Review of UK and world papers and coverage of UK and global journalism stories and Journalism History for Sunday 23d November 2025.
Journalism is the first draft of history and these daily reports seek to provide an online briefing of the history of journalism for each day featured.
The Chartered Institute of Journalists remembers all the professional journalists and media workers murdered and killed while doing their work this year in all parts of the world and remember the immense sacrifice of those who gave their lives to the profession in the past. We send our condolences to their families, friends and professional colleagues.
The Chartered Institute of Journalists wishes to make it absolutely clear that all our reporting of stories about journalism and media saying ‘reports’ ‘writes for’ ‘briefing’ or attribution followed by colon, does not imply or mean our agreement or endorsing with the quoted headline or linked story. Our policy is impartiality & apolitical.
X posts:-
BBC News Papers’ Review analysing front pages of UK national newspapers for Sunday 23rd November 2025: “‘Andrew should give evidence’ and Reeves prepares for Budget.” See: https://x.com/CIoJournalist/status/1992497759849759113
To:
Sky News Press Preview discussing front pages of UK national newspapers for Sunday 23rd November 2025. With Christian Calgie, senior political correspondent at the Daily Express and broadcaster Joanna Jarjue. See on YouTube at: https://x.com/CIoJournalist/status/1992386983990309174
CIoJ LinkedIn news edited by Liz Justice:
Daily Mail and General Trust (DMGT) has agreed to purchase the Telegraph after it agreed exclusive talks with RedBird IMI to prepare regulatory submissions, which they “expect to happen quickly”. See: https://www.linkedin.com/…/urn:li:activity…
To:
Karachi police launched a preliminary investigation on Saturday after allegations that two individuals threatening an Indian journalist, who covers crime and security affairs. See: https://www.linkedin.com/…/urn:li:activity…
Latest postings at https://www.linkedin.com/groups/63500/
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Chatered Institute of Journalists Young Journalist of the Year Awards 2026
Business and Financial Journalist of the year category sponsored by Cavendish
‘We’re delighted that Cavendish Tech and Innovation is sponsoring the Business/Financial Journalist of the Year category at The Chartered Institute of Journalists (CIoJ) Young Journalist of the Year Awards 2026. This comes as part of our ongoing commitment to supporting the media industry and championing new journalistic talent.
These awards celebrate the very best young journalists across the UK, recognising outstanding achievements by those aged 30 and under. Specifically, the Business/Financial Journalist of the Year award highlights impactful stories that cover the business/financial aspects of a particular company, sector, or issue – from funding and corporate governance to financial outcomes and strategic insight.
Would you like to sponsor other categories for CIoJ Young Journalist Awards for 2026. ‘Host a category and add your brand to the 2026 Young Journalist Awards.’ See: https://www.cioj.org/young-journalists-awards-2026/
The Winners of the 2026 Young Journalist of the Year Awards will be announced in March 2026.
Many congratulations to winners, specially commended and finalists in inaugural 2025 CIoJ Young Journalist of the Year Awards, on 25th March 2025. See: https://www.linkedin.com/posts/live-group_youngjournalistawards-journalismmatters-cioj-activity-7310632030642339840-68d4?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop&rcm=ACoAAAeLiVwB8a2_okGmo5JT2aJ02kIVH-ra9No
Gerald Bowey is the present President of the Chartered Institute of Journalists and Caroline Roddis, the Vice-President. Their roles were confirmed in a handover event at the Reform Club in Central London on Tuesday 20th February 2024.
Bowey emphasised the guidance, support, and encouragement that had been at the heart of the Institute for 140 years and announced the launch of a new Young Journalist of the Year awards scheme that would encourage journalists under 30 years of age to enter a range of categories.
Commenting Bowey said: “the Institute is focused on supporting working journalists, both in-house and freelance, in the workplace, as a trade union, and in sustaining journalists in difficult circumstances as a charitable trust.
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Two Fellows of the Chartered Institute of Journalists at the heart of British Journalism History
T.P.O’Connor founder of London campaigning evening newspaper The Star in 1888 and Arthur Burrows the first journalist and news presenter at the B.B.C. 1922.
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CIoJ member Clare Hollingworth OBE (1911-2017) – The first war correspondent to report the outbreak of World War II, described as “the scoop of the century”
Listen to Imperial War Museum archive interview with Clare recorded in 2001
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CIoJ X news feed at: https://x.com/CIoJournalist
CIoJ LinkedIn news feed edited by Liz Justice at: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/63500/
CIoJ Facebook news feed at: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100077475452242
Official CIoJ LinkedIn site for Institute news and projects at: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-chartered-institute-of-journalists/posts/?feedView=all
Chartered Institute of Journalists website at: https://www.cioj.org/
Review of UK national newspapers for Sunday 23rd November 2025.
Headline of the day
Cost of living, Prince Andrew and the Ukraine peace ultimatum dominate the Sunday papers
Themes
Budget tensions, royal scrutiny, global geopolitical pressure — plus a strong thread of public services under strain.
AT A GLANCE — What the Papers Say
- Reeves’ Budget pressure: Several papers spotlight the Chancellor’s pledge to ease the cost-of-living crisis and reform welfare (Mirror, Sunday Times, Sunday Mail Scotland).
- Prince Andrew back under scrutiny: Calls for the Duke to testify in the US over Epstein intensify (People, Mail on Sunday, Sunday Telegraph).
- Ukraine crisis escalates: Trump’s “peace-deal-or-lose-support” ultimatum drives front pages across the broadsheets (Sunday Telegraph, FT Weekend yesterday, Sunday Times).
- Safety and policing concerns: From “fat jab” fears in the RAF (Sunday Express) to a race-rant police scandal (Sunday Mail Scotland) and wrongful football intelligence claims (Sunday Times).
- Domestic tragedies & justice: A “missed chance” to save a mother (Wales on Sunday), a Garda uniform row (Irish Mail on Sunday).
- Sport & entertainment: Strictly Blackpool, Ashes fallout, Scottish football euphoria.
THE FULL ANALYSIS
1️⃣ The Budget & Cost of Living: Reeves’ moment of maximum scrutiny
The Sunday Mirror leads with Rachel Reeves promising to “get a grip on the cost of living” — her strongest public signal yet of a kitchen-table Budget.
The Sunday Times gives the policy dimension: Reeves plans to scrap the benefit cap but pair it with broader welfare reform. The paper emphasises political wariness inside Labour about costs, public reaction, and the tight fiscal space.
In Scotland, the Sunday Mail also foregrounds Reeves: “Labour under fire as Budget looms,” linking Westminster policy to Scottish socioeconomic tensions.
Across these titles, Reeves is cast in different political lighting:
- Mirror: empathetic, family-focused, reassuring.
- Sunday Times: pragmatic but boxed in by fiscal pressures.
- Sunday Mail: battling political backlash.
The unifying mood: Reeves owns the coming week — for better or worse.
2️⃣ Prince Andrew: An extraordinary cross-paper pile-on
It is hard to recall such alignment on a royal story:
- People: “PM: Andrew should give evidence on Epstein.”
- Mail on Sunday: “Starmer piles pressure on Andrew to testify in U.S.”
- Sunday Telegraph: Starmer believes Andrew should cooperate with Congress.
- Sunday Mirror (secondary): PM says Andrew should testify.
The framing differs:
- Popular tabloids portray Andrew as a man under siege and resisting accountability.
- Broadsheets emphasise constitutional propriety and government positioning.
But the message from every editorial room is unmistakable: Andrew is once again centre-stage — and out of options.
3️⃣ Ukraine at a crisis point
A major geopolitical throughline:
- Sunday Telegraph leads with “Ukraine deal not my final offer, says Trump”, highlighting an ultimatum that exposes Kyiv’s vulnerability.
- Independent (UK) stresses Zelensky’s remembrance of the Holodomor while facing unbearable diplomatic pressure.
- Echoes across yesterday’s FT Weekend and Guardian intensify the narrative: Europe and the US are shaping Ukraine’s choices more aggressively than at any point in the conflict.
This is the heaviest, most internationally consequential story of the day.
4️⃣ Policing, security and public services under scrutiny
A cluster of health-of-the-state stories:
- Sunday Express warns of “safety fears” over RAF use of weight-loss drugs.
- Sunday Mail Scotland reports on a reinstated officer after racist language — a case causing public unease.
- Sunday Times investigates the use of flawed intelligence by police to ban football fans.
- Irish Mail on Sunday describes a Garda uniform procurement row as “an insult”.
Together they paint a picture of institutions operating under stress, mistrust, or political pressure.
5️⃣ Across the nations: distinct voices and local angles
Wales on Sunday
A deeply emotional home-nation front page:
“Missed chance to save mum” — a story calling into question emergency care and winter resilience.
Daily Record (Scotland)
A brilliantly Scottish blend of humour and grit: a fan dislocates his shoulder celebrating a goal — then soldiers on to watch the match. Pure “braveheart spirit” tabloid energy.
Sunday Mail Scotland
A stark policing scandal, plus World Cup qualification euphoria.
Irish Mail on Sunday
Sharp political accountability journalism around Garda procurement, reflecting Ireland’s own pressures around public service trust.
The regional titles add texture, humanity, and local politics to a national news cycle dominated by geopolitics and Westminster.
6️⃣ Culture, lifestyle, and lighter threads
- Observer leads with a Green Party interview envisioning radical policy shifts (leave NATO, tax the rich).
- Scotland on Sunday features Christmas lights, arts, comment and Scottish coaching debates.
- People & Mirror highlight Strictly Blackpool joy.
- Star Sunday shouts about shoplifting crackdowns and sports drama.
- Sunday Times Magazine dives into Paul Gascoigne’s inner life.
A lively, varied cultural Sunday across all titles.
How the papers spin the same stories
| Issue | Left-leaning framing | Right-leaning framing | Centrist/broadsheet framing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Prince Andrew & Epstein | Accountability overdue; moral duty (Mirror, People) | Respect for process but pressure justified (Mail, Express) | Institutional integrity, diplomatic propriety (Telegraph, Times) |
| Budget & Welfare | Helping families; fixing Tory damage (Mirror) | Concern about “handouts”, reform emphasis (Mail, Express) | Fiscal realism vs outcomes; balancing act (Times, FT) |
| Ukraine ultimatum | Moral cost-of-peace debate; protecting dignity (Guardian, Independent) | Strong-arm diplomacy justified; realism about limits (Telegraph) | Geopolitical pressure, strategic calculus (FT, Times) |
| Institutional scandals | Failures of leadership/systemic inequality (Mirror, Guardian) | High standards, firm action needed (Mail, Express) | Administrative competence and evidence-based critique (Times, Observer) |
Takeaway:
Even on a day with tightly overlapping stories, the political weather of each paper remains unmistakable.
Weekend-Only Cultural & Lifestyle Digest
The best of Sunday features across all titles
- Long reads:
- Paul Gascoigne’s turbulent genius (Sunday Times Magazine)
- Britain’s missing children — heartbreaking investigative essay (Independent)
- Radical political imagination from the Greens (Observer)
- Food & lifestyle:
- Christmas gift guides (Mail on Sunday, Observer Magazine)
- Seasonal recipes and drinks (Sunday Times, Weekend magazines)
- Arts & entertainment:
- Strictly Blackpool celebrations (Mirror, People, Express)
- Fashion tributes, arts pullouts, festive city light displays (Scotland on Sunday)
- Sport:
- England’s Ashes frustrations persist (Telegraph, Star, Record)
- Scotland’s World Cup joy hits saturation levels across Scottish titles
It’s a rich, classic Sunday mix — emotional journalism, festive escapism, cultural deep dives and plenty of sport.
TOMORROW’S PAPERS — What to Expect for Monday
Expect Monday’s front pages to focus on:
- Ramp-up to Wednesday’s Budget
- More pressure on Prince Andrew if Westminster or Congress moves
- Ukraine brinkmanship developments
- Retail and cost-of-living stories with Black Friday analysis
- Post-Ashes fallout in the UK sport press
A busy news cycle is coming — and Monday is almost guaranteed to sharpen the Budget narrative even further.
CIoJ LinkedIn news stories, Hold The Front Page news stories, Guardian media news stories, Press Gazette news stories, Arab News media stories and other stories from miscellaneous sources
The Institute calls on Belarus to release the journalists and media workers it has detained. Belarus is currently ranked 167th out of 180 countries in the World Press Freedom Index. See: https://rsf.org/en/country/belarus RSF states: ‘To silence independent journalists, the authorities have resorted to state-sponsored terrorism, including censorship, violence, mass arrests, and coordinated raids on homes and media offices, as well as disbanding the Association of Belarusian Journalists (BAJ).’
The CIoJ calls on all governments and states unjustly detaining journalists for doing their professional work to respect freedom of expression, the right to liberty and free them immediately. See: https://rsf.org/en/new-record-number-journalists-jailed-worldwide
North American Newspapers for Sunday 23rd November 2025
French Newspapers for Sunday 23rd November 2025
Montage of world newspaper Sunday 23rd November 2025
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This posting has been produced with the assistance of AI editorial and production services from ChatGPT Plus and Gemini.
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