Stop The Press!

Nick Copson, Bill Martin, Rob Chadwick
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The podcast where journalism, politics and the media industry collide. 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. 

  1. 2d ago

    #34: Can England finally bring it home? | World Cup 2026 Preview Special with Chris Errington

    Send us Fan Mail The countdown to the 2026 FIFA World Cup is on. On this special football edition of Stop the Press!, Nick Copson, Rob Chadwick and Bill Martin are joined by respected Devon sports journalist Chris Errington to preview what could be one of the most intriguing World Cups in modern history. With the tournament heading to North America and England once again carrying the hopes, expectations and inevitable emotional baggage of a football-mad nation, the team asks the big question: Can England finally bring football home? We discuss: ⚽ England's chances of ending nearly 60 years of hurt  ⚽ Whether this is the strongest England squad in a generation  ⚽ The impact of a new manager and tactical approach  ⚽ The key players who could define the tournament  ⚽ Which nations pose the biggest threat to England's ambitions  ⚽ The pressure, expectation and psychology of tournament football  ⚽ Our predictions for the winners, surprise packages and potential disappointments Chris brings decades of experience covering football at every level, offering expert insight into the strengths, weaknesses and opportunities facing England and the home nations as they prepare for football's biggest stage. Will 2026 finally be England's year? Or are we all setting ourselves up for another summer of glorious heartbreak? Join us for a lively, passionate and occasionally optimistic look ahead to the biggest sporting event on the planet.

    31 min

  2. May 25

    #33: Is Journalism Still Alive? Special Guest Episode with Adam Tinworth

    Send us Fan Mail On the latest episode of Stop the Press!, Nick Copson, Rob Chadwick and Bill Martin sit down with media veteran, blogger and digital media lecturer, Adam Tinworth, for a brutally honest conversation about the future of journalism in the age of TikTok, YouTubers, creators and collapsing public trust. We explore whether traditional journalism still matters when millions now get their “news” from influencers, viral clips and personalised social feeds - often without ever visiting a news website or watching a bulletin. We discuss: Why trust in mainstream media has fallen so dramatically. Whether social media has democratised journalism… or destroyed it. The rise of creators, streamers and YouTubers as the new media class. How shrinking attention spans are changing storytelling forever. Whether journalism schools are preparing students for a dead industry… or a transformed one. Adam brings a rare mix of news experience, digital strategy expertise and academic insight to one of the biggest questions facing modern society: If everyone is now a publisher… who, if anyone, is still doing journalism? A fascinating, challenging and surprisingly hopeful discussion.

    45 min

  3. May 18

    #32: Britain’s political circus: Can any party actually govern anymore? With Special Guest: Tess Tucker

    Send us Fan Mail This week on Stop The Press!, Rob, Nick and Bill are joined by Tessa Tucker, former Conservative Party candidate for Exeter, to ask a question that increasingly feels unavoidable: Is Britain becoming ungovernable? As Westminster descends further into personality politics, support or not support a by-election, and the potential for not only a leadership challenge but a general election, the country faces mounting pressure on almost every front. Stagnant growth, overstretched public services, collapsing trust in institutions, rising immigration tensions, and a public that appears angrier and more fragmented than ever. Is this simply the latest chapter in Britain’s long political decline, or evidence of a deeper governance crisis affecting the entire system? The team and Tessa explore:  Whether modern Britain has become too divided to govern effectively  Why public trust in politicians and institutions has collapsed  The rise of performative politics over serious leadership  Whether the media fuels instability or merely reflects it  How social media, outrage culture and 24-hour news cycles have changed politics forever  Why both Labour and the Conservatives appear trapped in short-term thinking  Whether Britain’s political culture itself is now part of the problem A frank conversation about leadership, media, culture and whether the UK is entering a period of permanent political dysfunction.

    55 min

  4. Apr 1

    #31: Is social media dead?

    Send us Fan Mail 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 designed to be addictive. In this episode of Stop The Press!, the boys unpack what this case really means. Is this the beginning of meaningful accountability for Big Tech, or a legal overreach that could fundamentally reshape the internet? They explore whether this ruling could become a bellwether moment, opening the floodgates for similar lawsuits across the US. If platforms are held responsible for user harm, does that force a redesign of the attention economy itself? The conversation also turns to the growing global backlash against social media, including Australia’s increasingly aggressive regulatory stance and proposed bans for younger users. Are governments finally catching up, or are they stepping too far into personal freedom?

    31 min

  5. Mar 30

    #30: Special Guest Episode with Pete Holdgate - War, Newsrooms, and the Power of the Image

    Send us Fan Mail 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 photojournalism. From his early days in the Marines to capturing defining moments in the newsroom, Pete shares what it really takes to tell stories through a single frame. The discussion explores what makes a truly great news photograph, the instinct and timing behind the shot, and why photography remains one of the most important tools in shaping how we understand the world.

    43 min

  6. Mar 5

    #29: The Blair Years - His legacy and his leadership

    Send us Fan Mail 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 victory of 1997 to three consecutive terms in office, Blair’s premiership transformed the political centre ground and redefined Labour’s place in British politics. The team examine the achievements and controversies that continue to define Blair’s legacy - economic growth, public service reform, and the shadow of the Iraq War - while asking whether history is becoming kinder or harsher in its judgement. With the UK facing political uncertainty today, they also debate a provocative question: does Britain need a leader with Blair’s authority and electoral dominance again, or has the political landscape changed too much for that style of leadership to return? A reflective discussion about power, legacy, and how the media revisits political figures once the dust of history begins to settle.

    34 min

  7. Mar 4

    #28: Iran invasion: War, Restraint, and the Media’s Reckoning

    Send us Fan Mail 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 about what comes next. In this episode of Stop The Press!, Nick, Bill and Rob examine how the media has responded to the most significant military escalation in the region for years. They look at the cautious, sometimes conflicted reaction from the British government, and whether Sir Keir Starmer’s attempt to balance alliance politics with restraint has been fairly reported. The conversation also turns to Donald Trump and the early media narrative around the conflict. How much latitude is the press giving the American president in the first days of war? And at what point does coverage move from rallying around the flag to asking harder questions? As events continue to unfold, the episode reflects on a familiar but uneasy cycle: the rush to interpret war in real time — and the moment when the mood of the media, and the public, inevitably shifts.

    31 min

  8. Mar 2

    #27: Hacked Off! Will it mean more press regulation?

    Send us Fan Mail 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 - what it means for press regulation, whether the ghosts of Leveson still haunt Fleet Street, and why this story refuses to die. They then turn to the growing noise around the Labour Together investigation, asking hard questions about transparency, political operations behind the scenes, and what journalists — and the public — should be paying attention to. Finally, it’s the BBC in the spotlight as the panel reviews the corporation’s recent Winter Olympics coverage. Did the broadcaster deliver the clarity and storytelling audiences expect, or is this another example of the BBC struggling to land big global moments?

    33 min
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About

The podcast where journalism, politics and the media industry collide. 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. 

Information

  • Creator
    Nick Copson, Bill Martin, Rob Chadwick
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    34
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Stop The Press!
  • Show Website
    Stop The Press!

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