Tara Conlan
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taraconlan.bsky.social
Tara Conlan
@taraconlan.bsky.social
Journalist writing about media for the Guardian & others since all this was just Gracie Fields. taraconlan.com
Pinned
A starter pack for media and telly types of the content and media brands & platforms you know and might (or might not) love. Will add as more are verified. Excludes bots and bridges go.bsky.app/5uvdFgh
Reposted by Tara Conlan
At the Royal Courts of Justice today to monitor the first test of England and Wales' first (and only) Anti-SLAPP powers in an application brought by @danneidle.bsky.social
February 10, 2026 at 9:19 AM
Sometimes we’re so busy dealing with the waves we don’t see the tides. If you work in TV/content, take a break for a minute to read this eloquent long view and rallying call to independent producers from British Broadcasting Challenge chair Patrick Younge
www.theindiehustle.com/p/mega-merge...
Mega-mergers, market power and the indie squeeze: Pat Younge’s reality check
What the mega-mergers mean and the practical moves indies can make to stay on top
www.theindiehustle.com
February 9, 2026 at 9:58 PM
Ironically DVC may have stood for divorce but fortunately this story of AI meddling has a happy ending
February 9, 2026 at 7:02 AM
Obviously they’ll be cheering on fellow birds of prey the Seahawks www.theatlantic.com/photography/...
Superb Owl Sunday X
A special Sunday event: our tenth-annual photo collection celebrating these magnificent birds of prey. If you have some time before the big game (or are skipping the event entirely), we invite you to ...
www.theatlantic.com
February 8, 2026 at 8:09 PM
Reposted by Tara Conlan
BREAKING: The Epstein survivors are releasing this ad on this Super Bowl Sunday to send the message that they will not “move on” from the largest sex trafficking scandal in the world. #standwithsurvivors
February 8, 2026 at 5:07 PM
Noticing another increase in numbers on here - welcome all 🦋
Maybe it’s to do with initiatives like this.
Whilst other platforms reward toXicity, Bluesky makes efforts to reduce it
In 2025, as Bluesky grew from 25M to 42M users, we took actions to keep it welcoming, using proactive design to reduce toxic content by 79%.  Our 2025 Transparency Report shares how we're building a safer platform while keeping a transparent and human-centered approach: bsky.social/about/blog/0...
2025 Transparency Report Overview - Bluesky
In 2025, as Bluesky grew from 25 million to 41 million users, we improved the trust and safety infrastructure to better enable our mission. Here's what that looks like in plain language.
bsky.social
February 8, 2026 at 9:31 AM
Ex-Nato strategic comms head Mark Laity: “It’s not about PR or spin, but about understanding that policies & actions equal character & feed into the greater story you are telling. You start off with a clear narrative — and then take the actions that support it. Narrative is strategy in story form”
Good morning and welcome to your FT Weekend highlights giftlink thread. First the Weekend Essay

"both Putin and Trump know that we live in a world where being able to impose your story is what matters". Peter Pomerantsev writes that Europe needs to change the story as.ft.com/r/1b2d55d0-8...
Putin isn’t really winning. Europe needs to make that clear
[FREE TO READ] Behind Russia’s victory narrative in Ukraine is a system under strain. To fight back, the ‘middle powers’ must work harder on their own story
as.ft.com
February 7, 2026 at 8:51 AM
Reposted by Tara Conlan
get the jet-powered option
February 6, 2026 at 10:53 PM
Reposted by Tara Conlan
Dominic Dyer: @number10cat.bsky.social Larry the Cat will have been in Downing Street 15 years next week, he is the most stable thing about British politics these days
February 6, 2026 at 10:49 PM
To use Danny Dyer’s famous phrase: “Trotters up”
Mandelson last week did a comeback/damage limitation interview with photographer for the Times magazine, which I'm guessing was planned to run at a future date but has been pushed out online on a Monday night because of events. Anyway yeah. www.thetimes.com/uk/politics/...
February 3, 2026 at 8:09 AM
Back to the future of (19th century) news
for connoisseurs of local journalism traffic farming, this is the latest frontier – you reprint ancient facts from Wikipedia and present them as news, in order to create curiosity gap headlines that appear in Google Discover / Apple News
…in 1842.

Astonishing clickbait.
February 2, 2026 at 6:35 PM
Reposted by Tara Conlan
Not quite one year ago as.ft.com/r/52c094cb-4...
February 1, 2026 at 11:01 PM
Reposted by Tara Conlan
🧵 @jburnmurdoch.ft.com is spot on about the conditions in his FT piece. Liberal democracy held it together thanks to growth, good demographics, and the promise of a better future. Those days are gone, and that’s the "why" behind the erosion. However...
Democratic politicians have, though, pursued growth in GDP at the expense of other values. One response to @jburnmurdoch.ft.com pessimistic scenario is refocus on those values, combined with egalitarianism, sufficiency and quality of life. Not "it's the economy, stupid" but "it's the the society"
Is liberal democracy in terminal decline?
The old system worked under a set of conditions that are no longer present
www.ft.com
January 23, 2026 at 9:07 AM
Reposted by Tara Conlan
The shocking testimony of a children’s entertainer who filmed the assault and murder of Alex Pretti, and a pediatrician who administered emergency medical aid whilst ICE agents ‘counted bullet holes’
JUST IN: Lawyers file declaration in federal court from first-hand witness to immigration agents' shooting of a US citizen onlookers today. Minneapolis Mayor Frey said details would be used to bolster case for ousting ICE from city. Doc: www.documentcloud.org/documents/26...
TincherSealedWitnessDec012426.PDF
www.documentcloud.org
January 25, 2026 at 5:51 AM
Can’t wait for this new Disney+ Alan Carr show from the producers of Clarkson’s Farm Expectation TV but also King of the Castle was right there for a puntastic working title
January 22, 2026 at 9:11 AM
Reposted by Tara Conlan
We are hiring! This is a rare opportunity to take on a pivotal leadership role within one of the UK’s most respected factual producers. Click the link for more information!

careers.itv.com/jobs/head-of...
January 15, 2026 at 5:45 PM
Daily Mail readers’ interests by numbers.
(Screenshot so you’re not tempted to click to see if that is the REAL reason, which if it is everyone else will follow up anyway & if Trump strikes Iran remembering to cancel your Mail+ sub may slip down your to-do list come Armageddon)
January 14, 2026 at 7:54 AM
Need a laugh this morning then watch Golden Globes’ host Nikki Glaser’s opening monologue www.youtube.com/watch?v=9hpH...
Nikki Glaser Opening Monologue | 83rd Annual Golden Globes
YouTube video by Golden Globes
www.youtube.com
January 12, 2026 at 8:14 AM
That @markruffalo.bsky.social Golden Globes interview in full. “They’ve got us at each other’s throats” #BeGood youtu.be/gKqDDlL0uPA www.youtube.com/watch?v=gKqD...
Mark Ruffalo's Impassioned Plea for America After Killing of Renee Good (Exclusive)
YouTube video by Entertainment Tonight
www.youtube.com
January 12, 2026 at 7:38 AM
Just reminding everyone who still has an X account of this from Private Eye
January 11, 2026 at 9:47 AM
Reposted by Tara Conlan
Counterpoint: It’s deeply irresponsible for any administration to tacitly encourage the people it serves to be active on an unregulated, surveilled platform, run by an erratic, capricious individual . Find better ways to reach people
Government should stay on X despite the Grok scandal, Keir Starmer's former communications director has said

James Lyons, who worked at TikTok before serving in Downing St, told PolHome podcast The Rundown that quitting Elon Musk's platform would leave a "vacuum" for Labour's rivals to fill
Government Shouldn’t Quit X Over Grok Scandal, Says Former No10 Comms Director
The government should not quit X as doing so would leave a 'vacuum' for its political rivals to fill, Keir Starmer's former communications director...
www.politicshome.com
January 9, 2026 at 5:21 AM
This is such a shock and incredibly sad; Danielle was a joy and lit up the rooms I saw her in. Condolences to her family deadline.com/2026/01/dani...
Danielle Scott-Haughton Dies: BBC Commissioner Worked On ‘Peaky Blinders’ & Agatha Christie Adaptations
Danielle Scott-Haughton, the BBC drama executive behind series including 'Peaky Blinders' and Agatha Christie adaptation 'Towards Zero,' has died.
deadline.com
January 8, 2026 at 4:05 PM
To paraphrase ABBA, thank you for the music (& creating this fantastic, free MTV diversion from global conflict-inspired existential dread) @flexasaurusrex.bsky.social
Congrats to @flexasaurusrex.bsky.social for building MTV Rewind over the weekend. The app pulls music videos by decade from YouTube, playing them in random order to simulate the MTV video watching experience. Fantastic idea!

wantmymtv.xyz
MTV REWIND - I Want My MTV
Celebrating 44 years of continuous music videos. Stream classic music videos 24/7.
wantmymtv.xyz
January 7, 2026 at 8:09 AM
Reposted by Tara Conlan
What just happened ...

Comedy: Jamie Kaler
January 4, 2026 at 8:33 AM
Yes I know we’re in the white heat of the tech revolution & this is boring but anyone know of a scroll-like screen can attach to fridge that has a family calendar on it that synchs with my iPhone calendar? Tired of transcribing all my family appointments but need an overview everyone can see &..
January 2, 2026 at 2:31 PM