Stacey Dooley and Michael Odewale Lead New News Podcasts for Channel 4

Channel 4 is launching two new news-themed podcasts aimed at younger audiences, featuring prominent British personalities Stacey Dooley and comedian Michael Odewale. The initiative, driven by a study highlighting Gen Z's trust issues with news sources, seeks to promote fact-checked journalism in an engaging and accessible format.

Key Takeaways

• Two new podcasts, "Untangled" and "A News Thing," are set to launch on Channel 4.

• Untangled" will be fronted by Stacey Dooley and journalist Ben Zand, focusing on current affairs.

• "A News Thing" will feature comedian Michael Odewale and regulars from "A Comedy Thing" to review weekly news.

• Both podcasts aim to combat disinformation and provide reliable, fact-checked information to Gen Z.

• The launch follows a Channel 4 study revealing Gen Z's greater confidence in social media posts from friends over established journalism.

Untangled: Making Sense of the Headlines

Documentary presenter Stacey Dooley, known for her work on "Rape on Trial" and "Growing Up Gypsy," is partnering with British journalist and documentary maker Ben Zand for "Untangled." This weekly current affairs podcast will delve into headlines that dominate social media feeds, offering clarity on their significance. The show aims to explore both breaking news and under-reported issues, providing context and understanding.

Dooley expressed her hope that "Untangled" will help people make sense of the world's events, fostering open and honest conversations without feeling overwhelming. Zand added that the podcast's goal is to help listeners grasp major stories and understand the human impact behind them.

A News Thing: A Comedic Take on Current Events

"A News Thing" will be an entertaining and enlightening weekly review of the news, hosted by comedian Michael Odewale. He will be joined by a rotating cast of regulars from Channel 4's comedy YouTube channel "A Comedy Thing," including Finlay Christie and Dan Tiernan, as well as other comedians from the UK circuit. Together, they will dissect the week's most significant and talked-about stories from across traditional media and online platforms.

Addressing Gen Z's News Consumption Habits

The commissioning of these podcasts follows Channel 4's study, "Gen Z: Trends, Truth and Trust," published in January. The study revealed significant challenges faced by young people in finding trustworthy news, with many expressing more confidence in social media posts from friends than in established journalistic sources.

Louisa Compton, Head of News and Current Affairs, Specialist Factual and Sport at Channel 4, stated that young audiences are often exposed to disinformation and divisive views online, making them eager for informed and reliable information. She believes these podcasts will provide that in distinct yet complementary ways.

Sacha Khari, outgoing Head of Digital Commissioning, described the podcasts as "two brilliantly distinct but equally vital vodcasts." He highlighted the collaboration between Channel 4's Current Affairs and Digital commissioning teams, combining expertise and trusted values to deliver content that is smart, fact-checked, entertaining, and relevant for today's digital world.

Sources

• Stacey Dooley & A Comedy Thing Comics Front Channel 4 News Podcasts, Deadline.