister from Margaret Thatcher to Boris Johnson. Bill, especially shares what they were really like when the cameras stopped rolling, how th...
19: Trump vs BBC: What this could mean for the future of the beeb
In this week’s Stop the Press!, hosts Rob Chadwick, Nick Copson and Bill Martin break down the latest developments in Donald Trump’s lawsuit against the BBC for defamation. The team explores why the l...
18: Prince Andrew and Rachel Reeves scandals - British media prove there's nowhere to hide
In this week’s episode of Stop the Press!, hosts Nick Copson, Rob Chadwick, and Bill Martin unpack two of the biggest stories shaking the UK media landscape — the latest developments in the Prince Andrew scandal...
17: Journalism on film - How media in pop culture has shaped views of the news
In this episode of Stop the Press!, hosts Nick Copson, Rob Chadwick, and Bill Martin explore how journalism in film and media in pop culture have shaped the public’s view of the news. From the iconic ...
16: Silly season 2025... or was it? What happened in the news this summer
While the rest of Britain was busy incinerating sausages and arguing over who forgot the sun cream, Westminster went one better and set itself on fire.What’s usually the media’s quiet season — when journos are forced to turn “se...
15: Gen Z and the News: Are They Even Listening?
In this episode of Stop The Press!, Rob, Nick and Bill dive into the shifting habits of Gen Z when it comes to consuming news. With headlines losing ground to TikToks and traditional media struggling to keep up with scroll culture, wha...
14: How podcasts revived long-form journalism
In this episode of Stop The Press!, we explore how the podcast boom has breathed new life into long-form journalism. From deep-dive investigative series to immersive narrative storytelling, podcasts have created space for nuance and de...
13: Why don't we care about the news anymore?
In this episode of Stop The Press!, we delve into a pressing question: Why does the public seem to care less about the news today than they did 30 years ago? From the rise of digital overload to growing distrust in media, we explore th...
12: Reform UK: Media Bias and the Rise of a Disruptor
In this episode of Stop The Press!, we dive into the media coverage surrounding Reform UK - the most disruptive force in British politics today. As the party gains traction in the polls, we examine how outlets on both the left and righ...
11: The BBC Unscripted: Past, Present & Future - Part 2
In this special two-part edition of Stop The Press!, Rob, Bill and Nick turn the spotlight on the BBC - Britain’s most iconic media institution. Part One charts the broadcaster’s historic role in shaping journalism, culture, and public...
10: The BBC Unscripted: Past, Present & Future - Part 1
In this special two-part edition of Stop The Press!, Rob, Bill and Nick turn the spotlight on the BBC - Britain’s most iconic media institution. Part One charts the broadcaster’s historic role in shaping journalism, culture, and public...
9: With Mike Baker: Is there still a career in Journalism?
In this episode of Stop The Press!, hosts Rob Chadwick, Nick Copson, and Bill Martin sit down with special guest Mike Baker to tackle a question weighing on the minds of aspiring reporters: Is there still a career in ...
8: Henry Winter, Claire Balding, and Chris Sutton's 606 - the best of sports media according to us.
In this episode of Stop The Press!, hosts Rob, Nick, and Bill dive into the world of sports journalism, sharing their all-time favourite pieces, writers, and moments that shaped the industry. From legendary columnists to groundbreaking...
7: Is WhatsApp a legitimate news source... surely these messages are private?
In the wake of the sacking of Labour MPs Andrew Gwynne and Oliver Ryan, who were dismissed from their positions and suspended from the Labour Party over offensive WhatsApp messages. These messages, leaked from a group chat named "Trigger Me Tim...