Review of UK and world papers and coverage of UK and global journalism stories and Journalism History for Sunday 8th February 2026.
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 8th February 2026: “‘Pay-off for Mandelson’ and ‘relegation battle.'” See: https://x.com/CIoJournalist/status/2020385851440799793
To:
Sky News The Wrap: What’s on Sunday’s newspaper front pages? 8th February 2026. With guests comedian and satirist Michael Spicer and broadcaster and psychotherapist Lucy Beresford. Telegraph- ‘Lammy: “I warned Starmer about Mandleson.”‘ See: https://x.com/CIoJournalist/status/2020387501794554356
CIoJ LinkedIn news edited by Liz Justice:
Journalist Marjan Kushnir is reported to have saved a four-year-old girl from a burning house in Bila Tserkva Ukraine, after a drone strike by the Russian military on January 28th. See: https://www.linkedin.com/…/urn:li:activity…
To:
After the second world war serving in the army Meg Sewell became a well-known local newspaper journalist who has celebrated her 104th birthday. See: https://www.linkedin.com/…/urn:li:activity…
Latest CIoJ LinkedIn news feed stories edited by Liz Justice at: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/63500/
-o-
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.
-o-
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.
-o-
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
-o-
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 8th February 2026.
Here is a round-up of ten of Sunday’s UK national front pages
A number of titles lead on political fallout linked to the Jeffrey Epstein scandal and its impact on senior Labour figures.
The Mail on Sunday’s headline asks: “EPSTEIN FALLOUT: CAN STARMER SURVIVE?” The paper reports claims that “Mandelson’s a criminal, says Gordon Brown” and says “MI6 was warned of Dark Lord’s Kremlin links”, describing the story as a “world exclusive”.
Similarly, The Sunday Telegraph leads with: “Lammy: I warned Starmer about Mandelson”, saying the prime minister is “devastated and considering future as challengers for leadership clash”.
The Sunday Times focuses on financial arrangements involving the former minister with: “Payoff of tens of thousands for Mandelson”, alongside bullet points including: “Peer got exit deal despite Epstein disgrace” and “PM’s chief of staff on brink of departure”.
The theme is also prominent on The Independent, which carries: “Starmer’s deputy gives warning of Mandelson impact”, reporting that Lucy Powell expects the issue to feature heavily in an upcoming by-election.
On the left-leaning Observer, the main headline is “The relegation battle”, but the front page also trails political stories including: “PM pressured to replace No 10 team” and “Donors tell Starmer time is running out”.
Several tabloids combine political coverage with prominent showbusiness stories.
The Sunday Mirror splashes with a large intervention from a Labour figure under the headline: “GET YOUR ACT TOGETHER”, reporting that David Blunkett has urged the prime minister to take stronger action. It also features: “Corrie legend Bev’s new cancer shock”.
The same health story dominates elsewhere. The Sunday People leads with: “Beverley Callard: I have cancer”, while the Daily Star Sunday declares: “BEVERLEY: My breast cancer shock”, describing the need for urgent surgery.
The Sun on Sunday’s main political headline reads: “PAEDO BACKED £8M MANDY PAD”, under a banner referencing “The Epstein Files”, while elsewhere it reports: “KYLE & ANNIE’S BABY NO 5”.
The Sunday Express takes a different angle, leading on defence with: “RED ARROWS HEROES FLYING FOREIGN JETS!”, claiming former RAF display pilots fear Britain could end up relying on overseas aircraft.
Sport also features strongly. The Sunday Telegraph’s top strap reads: “England tear apart sorry Wales in Six Nations”, while the Sunday Times carries a large image from England’s win at Twickenham under the heading “FLYING START”.
Across the front pages, the dominant themes are political pressure on Sir Keir Starmer linked to the Mandelson controversy, defence concerns raised by the Express, and prominent coverage of Beverley Callard’s cancer diagnosis in several tabloids, alongside rugby union success in the Six Nations.
Review of front pages of newspapers published in Northern England, Scotland, Wales, Ireland and Northern Ireland.
In Ireland, politics leads the Sunday Independent, which reports: “Martin: I’ll lead Fianna Fáil into the next general election”. The paper says the Taoiseach has also hit out at US migration policies ahead of a visit. It also carries the headline: “State urged to investigate Epstein links to Ireland”.
The Irish Mail on Sunday continues its coverage of the Epstein story under the banner “EPSTEIN FALLOUT: WORLD EXCLUSIVES”, with the headline: “Epstein’s ‘very cute’ Romanian for Andrew at palace”, alongside: “MI6 was warned of Mandelson’s Kremlin links”. Its main domestic splash reads: “NEW ANTI-DRONE SYSTEM ‘CAN’T SHOOT DRONES’”, reporting concerns over defence capabilities.
The Dublin-based Sunday World leads with a crime story: “PLANE PERV’S ‘FAIRY’ TALE”, detailing claims made in court by a convicted abuser.
In Scotland, constitutional politics dominates the Sunday National, which carries: “‘99.7% CHANCE OF INDY MAJORITY’”, describing an exclusive projection of possible Holyrood 2026 outcomes. The same front page also pays tribute to the late former minister with: “‘One of the most formidable public figures of her generation’”, following the death of Jeane Freeman.
The Sunday Mail in Scotland leads with: “SNP FACE JAIL SCANDAL NO2 OVER TRANS RAPIST”, reporting renewed controversy over prison policy.
At the quality end of the market, Scotland on Sunday focuses on economic pressures facing hospitality, with: “Scottish pubs at ‘breaking point’ without rates reform”, while also carrying political commentary in “Brown’s plan to bail out Starmer”.
The Herald on Sunday gives prominence to the ongoing political story with: “EPSTEIN’S INFLUENCE: Labour, Mandelson, Israel and Russia”, and separately reports: “‘I loved her’ Sturgeon and Swinney pay tribute to late Jeane Freeman”.
In Northern Ireland, the Sunday Mirror (NI edition) splashes with: “GET YOUR ACT TOGETHER”, saying a Labour heavyweight has urged the prime minister to act amid the Mandelson row. It also features the entertainment story: “Corrie legend Bev’s new cancer shock”.
In Wales, Wales on Sunday leads on rugby under the headline: “TRYING TIMES”, describing a harsh start to the Six Nations for Wales. The front page also promotes a Winter Olympics feature: “‘Beyond proud’ to compete at Winter Olympics”.
Finally, the Manchester Evening News weekend edition reports on high street trends with: “UP IN SMOKE”, calling it an “astonishing rise of vape streets” and suggesting the boom could be about to falter.
Across these front pages, recurring themes include the continuing political fallout from the Epstein-linked controversy, debate over prison and defence policy, economic pressure on hospitality businesses, and strong sporting coverage from the Six Nations and Winter Olympics, alongside tributes to former Scottish health secretary Jeane Freeman.
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 8th February 2026
French Newspapers for Sunday 8th February 2026
Montage of world newspapers Sunday 8th February 2026
-o-
This posting has been produced with the assistance of AI editorial and production services from ChatGPT Plus and Gemini.
All Kultura Press online publications are on Open Access to support the dissemination of knowledge and understanding about journalism, journalism history and other subjects. The research and writing for this ongoing project is not funded in any way. If you would like to assist covering any of the costs involved, do consider making any kind of donation and/or subscribing monthly or yearly using the form below. Many thanks for your consideration.
-o-
Make a one-time donation
Make a monthly donation
Make a yearly donation
Choose an amount
Or enter a custom amount
Your contribution is appreciated.
Your contribution is appreciated.
Your contribution is appreciated.
DonateDonate monthlyDonate yearlyMore Open Access online publications from Kultura Press Chelsea History and Studies George Orwell Studies Media Law Studies Writing Audio Drama That’s So Goldsmiths Journalism History Studies Somerset Maugham Studies Dad’s Army Studies Joseph Conrad Studies Maigret History and Studies Writing for Broadcast Journalists 3rd Edition