The Bylines Network Podcast

September marked end of recess and the start of Labour's Phase 2, marked by a cabinet reshuffle, and several unforeseen controversies, involving his deputy prime minister and his American ambassador. Is this a genuine phase 2 to mark the next stage in Labour's premiership or a distraction?

In other major news, the Green Party had a leadership election where a new face was elected, that being former deputy leader, Zack Polanski. The overwhelming support in this election shows the members enthusiastic backing to his ideas, but has he made any headway yet?

If you wish to contribute to our cause, we have a crowdfunding page to help the Network expand. Donate only if you can and whatever you can, every little really helps. ⁠https://chuffed.org/project/ng7b7xwqwlze⁠

The Bylines Network has also relaunched the Bylines shop, where you can get anything from hoodies to mugs, and featuring all merch from all 10 of our publications. ⁠https://bylines-network.teemill.com/⁠


Our online Gazette is now free if you sign up to any of our 10 newsletters, Join the mailing list: ⁠⁠https://bylinesnetwork.co.uk/sign-up/⁠

Music was by Harry Binns

https://www.instagram.com/harrybinnsmusic/

Now onto the largest of the publications, today we celebrate the 5th Birthday of Central Bylines, who report from the entirety of the Midlands.

Julian talks with the former editor of East Midlands Bylines, Simon Ferrigino, as well as member of the current editorial board, Judy Copage and Mark Cunliffe to talk about the last 5 years of reporting, where the publication currently stands, and what the future holds.

If you wish to contribute to our cause, we have a crowdfunding page to help the Network expand. Donate only if you can and whatever you can, every little really helps. ⁠https://chuffed.org/project/ng7b7xwqwlze⁠

The Bylines Network has also relaunched the Bylines shop, where you can get anything from hoodies to mugs, and featuring all merch from all 10 of our publications. ⁠https://bylines-network.teemill.com/⁠


Our online Gazette is now free if you sign up to any of our 10 newsletters, Join the mailing list: ⁠⁠https://bylinesnetwork.co.uk/sign-up/⁠

Voxel Revolution Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)

Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Marcus Ryder MBE is a huge figure in the factual news world, spending 25 years in networks around the world, 8 of them acting as a senior executive at the BBC.

He's currently the CEO of the Film & TV Charity and chair of RADA. His new book, in collaboration with Sir Lenny Henry, The Big Payback talks about Reparations to address the legacy of slavery.

He sits down with Ben Dickenson and Anna Schurer to talk about diversity in the media, the power of the media, and how it can help shape the world.

If you wish to contribute to our cause, we have a crowdfunding page to help the Network expand. Donate only if you can and whatever you can, every little really helps. ⁠https://chuffed.org/project/ng7b7xwqwlze⁠

The Bylines Network has also relaunched the Bylines shop, where you can get anything from hoodies to mugs, and featuring all merch from all 10 of our publications. ⁠https://bylines-network.teemill.com/⁠


Our online Gazette is now free if you sign up to any of our 10 newsletters, Join the mailing list: ⁠⁠https://bylinesnetwork.co.uk/sign-up/⁠

Voxel Revolution Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)

Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Immigration and small boats have been in the news for a number of years now, with many Right-Wing parties created to address this so-called issue.

However, Chris and Julian feel like there's always a perspective that goes unconsidered, the perspective of the people seeking asylum themselves and those who work with them.

This month, Chris and Julian sit down with Charlotte Khan from Care4Calais, a charity who works with migrants living in camps in Calais waiting to cross the channel.

If you wish to contribute to our cause, we have a crowdfunding page to help the Network expand. Donate only if you can and whatever you can, every little really helps. ⁠https://chuffed.org/project/ng7b7xwqwlze⁠

The Bylines Network has also relaunched the Bylines shop, where you can get anything from hoodies to mugs, and featuring all merch from all 10 of our publications. ⁠https://bylines-network.teemill.com/⁠


Our online Gazette is now free if you sign up to any of our 10 newsletters, Join the mailing list: ⁠⁠https://bylinesnetwork.co.uk/sign-up/⁠

Voxel Revolution Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)

Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Another birthday to celebrate.

This time we look to the south as our smallest publication in Sussex Bylines. We ask the Editor-in-Chief, Ginny Smith, as well as James Joughin and Pea Channon, both members of SBL core editorial team, to talk about what the last 5 years have been like.

On top of that, we're joined by 2 of Sussex's contributors, Ross McNally and Rudi Banfield, who talk about what it's like to write for Sussex Bylines.

If you wish to contribute to our cause, we have a crowdfunding page to help the Network expand. Donate only if you can and whatever you can, every little really helps. ⁠https://chuffed.org/project/ng7b7xwqwlze⁠

The Bylines Network has also relaunched the Bylines shop, where you can get anything from hoodies to mugs, and featuring all merch from all 10 of our publications. ⁠https://bylines-network.teemill.com/⁠


Our online Gazette is now free if you sign up to any of our 10 newsletters, Join the mailing list: ⁠⁠https://bylinesnetwork.co.uk/sign-up/⁠

Voxel Revolution Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)

Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

July signalled Labour's first year in power, so what better time than now for our hosts to look back at the last 12 months of policy making and give their opinions on The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly.

We list bills we like the look of, actions that have been taken, such as the railways going back into public ownership, and why, despite all the good, it's been a mixed bag of a first year for Labour.

If you wish to contribute to our cause, we have a crowdfunding page to help the Network expand. Donate only if you can and whatever you can, every little really helps. ⁠https://chuffed.org/project/ng7b7xwqwlze⁠

The Bylines Network has also relaunched the Bylines shop, where you can get anything from hoodies to mugs, and featuring all merch from all 10 of our publications. ⁠https://bylines-network.teemill.com/⁠


Our online Gazette is now free if you sign up to any of our 10 newsletters, Join the mailing list: ⁠⁠https://bylinesnetwork.co.uk/sign-up/⁠

Voxel Revolution Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)

Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Continuing out 5 years on series, we come to the third oldest of the publications, and the stomping grounds of one of our hosts, West England Bylines.

Our hosts interview the 3 Editors-in-Chief, Peter Burke, Claire Jones, and Michelle Cook, as well as Jon Hill, the former Editor, to ask how the last 5 years has gone, what goes into running a publication with such a varied area, andwhere they'd like to see it go in the next 5 years.

If you wish to contribute to our cause, we have a crowdfunding page to help the Network expand. Donate only if you can and whatever you can, every little really helps. ⁠https://chuffed.org/project/ng7b7xwqwlze⁠

The Bylines Network has also relaunched the Bylines shop, where you can get anything from hoodies to mugs, and featuring all merch from all 10 of our publications. ⁠https://bylines-network.teemill.com/⁠


Our online Gazette is now free if you sign up to any of our 10 newsletters, Join the mailing list: ⁠⁠https://bylinesnetwork.co.uk/sign-up/⁠

Voxel Revolution Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)

Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

An extra special episode in our Bylines Reports series, bringing you a passionate and insightful debate recorded live at the Byline Festival 2025, in front of an excited audience of 200 people.

Join host Ben Dickenson (Bylines Network’s managing director), and an expert panel including:

•⁠ ⁠Outspoken former UK diplomat Alexandra Hall Hall.

•⁠ ⁠High-profile campaigner Stephen Kinsella, founder of Hacked Off and the Press Justice Project.

•⁠ ⁠⁠Bylines Network co-founder, and co-editor in chief of Yorkshire Bylines, Louise Houghton.

They reveal what citizen journalism really is, the power it can have to tell stories that make the world a better place, and why we need it now more than ever. There will be passion, tales from both sides of the Atlantic, and questions from the audience.

All seeking to understand - can citizen journalism change the world?

Be the first to hear this session, just days after the festival wrapped.

If you wish to contribute to our cause, we have a crowdfunding page to help the Network expand. Donate only if you can and whatever you can, every little really helps. ⁠https://chuffed.org/project/ng7b7xwqwlze⁠

The Bylines Network has also relaunched the Bylines shop, where you can get anything from hoodies to mugs, and featuring all merch from all 10 of our publications. ⁠https://bylines-network.teemill.com/⁠


Our online Gazette is now free if you sign up to any of our 10 newsletters, Join the mailing list: ⁠⁠https://bylinesnetwork.co.uk/sign-up/⁠

Voxel Revolution Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)

Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

For Pride month, we ask what life is like for transgender people in the UK right now. On this special episode, Julian sits down with Zoe Perry from the Forrest of Dean and Natacha Kennedy, two trans writers from the Bylines Network, to discuss the

impact of the recent hotly contested Supreme Court decision.

The court ruled that protections from sex based discrimination in the Equality Act referred to biological sex only. Our guests reveal how this felt like a gut punch to the trans community and the way it has been followed by rule changes in many institutions, leaving the LGBTQ+ community as a whole wondering what this might mean for their hard-won rights.

Drawing on research, campaigning and personal stories, Zoe and Natacha take lessons from 4,000 years of human history, bringing the story of trans experience right up to the present day and giving us all a sense of what can be done to make the future better for everyone..,and even find time to recommend their favourite queer reads and watches.

If you wish to contribute to our cause, we have a crowdfunding page to help the Network expand. Donate only if you can and whatever you can, every little really helps. ⁠https://chuffed.org/project/ng7b7xwqwlze⁠

The Bylines Network has also relaunched the Bylines shop, where you can get anything from hoodies to mugs, and featuring all merch from all 10 of our publications. ⁠https://bylines-network.teemill.com/⁠


Our online Gazette is now free if you sign up to any of our 10 newsletters, Join the mailing list: ⁠⁠https://bylinesnetwork.co.uk/sign-up/⁠

Voxel Revolution Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)

Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Danny Dorling's new book, The Next Crisis: What We Think About the Future, is out and the Editor's-In-Chief of Bylines Cymru and West England Bylines interview him about it.

It's facinating and vital stuff to know.

The book is about the growing wealth gap between rich and poor, the effects of the Cost of Living Crisis, and how unknowns dictate the way we think about the future.

If you wish to contribute to our cause, we have a crowdfunding page to help the Network expand. Donate only if you can and whatever you can, every little really helps. ⁠https://chuffed.org/project/ng7b7xwqwlze⁠

The Bylines Network has also relaunched the Bylines shop, where you can get anything from hoodies to mugs, and featuring all merch from all 10 of our publications. ⁠https://bylines-network.teemill.com/⁠


Our online Gazette is now free if you sign up to any of our 10 newsletters, Join the mailing list: ⁠⁠https://bylinesnetwork.co.uk/sign-up/⁠

Voxel Revolution Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)

Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/