• A Week in Headlines

  • By: Ed Gent
  • Podcast

A Week in Headlines

By: Ed Gent
  • Summary

  • Ever wonder how the news shapes what you think - not just what you know? Join Ed Gent for 'A Week in Headlines', a podcast that pulls back the curtain on how major UK broadcasters tell the stories dominating our world. Each week, Ed dissects the biggest headlines from Monday to Friday, breaking down how outlets like BBC, ITV, Channel 4, Sky, and Channel 5 frame the news. Whether it’s a geopolitical crisis or a global health scare, discover how editorial choices shape public opinion and why who reports the news matters as much as what they report.
    Ed Gent
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Episodes
  • March 3-7: Trump, Espionage, and a Crime That Shocked Britain – How Broadcasters Shaped the Headlines
    Mar 9 2025

    From transatlantic tensions to espionage in a seaside town, this week’s headlines (March 3-7) delivered a whirlwind of power shifts, policy upheavals, and deeply unsettling revelations.


    Monday’s Channel 4 News dissects Trump’s latest diplomatic clash with Zelenskyy - was it reckless bluster or a calculated move? Tuesday on Channel 5, Trump doubles down, halting military aid to Ukraine in a shock decision that leaves Europe scrambling. By Wednesday, Sky News shifts gears with a chilling crime story: the conviction of a PhD student-turned-predator, whose meticulously recorded assaults expose a case as horrifying as it is unprecedented. The BBC’s Thursday report pulls us back to the geopolitical stage, where U.S.-Ukraine intelligence-sharing grinds to a halt: an ominous signal of shifting alliances. And finally, Friday on ITV News, a real-life spy thriller unfolds in Great Yarmouth, as a group of Bulgarian operatives are found guilty of feeding British intelligence secrets to Russia.


    This episode unpacks how these major UK broadcasters framed the week’s biggest stories: from Channel 4’s methodical approach to Trump’s erratic diplomacy to ITV’s cinematic take on Russian espionage. What does the BBC’s history-heavy analysis reveal about its priorities? Why does Sky News lean into visceral storytelling? And how does Channel 5’s balance of urgency and structure distinguish it from the rest?

    And then there was the most chilling moment of the week: Sky News’ revelation of the sheer scale of Zhenhao Zou’s crimes. Whether it’s through expert voices, emotionally charged public reactions, or gripping visual contrasts, each broadcaster shaped how we, the audience, experienced this week’s headlines.

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    22 mins
  • February 24-28: A White House Meltdown, Diplomacy and Defence – How the News Framed the Chaos
    Mar 2 2025

    This week’s headlines (February 24–28) captured a dramatic arc of diplomacy, power moves, and an explosive fallout, with every UK broadcaster shaping the narrative in its own way.

    I look at how BBC News unpacked Trump’s meeting with Macron on Monday, positioning the US as an unpredictable force in transatlantic relations. Sky News on Tuesday took a sharper, more questioning approach to Starmer’s defence spending pledge, while by Wednesday, Channel 4 was digging deeper, treating a US-Ukraine economic deal with open skepticism. Thursday’s Channel 5 coverage focused on Starmer’s high-stakes meeting with Trump, emphasising strategic positioning.

    And then came Friday - a moment of pure political theatre - as ITV News spotlighted Trump’s furious showdown with Zelenskyy, complete with “red hot anger in the White House.”

    Throughout the episode, I break down how editorial choices shape our perception of these events: Did the BBC subtly frame Trump as a liability? Why did Sky lean into the political strategy behind Starmer’s defence pledge? And just how did ITV’s dramatic coverage of the Trump-Zelenskyy clash amplify its shock factor to audiences? This episode examines not only has what happened in the past week - but also how the media made us feel about it.

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    22 mins
  • February 17-21: Ukraine, Trump, and the Pope - A Week of Power Plays and Public Perception
    Feb 23 2025

    In this debut episode, I dive into a whirlwind week of headlines (February 17–21) where geopolitics collided with media drama.

    Monday kicks off with BBC News analysing Europe’s scramble to stay relevant in U.S.-Russia peace talks regarding the war in Ukraine, while Tuesday’s ITV coverage exposes the sting of Ukraine’s exclusion from these negotiations. By Wednesday, Channel 4 News turns up the heat as Trump ignites a firestorm with accusations against Zelenskyy. Sky News follows on Thursday, unpacking White House fury and a controversial military deal, before Friday pivots sharply to 5 News’ sobering update on Pope Francis’ health - a break from the political tension.

    I unpack how each broadcaster’s tone, correspondents, and editorial choices shape the story: Is the BBC subtly critiquing Trump? Why does ITV sound more skeptical than urgent? And how does Channel 4 turn a Trump rant into a masterclass on media accountability? From fiery soundbites (“You’d have to search far and wide for a bigger clown than Trump!”) to quiet Vatican uncertainty, this episode reveals how not just what has happened this week - but also how we are being told to feel about it.

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    18 mins

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