Tortoise Media
 Tortoise Media's wordmark | |
 | |
Type of site | News website |
|---|---|
| Available in | English |
| Founded | 2018 |
| Founder(s) | James Harding, Matthew Barzun, Katie Vanneck-Smith[1] |
| Editor | James Harding |
| URL | www |
Tortoise Media is a British news website co-founded by former BBC News director and The Times editor James Harding and former US ambassador to the United Kingdom Matthew Barzun.[1][2][3] Tortoise also produces podcasts and holds live discussion events called "ThinkIns" and "Discussion Lates" in the London area.[4] It is part of the slow journalism movement.[5]
History
[edit]Tortoise Media was announced on Kickstarter in 2018, where it raised more than £500,000. Permanent invites to ThinkIns and Discussion Lates were part of higher-tier Kickstarter reward packages. It also received private investment.[1] Its website went live in April 2019.[6]
Writing for The Guardian in 2018, Emily Bell said that Tortoise draws from ideas tried by The Guardian, Axios, Vox and Quartz. She noted the trend of increased involvement of private wealth in the journalism industry, comparing Tortoise and its wealthy, well-connected founders and backers to Mark Benioff's purchase of Time and Jeff Bezos's purchase of the Washington Post. She also noted that Tortoise's financial strength allowed it to attract high-profile journalists.[1] The company received the Innovation of the Year award from the British Journalism Awards in 2019.[7]
In September 2024 it was reported that Tortoise had approached the Guardian Media Group with an offer to purchase The Observer. The offer was undisclosed.[8]
Notable personnel
[edit]Business
[edit]- Emily Benn, former chief of staff
- Alexandra Mousavizadeh, former partner[1]
- Ceri Thomas, editor and partner
- Saul Klein, investor and son of venture capitalist Robin Klein[1]
Journalists
[edit]- Giles Whittell, deputy editor
- Matthew d'Ancona, former editor
- Peter Hoskin, former editor
- Paul Caruana Galizia, journalist and son of assassinated journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia[9]
- Merope Mills, former reporter and proponent of Martha's Rule[1]
Contributors
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ a b c d e f g Bell, Emily (22 October 2018). "Can James Harding's Tortoise be more than a rich person's club?". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 22 September 2020. Retrieved 24 December 2020.
- ^ Southern, Lucinda (3 January 2019). "Tortoise wants members to inform its 'slow-news' coverage via live events". Digiday. Archived from the original on 9 August 2020. Retrieved 20 January 2021.
- ^ Mayhew, Freddy (22 October 2018). "Tortoise editor James Harding says move to 'slow news' follows 'lesson' at Times and BBC that journalism that took longer had 'real impact'". Press Gazette. Archived from the original on 26 October 2020. Retrieved 20 January 2021.
- ^ "FAQs". Tortoise. 5 July 2024. Retrieved 5 July 2024.
- ^ "Our story". Tortoise. 5 July 2024. Retrieved 5 July 2024.
- ^ Tobitt, Charlotte (28 June 2019). "'Slow news' venture Tortoise creates 'inclusive' members' model with potential to partner with local publishers". Press Gazette. Archived from the original on 29 October 2020.
- ^ Mayhew, Freddy (10 December 2019). "British Journalism Awards 2019: FT wins top prize for second year in triumphant end for departing editor". Press Gazette. Retrieved 4 September 2023.
- ^ "Guardian parent company in talks over potential sale of Observer". The Guardian. 17 September 2024. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 17 September 2024.
- ^ "Our people". Tortoise. 5 July 2024. Retrieved 5 July 2024.
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