Today in Focus

Today in Focus is a daily news and current affairs podcast produced by The Guardian in the United Kingdom. Launched in 2018, it provides in-depth analysis and reporting on major stories from the United Kingdom and around the world, distinguishing itself from shorter news bulletins. Hosted by senior journalists, the podcast typically features interviews with The Guardian's correspondents, expert guests, and individuals directly involved in the news, aiming to contextualize and explain complex events.

History and background

The podcast was launched in November 2018 by Guardian News & Media as part of a strategic expansion into audio journalism, following the success of other narrative shows like The Guardian's Audio Long Reads. It emerged during a period of significant growth for the podcast industry and was designed to leverage The Guardian's established investigative and explanatory reporting strengths in a daily audio format. The creation of Today in Focus was also a response to the evolving media consumption habits of audiences, particularly following major events like the 2016 United Kingdom European Union membership referendum and the 2016 United States presidential election, which drove demand for deeper analysis. The show has operated from The Guardian's headquarters in King's Cross, London.

Format and content

Each episode is typically 20 to 30 minutes long and focuses on a single major story, though occasional special editions may cover multiple topics. The standard format involves the host, usually Anushka Asthana, introducing a topic before conducting an interview with a The Guardian reporter, such as Patrick Wintour, Heather Stewart, or Dan Sabbagh, who has direct knowledge of the story. Episodes often include clips from press conferences, archival audio, or interviews with external figures like politicians, academics, or activists from organizations such as Amnesty International. The content ranges from breaking political news, like developments in Westminster or the Israeli–Palestinian conflict, to long-form investigative pieces on issues like the COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom or climate change, aiming to provide narrative clarity and context.

Production and team

The podcast is produced by a dedicated team within The Guardian's audio department. Anushka Asthana, a former political editor for ITV News and deputy political editor for The Observer, has been the primary host since its launch. Key producers and editors have included Michele Hanson and Rachel Humphreys. The team works closely with the newspaper's global network of journalists, including foreign correspondents based in locations like Washington, D.C., Brussels, and Jerusalem, to source stories and audio. Production involves daily editorial meetings to select the lead story, followed by rapid research, scripting, and recording to meet the daily publication schedule, with technical production handled in-house at The Guardian's studios.

Reception and impact

Today in Focus quickly became one of the most popular news podcasts in the United Kingdom, regularly topping the Apple Podcasts charts in the news category. It has been praised by critics for its accessible yet thorough explanatory journalism and has won awards including the British Podcast Awards. The podcast has developed a significant and loyal listener base, contributing to The Guardian's digital subscription strategy and reinforcing its brand as a source of in-depth journalism. Its episodes have occasionally influenced public discourse, particularly through detailed investigations into issues like the Windrush scandal or government handling of the COVID-19 pandemic, sometimes being cited by other media outlets including the BBC.

Notable episodes

Notable episodes have often centered on major investigative work or pivotal news events. A highly influential early episode detailed the Windrush scandal, featuring interviews with affected individuals and Amelia Gentleman, the The Guardian reporter who broke the story. Extensive coverage of the COVID-19 pandemic included episodes on the UK government's response, the development of the Oxford–AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine, and interviews with scientists like Chris Whitty. Other significant episodes have explored the assassination of Jamal Khashoggi, the political fallout from the Partygate scandal in the United Kingdom, and in-depth series on global climate change ahead of conferences like COP26 in Glasgow.

Category:2018 podcast debuts Category:Guardian Media Group podcasts Category:British news podcasts Category:English-language podcasts