J-Lab

Civic Journalism Lab at Newcastle University
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A forum for professional, student and community journalists in the north east of England to meet, learn and collaborate. It’s supported by Newcastle University.

  1. J-Lab Episode 46: Reimagining local news, with Jim Waterson of London Centric

    1 DAY AGO

    J-Lab Episode 46: Reimagining local news, with Jim Waterson of London Centric

    Jim Waterson is former media editor at The Guardian and now the publisher of London Centric, which covers politics, business and life in the UK capital via a fast-growing Substack newsletter as well as TikTok videos. After years reporting on national media, Jim made a striking decision: to step away from one of the most influential journalism jobs in Britain and try to build something new — a reader-funded local news operation focused on London. London Centric combines deep investigations with explainers and features about the city — and it’s built around a simple idea: that a core of paying subscribers can support ambitious reporting that might otherwise struggle to survive in the digital advertising economy. In our conversation, we ask Jim what local journalism looks like in 2026 — what works, what doesn’t, and what opportunities might exist for the next generation of local news reporters. To read Jim’s reporting or subscribe to the newsletter, visit londoncentric.media while his TikToks are @JimWaterson J-Lab is the podcast from Newcastle University’s Civic Journalism Lab — where we explore how journalism is evolving and what it means for the next generation of reporters.

    27 min
  2. J-Lab Episode 45: The Salt Path scandal, with Chloe Hadjimatheou of the Observer

    8 JAN

    J-Lab Episode 45: The Salt Path scandal, with Chloe Hadjimatheou of the Observer

    This episode centres on The Salt Path, a publishing phenomenon that has sold millions of copies worldwide, inspired a major film starring Gillian Anderson and Jason Isaacs, and has become, for many readers, a story of endurance, love and hope in the face of loss. But over the past year, that story has also become the subject of a major investigation by The Observer. Our guest is Chloe Hadjimatheou, narrative editor at The Observer, whose reporting has examined serious questions about the truth-claims of The Salt Path, including the authors’ identities, the circumstances around the loss of their home, the presentation of illness, and what responsibilities publishers, journalists and readers have when a memoir presents itself as fact. In our conversation, Chloe takes us inside that investigation: from the first tip-off that something didn’t quite add up, through months of document-trawling and interviews, to the ethical, legal and emotional decisions involved in publishing a story that challenged a book so many people loved. We also talk more broadly about narrative investigation as a form, what kinds of stories Chloe is drawn to, what this case says about our appetite for certain kinds of stories — and what advice she has for early-career journalists who want to do deep, patient reporting in a fast and pressured media environment. You can read Chloe's reporting for the Observer at https://observer.co.uk/contributor/chloe-hadjimatheou and listen to her podcast series by searching for "The Walkers" on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or BBC Sounds. J-Lab is a podcast by the Civic Journalism Lab at Newcastle University.

    33 min
  3. J-Lab Episode 44: Reporting on the deaths of young people in custody, with Dani Garavelli

    12/12/2025

    J-Lab Episode 44: Reporting on the deaths of young people in custody, with Dani Garavelli

    In this episode, we talk with award-winning investigative journalist Dani Garavelli, whose reporting for the London Review of Books on the suicides of Katie Allan and William Lindsay at Polmont Young Offenders Institution has been nominated for a British Journalism Award. Dani has spent years uncovering the systemic failures that contributed to these deaths — and has also reported some of Scotland’s most significant recent stories, from the Sheku Bayoh case to the Alex Salmond trial, as well as long-form investigations into domestic abuse, youth justice and institutional accountability. In our conversation we talk about how she gained the trust of grieving families, what her reporting revealed about Scotland’s justice and care systems, how she structures complex features and what advice she has for young journalists who want to hold powerful institutions to account. You can read Dani's award-nominated feature "Jailed, Failed, Forgotten: Deaths in Custody" at https://www.lrb.co.uk/the-paper/v47/n03/dani-garavelli/jailed-failed-forgotten and follow her on X @DaniGaravelli1 J-Lab is a podcast by the Civic Journalism Lab at Newcastle University

    26 min
  4. J-Lab Episode 43: Doing the 92 with The i Paper's Daniel Storey

    14/11/2025

    J-Lab Episode 43: Doing the 92 with The i Paper's Daniel Storey

    Our guest on this episode is The i Paper’s chief football writer, Daniel Storey, who has just completed an extraordinary project: visiting and reporting from all 92 Premier and EFL (English Football League) clubs in a single season. Seventeen-thousand miles, 80 interviews and nearly 200,000 words later, he has produced a portrait of English football that’s as much about people and place as it is about goals. In this conversation, you'll hear Daniel explain how he convinced himself, and his editors, to take on the project, what he learned about football clubs and the vital civic role they perform in their towns, and how he views the future of local sports reporting. He also offers advice to young and early-career journalists hoping to break into the competitive world of sports reporting. You can read Daniel's full "Doing the 92" series at inews.co.uk and follow him on X @danielstorey85 J-Lab is a podcast by the Civic Journalism Lab at Newcastle University

    26 min
  5. J-Lab Episode 42: An ethical approach to crime reporting and true crime content, with Bethany Usher

    31/10/2024

    J-Lab Episode 42: An ethical approach to crime reporting and true crime content, with Bethany Usher

    As the public’s fascination with crime stories grows, so too does the responsibility of those who bring these stories to light. Whether through traditional journalism or increasingly popular true crime content, the way these narratives are crafted can shape perceptions, impact communities and, significantly, affect the lives of victims and their families. Our first guest on this episode is Bethany Usher, lecturer in journalism at Newcastle University, and author of a new book titled Journalism and Crime. Bethany is researching how we might create new codes of practice, for crime reporters, true crime content creators and police comms teams as well as for social media influencers and amateur sleuths. We recently hosted an afternoon of discussion on crime and journalism at Newcastle University, so later in this episode you’ll hear the views and opinions of crime reporters Anthony France of the Standard and Sophie Doughty of the Chronicle; Newsquest group editor Joy Yates, who’s a Society of Editors board member; Dominic Ponsford, Press Gazette’s editor-in-chief; true crime podcaster Hayley Mortimer of the BBC; true crime commissioner for Hearst Networks Diana Carter; Alice Gould, Independent Press Standards Organisation head of complaints; Eve McDowell, co-founder of Stalking Ireland; Clare Hoban, media content lawyer and true crime specialist at Reviewed and Cleared; and true crime scholars Kelli Boling (University of Nebraska), Megan Hoffman and Simon Hobbs (University of Portsmouth) and Barbara Henderson (Newcastle University). J-Lab is a podcast by the Civic Journalism Lab at Newcastle University.

    57 min
  6. J-Lab Episode 41: Breaking the RAAC in schools story with Jessica Hill

    16/05/2024

    J-Lab Episode 41: Breaking the RAAC in schools story with Jessica Hill

    Our guest on this episode is Jessica Hill, senior investigations and features reporter for Schools Week and FE Week. Jessica was the first journalist to reveal to the general public how reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC) was ‘a ticking time bomb’ making school buildings ‘liable to collapse’. She brought the scale of the danger to an even wider audience when she persuaded The Guardian to run a story that led to the emergency closure of more than 100 schools. Jessica was named Specialist Journalist of the Year at last month’s Press Awards and in our conversation details her reporting of the RAAC crisis, and explains the importance of specialist reporting and vital role played by trade and industry titles. She also discusses why she quit journalism for 15 years... and what drew her back. J-Lab is a podcast by the Civic Journalism Lab at Newcastle University.

    37 min
  7. J-Lab Episode 40: Going undercover with Paul Morgan-Bentley of The Times

    03/05/2024

    J-Lab Episode 40: Going undercover with Paul Morgan-Bentley of The Times

    Our guest on this episode is Paul Morgan-Bentley, head of investigations at The Times newspaper, who has just scooped Investigation of the Year at the Press Awards for undercover reporting that exposed the force-fitting of British Gas meters in the homes of vulnerable people. In our conversation, Paul explains how he reported this story, why he thinks undercover reporting is so important and offers advice for early career journalists on door-knocking…and converting work experience into proper jobs. J-Lab is a podcast by the Civic Journalism Lab at Newcastle University.

    35 min
  8. J-Lab Episode 39: Reporting the Grenfell cladding scandal, with Martina Lees of the Sunday Times

    23/05/2023

    J-Lab Episode 39: Reporting the Grenfell cladding scandal, with Martina Lees of the Sunday Times

    Our guest on the latest episode of the J-Lab podcast is Martina Lees, a senior writer for the Sunday Times. Next month sees the sixth anniversary of the Grenfell Tower disaster, when fire destroyed a 23-storey tower block in West London, killing 72 people. Martina has spent much of the last few years seeking answers to why the disaster really happened, and who was to blame. She recently won a British Journalism Award for holding to account those responsible for the biggest public housing scandal in 50 years, and for campaigning to free millions of people from having to pay for dangerous cladding to be replaced. In our conversation, Martina explains why she became a journalist, what interested her in reporting this particular story, how she turned her reporting into an impactful campaign and how to ask the questions that no-one else is asking. J-Lab is a podcast by the Civic Journalism Lab at Newcastle University.

    24 min
See All (46)

About

A forum for professional, student and community journalists in the north east of England to meet, learn and collaborate. It’s supported by Newcastle University.

Information

  • Creator
    Civic Journalism Lab at Newcastle University
  • Years Active
    2017 - 2026
  • Episodes
    46
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © All rights reserved
  • Show Website
    J-Lab

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