Sky News

Comcast and Disney vie for the Murdoch empire

(Credit: AP)

However it ends, the battle royal for the right to own most of the assets of 21st Century Fox, and all of Sky, reflects deep and significant trends in global media. The resolution (in favour of suitors Disney, Comcast or both) may end up being less important than what the outcome tells us about market dynamics.

This battle is about the response of legacy media to accelerating shifts in consumer behaviour and to the threats posed by the big digital disruptors. In a market where content and distribution are increasingly intermingled and global, size unlocks the prize.

What lies ahead for Newsnight's new chief Esme Wren

Speculation that BBC Two’s Newsnight might be axed was firmly squashed in February, when Sky News head of politics, business and specialist journalism, Esme Wren, was appointed editor of the flagship show.

Doubts about its future had re-emerged last autumn with the introduction of Nick Ferrari and Emma Barnett’s ITV series, After the News, and the announcement that Newsnight editor Ian Katz was leaving for Channel 4 to become its director of programmes.

Unpacking the ethics of breaking news

Breaking News is the proving ground of a newsroom. In a breaking news scenario, all the machinery of the newsroom clicks together to tackle what is happening now, and deliver the events of the day to the audience as they arrive.

“Breaking news is our bread and butter,” explains Dylan Dronfield, Senior News Editor at Sky News. “That’s what Sky News was originally billed as doing.”

John Schofield Trust launches new scheme to improve diversity in journalism

Left to right: Trustees Wendy Wilson & Paul Harrison, Sky News' Political Corrospondent, Lewis Goodall, David Dimbleby and trust founder, Susie Schofield (Credit: Emily Freya)

The new partnership will support young people (aged 16-17) who are from disadvantaged backgrounds and are interested in a career in journalism, by running an e-mentoring scheme.

The e-mentoring scheme will enable the youngsters to match with industry professionals and allow for a greater scope to find mentee's best suited to them.  

Fewer people from poorer backgrounds are entering the industry and it is hoped this partnership will open the door to the next generation of journalists, regardless of their background.

Sophy Ridge, the woman changing on-screen politics

On election night in October 1974, the BBC’s anchorman, Alastair Burnet, announced a “welcome new addition” to the presenting team, Sue Lawley.

At least part of the reason for her welcome was that she was the first woman to play an on-screen role in a British election results studio.

Things have moved on, if not at breakneck speed. Emily Maitlis was again booked to be on the BBC’s set on 8 June. And, for the first time, a woman, Mishal Husain, was to play the Robin Day/Jeremy Paxman inquisitor role.

On ITV, Julie Etchingham was due to anchor – but only on day two.

Inside Sky's Election Campaign: Election Night Live

After weeks behind the scenes at Sky News, picking the brains of the team who had just seven weeks to put together an election night show "bigger and better" than any before (so said Sky News boss John Ryley), the RTS spent the night at Sky News HQ to give you the inside track of what is going on off-camera at the broadcaster's biggest show of the year.

The weeks of meticulous planning and preparation are over. Tonight Sky is live in around 350 locations across the country to cover the General Election 2017. 

Inside Sky's Election Campaign: The main event for data journalists

Graphics is "one of the most fun jobs you could possibly imagine" during election season, Sky News' Head of Design Chyaz Buffett told us, as he and Graphics Editor Charlotte Bingham prepare for one of the biggest nights in news broadcasting.

But just how important is graphics for Sky News' election coverage?

The graphics team talk about their big plans for election night and how their work fits into the news broadcast. 

Inside Sky's Election Campaign: Getting it right on the night with Paul Bromley

Bromley is Sky News’ Editor for On-Screen Information, the man responsible for ensuring the accuracy of all the information that viewers see on screen.

His job on election night, he says, is to ensure that “anyone turning on Sky News at any point in the [election show] will find out instantly the state of play. I have always worked on the basis that, if we have information in the building and we can share it, why wouldn’t you do so?”

“The information -the words and the numbers – is what I am concentrating on,” he explains.