Journalism Matters Week: What we are proud of at Laudable Podcasts
Journalism Matters Week celebrates regional and national journalism across all platforms
Journalism Matters Week is an annual campaign that celebrates the important role that journalism plays in our society: whether that’s local newspapers reporting on the integral issues in their patch, national publications launching into investigations in the public interest, or even your humble podcasts starting conversations on a diverse range of topics.
The awareness week - formerly known as Local Newspaper Week - takes place between October 5 and 11 this year, having been postponed earlier this year due to the coronavirus pandemic.
As the Covid-19 pandemic has proven, journalism matters more than ever, as we report on the complex stories that affect our everyday lives.
Even the Queen has commented on the vital role trusted news publications offer for their audiences.
Her Majesty said:
“The Covid-19 pandemic has once again demonstrated what an important public service the established news media provides, both nationally and regionally. As our world has changed dramatically, having trusted, reliable sources of information, particularly at a time when there are so many sources competing for our attention, is vital.
“The efforts of the news media to support communities throughout the United Kingdom during the pandemic have been invaluable – whether through fundraising, encouraging volunteering, or providing a lifeline for the elderly and vulnerable to the outside world.”
- Queen Elizabeth II
When summarising the repertoire of Laudable Podcasts, we use the phrase: “Compelling stories, told locally.”
To mark Journalism Matters Week, this special Laudable newsletter will highlight what we believe to be our successes in 2020, telling those important local stories in a compelling fashion.
Podcast producers Morven McIntyre and Dan McLaughlin take a look back at their favourite moments and the best bits of journalism from Laudable Podcasts.
Alone Together: our local heroes
Dan McLaughlin:
The best ideas for ‘Alone Together - A Coronavirus Podcast’ spring from the casual conversations between the Laudable podcast producers: Have you seen such-and-such? What do you think about this article? A friend told me…
In fact, the initial idea to launch the podcast came from our desire to look past the overwhelming sense of doom and gloom during the Covid-19 pandemic, and shed light on the positives.
We have two missions for Alone Together: to celebrate the local heroes who have been doing their bit to keep their communities going in these extraordinary times, and to answer the pressing questions that our listeners have been asking about the lockdown and the so-called ‘new normal’.
Most podcasts can take months to launch; the first episode of Alone Together was out within a week.
And our efforts have been recognised. The Independent named Alone Together as one of the top 11 soothing podcasts to bring calm during self-isolation; the Press Gazette listed us as one of the best podcasts and radio journalism relating to the pandemic; and Spotify have featured our podcast in their Covid-19 guide.
Over the course of our first two series, we have spoken to behaviour specialists on how to protect ourselves from the virus through our hygiene routines; experts on the importance of face masks as protection and prevention; religious communities on how they have adapted to practise their faith in self-isolation; dream experts on our unusual dreams during lockdown; those working in the arts and music industries about what the government needs to do; and many more.
Morven McIntyre:
It’s been great to highlight the work of local heroes: people doing great things in their community to help others.
Typically on the national news, we hear about public figures or stories of great magnitude. But it’s great to shed a light on those working tirelessly in their local community.
We’ve heard from journalists who have worked shifts in hospitals giving out scrubs, we’ve heard from restaurants who, instead of trading, have devoted their time to providing hot meals for deprived children and the homeless.
That’s one positive out of the pandemic is that people have opened their eyes to what is on their doorstep and extended kindness to others.
To be able to give a platform to these local heroes not only makes our podcast fit the Laudable brief of community stories, but also shows that there is value in local reporting and that the small gestures in life warm the heart.
Dan McLaughlin:
When Fleet Street Fox asked for interview advice to give to students, I replied:
“I always finish with: "Is there anything you would like to add, or is there anything that we've missed?" It's a simple enough question, but I have got a few gems asking it. It can lead you down an interesting path you didn't expect.”
And that’s one thing I have learnt over the course of the Alone Together podcast: there are many surprises along the way. It is often the unexpected that leads to more interesting conversations.
For instance, when I interviewed Dr Katie Rogerson, children’s doctor and co-director of the NHS Million campaign, she surprised me when she admitted that the ‘Clap for the NHS’ - that was taking place across the country every Thursday - felt “slightly misguided” and “a bit of an odd way to show appreciation”.
Dr Rogerson explains:
“I felt that what we really needed was protective equipment and to really feel that people had our backs by staying inside of their houses, and understanding that the death rates in the NHS staff were likely to be higher because of the risks they were exposed to.
“I wanted them to show appreciation by staying safe, reducing the spread, and rallying for things like protective equipments - and put all those energies into contacting the government to sort this out.”
She added, however, that she grew to appreciate ‘Clap for the NHS’, finding it “touching” and she found herself “welling up” and her hands and toes going tingly remembering it.
You can listen to Alone Together wherever you listen to your podcasts, including Apple Podcasts and Spotify, but for exclusive, immersive content, you can listen to it on Entale:
Black Lives: Past, Present and Future: starting a conversation about race in Black History Month
Dan McLaughlin:
There is a particular quote from the Black Lives: Past, Present and Future podcast that stands out for me. It is from Wolverhampton-based multimedia journalist Oprah Flash. She said:
"I believe our stories should not be designated to just one month. I am black every day, not just in October. My story matters every day."
Whilst the podcast has been launched to mark Black History Month, with new episodes out most days in October, we are hoping that the conversation continues long after it.
As the title shows, there will be black voices discussing black history and culture, their experiences in 2020, and their hopes for the future.
The voices that we have heard so far - which include singer-songwriter Ayanam Udoma, mechanical engineer in the military Darius Hamilton, diversity advocate Ally Tyger, and Oprah - have given us an invaluable insight into their lives and what it means to be black in the UK.
We are still looking for contributions to the podcast. All we need is a short audio clip recorded on a voice memos app on your phone. You can read more information here.
Scran: supporting local campaigns
Morven McIntyre:
Scran, a food and drink podcast, has set the right tone over the pandemic. It has not been without its humour, but it has continued to showcase local businesses and offer them a platform to share their offering whilst also discussing the challenges that many businesses face.
We worked with Scotland food and Drink on a campaign called the Scottish Food and Drink Fortnight where four episodes of the podcast were dedicated to local producers.
We’ve seen food producers turn into retailers and wholesalers turn into e-commerce businesses and innovate in the best way they can. A theme throughout the podcast that has stood out for me is traceability.
The fact that people care more and more about where their food comes from and see the value in eating ethically sourced food is a new trend I’m fully on board with.
The ECHO’s Menopod: demystifying the menopause
Dan McLaughlin:
I have made this point in a previous Laudable newsletter: though, as a 26-year-old man, I may not be the obvious intended audience for The ECHO’s Menopod, perhaps I ought to be.
Not only is it educational for women experiencing the menopause, it is also invaluable for men who have women over-45 in their lives: whether that’s mothers, aunties, family friends, etc.
I will never have to deal with hot flushes, or brain fog, or the other symptoms of the menopause, but I know many women that do - or will do.
The ECHO’s Menopod is a combination of a witty and educational look at the menopause. Presented by Susan Lee and Dawn Collinson, the Menopod demystifies the menopause. Or, as Sue puts it, it is “the podcast that tackles puberty’s evil, older sister one large gin and tonic at a time”.
Every episode is successful at tackling the subject in a funny and informative way, but a particular highlight was the ‘Myths and Misinformation’ episode with menopause expert Dr Paula Briggs.
This was an important piece of journalism, because Sue and Dawn acted as a conduit between the listener and the expert, discussing the medical side of the menopause. They asked the basic and key questions on the minds of women over-45: Are my symptoms normal? What is the perimenopause?
Dr Paula Briggs returned for the Menopod Live, a virtual event where women were able to ask their pressing questions on a Facebook Live video. Again, there was an appetite for the FAQs about the menopause.
This was serving an underserved community, highlighting issues and the answering the questions that will affect half the world’s population.
The Brink: witness the rise and fall of Militant
Dan McLaughlin:
The Brink is the podcast that travels back to 1980s Liverpool to witness the rise and fall of Militant, and it chronicles how one northern city took on Margaret Thatcher.
Liverpool Echo journalist Julia Rampen speaks to key figures from the time, including Militant’s outspoken Derek Hatton, former Labour leader and Welsh firebrand Neil Kinnock, ex-Tory minister Michael Heseltine, and many more colourful characters.
Or, as Julia Rampen, who narrates and produces The Brink, notes on Twitter:
“If you put all The Brink interviewees in a room together it might end in a punch up - but it was a huge privilege interviewing them.”
The Brink tells the story of a controversial time in both Liverpool’s history and British politics. The interviews across all seven episodes get to the heart of the Militant movement in the city.
It is a balanced take, speaking to members of Militant, critics of the political movement, historians and academics. The Brink is the definitive look back at the politics of 1980s Liverpool - and how they reverberate today.
This is only a brief glimpse at the wide selection of podcasts available from Laudable. Even in these unusual times, we have continued to tell the important stories for our listeners. Journalism matters more than ever, and we are proud to play our part in reporting the important issues for our listeners.
And as always, stay safe, stay positive, stay informed, and stay tuned.