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Who says local journalism is dying?

This week on Stop The Press!, we're joined by Seamus McCoy, the 23-year-old founder, owner and sole employee of Plymouth Plus, a fast-growing independent news network making waves in Plymouth.

What started as a website and TikTok channel while Seamus was still at university has grown into a thriving media business and an increasingly valuable source of local news for the people of Plymouth.

Seamus joins the boys to discuss his remarkable journey from student to media entrepreneur, how he's built an audience without the resources of a traditional newsroom, and what the established regional publishers could learn from his success.

Is this the future of local journalism? Can one ambitious young journalist really challenge the traditional media giants? And does Plymouth Plus offer a blueprint for the next generation of independent news publishers?

One young man. One city. A very different approach to journalism.

All this and more on Stop The Press!

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It’s been quite a summer for politics, football and the media - so Stop The Press! is back to pick through three stories where the headlines are almost as interesting as the events themselves.

Nick and Bill are joined by Seamus McCoy, owner of Plymouth Plus, the independent local news platform challenging the traditional model of regional journalism.

First up, Andy Burnham’s first Labour conference speech as Prime Minister. With promises to devolve power, rebuild Britain’s regions and offer the country “hope again”, has Burnham genuinely changed the political weather — and how has the media responded to a very different style of Labour leadership?

Then there’s the extraordinary Manchester City verdict. After years of allegations and argument, an independent commission has found City guilty of serious breaches of Premier League financial rules, including artificially inflating revenues. We look at the verdict, what happens next - and particularly the role of The Athletic and long-form investigative sports journalism in pursuing one of football’s biggest stories.

Finally, we turn the spotlight on Reach plc. Another major round of job cuts comes alongside a significant strategic change: less reliance on page views and referral traffic, and a renewed emphasis on original journalism, subscriptions, video and engaged audiences. After years of chasing digital scale, is Britain’s biggest commercial news publisher finally admitting that the old model no longer works?

And with Seamus building Plymouth Plus as an independent alternative in local news, we ask the bigger question running through the episode: what does all this tell us about where British journalism is heading next?

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Traditional media is at a crossroads, but is its future as bleak as many predict?

In this episode of Stop The Press!, Rob and Nick are joined by Morgan Stevenson, Chief Growth Officer at Iconic Media, whose career has spanned many of the UK's biggest regional and national publishing businesses, including Local World, Johnston Press, Trinity Mirror, Newsquest, Local IQ and National World.

Drawing on two decades of commercial leadership, Morgan offers an insider's perspective on how the industry has evolved, why so many traditional media organisations have struggled to adapt, and where the real opportunities for growth now lie.

Together they discuss the changing advertising landscape, the rise of digital platforms, AI's impact on journalism and commercial teams, the importance of trusted local news, and what publishers must do if they are to remain commercially relevant over the next decade.

Whether you're a journalist, publisher, advertiser or simply fascinated by the future of news, this is an honest and thought-provoking conversation about an industry that still matters - and how it might reinvent itself for the years ahead.

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The FIFA World Cup is over, and in this episode the team reflects on a tournament that delivered memorable football, surprise stories and plenty of debate both on and off the pitch. From the quality of the football and the atmosphere across North America to England's run to the semi-finals and Spain lifting the trophy, we discuss whether this was a World Cup that truly lived up to its billing. We also explore how broadcasters, journalists and digital creators covered the tournament, asking whether traditional television still owns football's biggest moments or whether social media has finally become the first screen for millions of fans.

We then turn our attention to Westminster following Andy Burnham's arrival as Prime Minister. Having inherited a divided country and a restless media landscape, Burnham has promised stability, economic reform and a fresh political direction after succeeding Keir Starmer. We examine the media narrative surrounding his first days in office, whether he'll enjoy the traditional political honeymoon period, how different newspapers are likely to position themselves, and what challenges lie ahead as journalists begin moving beyond the optimism of a new leader to holding his government to account. With trust in politics and the media under constant scrutiny, we ask whether Burnham can reshape not only Britain's future, but also the way it is reported.

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This week on Stop the Press!, Nick, Rob and Bill round up the biggest stories dominating the UK headlines. They unpack the political fallout from the Makerfield by-election and what it signals for British politics, before debating the growing momentum behind Andy Burnham as the leading contender to become the next Labour leader.

The team also reflects on the end of an era in English cricket as Ben Stokes announces his retirement from England captaincy, discussing his legacy, the impact on the Test side, and who could be next to lead England into a new chapter.

From Westminster to the wicket, it's another lively discussion covering the stories shaping Britain's political and sporting landscape.

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On this episode of Stop The Press!, Nick Copson, Rob Chadwick and Bill Martin are joined by one of the South West's most respected sports journalists, Chris Errington, for a fascinating look behind the scenes of modern sports reporting.

With decades of experience covering football and major sporting events, Chris shares how sports journalism has evolved from the days of local newspaper deadlines and match reports to today's 24/7 digital news cycle, live blogs, podcasts, social media and instant fan reaction.

The conversation explores what really goes into covering professional football clubs, from building relationships with managers and players to preparing for match days, handling transfer rumours, conducting interviews and finding stories that supporters actually care about.

Chris reflects on some of the biggest changes he has witnessed throughout his career, including the decline of traditional print media, the rise of digital platforms, and the increasing demand for journalists to become content creators, broadcasters and social media personalities all at once.

The discussion also looks ahead to the future of sports journalism. Will AI change the way matches are reported? Can local sports journalism survive in an era of shrinking newsrooms? And what role will trusted reporters play when fans can get information directly from clubs, players and influencers?

For anyone interested in football, media, journalism or the changing nature of reporting in the digital age, this is an insightful and entertaining conversation with a journalist who has lived through one of the most transformative periods in sports media history.

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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.

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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.