In this episode you’ll hear highlights from a May 2018 panel discussion which we titled Comedy + Journalism = ??

We’re all familiar with satirical magazines, websites and TV shows like Private Eye, The Daily Mash and Have I Got News For You that deal with national and global news, but what are the opportunities for mixing comedy with local journalism – particularly in these times when many people are as likely to “consume” news from satirical websites as a newspaper?

Our panellists:

• Paul Stokes, co-founder and publisher of The Daily Mash website, and executive producer of TV's The Mash Report

• John Scott, professional stand-up comedian with a monthly political satire show at The Stand

• Damon Green, ITN's north of England correspondent

• Steve Drayton, BBC Newcastle radio producer and vinylophile who brought his comedy variety show Mr Steve Drayton's Record Player to The Great Exhibition of the North