Review of UK and world papers and coverage of UK and global journalism stories and Journalism History for Tuesday 17th 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 for Tuesday 17th February 2026: “Farage forces elections U-turn’ and ‘Tributes to Godfather Star.'” See https://x.com/CIoJournalist/status/2023640944575189195
To:
Sky News ‘The Wrap’ discusses Tuesday’s newspaper front pages 17th February 2026. With Jessica Elgot, The Guardian’s deputy political editor, and journalist and broadcaster Daisy McAndrew. Telegraph: ‘Starmer U-Turn on cancelled elections.’ See: https://x.com/CIoJournalist/status/2023641914398986634
CIoJ LinkedIn news edited by Liz Justice:
Although he is not a journalist, an appeal of an asylum seeker cleared of a public order offence after setting fire to a copy of the Koran in London has massive implications for freedom of speech. See: https://www.linkedin.com/…/urn:li:activity…
To:
CIoJ member and editor Romail Gulzar’s has posted on Facebook his concerns about organisations using the House of Parliament as an event venue without following protocols. 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/
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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.
See: https://www.cioj.org/young-journalists-awards-2026/
YOUNG BUSINESS/FINANCIAL JOURNALIST OF THE YEAR
Nikou Asgari, Financial Times
Lucy Frost, International Financial Review
Sofia Gerace, mlex.com
YOUNG NEWS REPORTER OF THE YEAR
Charlotte Anderson, Romford Recorder/Local London
Isabel Clark, Southwark News
Megan Owen, BBC London
YOUNG ENVIRONMENT JIOURNALIST OF THE YEAR
Charlotte Anderson, Romford Recorder/London Local
Ellen Ormesher, DeSmog UK
YOUNG CAMPAIGNING JOURNALIST OF THE YEAR
Charlotte Anderson, Romford Recorder – online and in print
Patricia Figueiredo, mlex.com
YOUNG FEATURE WRITER OF THE YEAR
Simon Ezra-Jackson, The Damned, print magazine, The New World. print/online
Annaliese Smith, moretohistory.com, Birmingham Dispatch, Discover Wildlife
Joseph Watt, Ultramarathon, print magazine/online, The Offset, print magazine/online.
YOUNG POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT OF THE YEAR
Jiji Ahn, BBC News
Jasmine Cameron-Chileshe, ITV National News
Amy Gibbons, The Daily Telegraph
YOUNG ARTS JOURNALIST OF THE YEAR
Katie Chambers, The Stage
Sofia de la Cruz, Wallpaper
Evie Glen, Metal magazine
YOUNG TRAVEL JOURNALIST OF THE YEAR
Alice Barnes-Brown, Travel Weekly
Kira Richards, National Geographic(UK)/Sunday Times
Annaliese Smith, Independent/Wired For Adventure
YOUNG HEALTH JOURNALIST OF THE YEAR
Amy Borrett, Financial Times
Ella Kipling, Mirror/Wales Online
Eliza Slawther, Pink Sheet
YOUNG SPORTS JOURNALIST OF THE YEAR
Jamie Barton, CNN Digital Sports, London
Aryan Jolly, The Real EFL/The Football Deck/Wisden
Joseph Ryan, Kent Standard/Football Writers’ Association
YOUNG SHOW BIZ JOURNALIST OF THE YEAR
Evie Glen, The List, online magazine
Ella Kipling, The Mirror
The nominations are listed alphabetically and the winner in each category will be announced at the Young Journalist Awards presentations, on Tuesday 17th March at the Leonardo Royal Hotel, Tower Hill, following the Society of Editors Annual Conference, beginning with a reception at 6.00pm.
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 Tuesday 17th February 2026
It is a day dominated by politics, with most of the papers leading on the Prime Minister’s decision to abandon plans to delay May’s local elections.
The Financial Times reports: “Starmer abandons delay of 30 council elections after Reform legal challenge”, describing the reversal as a significant political setback after pressure from Nigel Farage’s party.
Similarly, The Guardian leads with: “Anger as PM abandons plans to delay May elections”, highlighting disquiet within Labour ranks and criticism from opposition parties over the handling of the proposal.
The i newspaper frames it as a political turning point, declaring: “Farage forces elections U-turn – triggering next threat to Starmer leadership”, suggesting the episode could have consequences for the Prime Minister’s authority.
The Times takes a more measured tone, headlining: “Starmer’s plan to delay elections abandoned”, and noting the decision follows legal advice and mounting pressure.
At the more strident end of the spectrum, the Daily Telegraph runs with: “Starmer U-turns on cancelled elections”, alongside commentary describing the episode as a campaign for democracy victory.
The Daily Express echoes that emphasis with: “Yet another U-turn as elections are back on”, while also carrying the news that “Hollywood legend Robert Duvall dies at 95.”
The Daily Mail counts what it calls the Prime Minister’s reversals, leading with: “In 14th major U-turn, humiliated PM has to abandon plans to cancel local elections”, under the banner headline “Starmer forced to face wrath of voters.”
The Sun opts for brevity and punch, declaring: “STARMER U-TURN No15”, suggesting this is the latest in a series of policy reversals.
The Daily Mirror, however, gives prominence to online safety, splashing with: “SAVE OUR NEXT GENERATION”, reporting on calls from a grieving mother for tougher protections for children on social media platforms.
The focus for The Star is ‘Tributes To Godfather Star- Duval Dies At 95.’
And the Independent combines politics with an obituary, leading on: “Another Starmer U-turn as local poll delays abandoned”, while also marking the passing of the Oscar-winning actor with: “The Godfather and Apocalypse Now actor Robert Duvall dies aged 95.”
So across much of Fleet Street, the focus is firmly on the Prime Minister’s retreat over local elections — variously framed as a legal correction, a political humiliation, or a victory for democratic accountability — alongside tributes to one of Hollywood’s most celebrated actors and continued debate over online safety and child protection.
Review of front pages of UK’s regional England, and nation Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland newspapers
Good morning. Here’s a look at how the front pages are shaping up across the UK.
Beginning in England, the Metro leads with technology and child safety. Its headline reads: “PM’s vow to stop the bots”, saying Sir Keir Starmer is considering stronger action on social media and AI chatbots following what it calls the “A.I. dark side”. The paper links this to concerns about online harms affecting young people.
In Manchester, the Manchester Evening News focuses on crime and the courts with the stark headline: “‘I BELIEVED MY LIFE WAS IN DANGER’”. It reports on a teenager accused of murder, telling jurors he bought a “Call of Duty style knife”.
The Yorkshire Post turns to defence and national security. Its splash reads: “UK hastens defence spending rise”, reporting that the Prime Minister is expected to bring forward increases in military spending in response to global instability. The paper also notes the Government has dropped plans to postpone 30 council elections.
In Scotland, The Scotsman highlights concerns about public finances with: “SNP policies of free tuition and benefits ‘at risk’ as funding falls”. It says a think tank has warned ministers may struggle to maintain current commitments.
The Daily Record leads on a criminal case with the bold headline: “PREDATOR ATTACKED TEEN AT WIFE’S PARTY”, reporting on the jailing of a man for sexual assault.
Meanwhile, The Herald focuses on working practices in the civil service. Its front page reads: “Scottish civil servants rarely at the office despite target”, citing data suggesting hybrid working guidelines are not being met.
Turning to Wales, the Western Mail leads with a major infrastructure story: “£30m Aberthaw contract failings”, reporting on alleged procurement and oversight issues linked to a power station project.
The South Wales Echo focuses on crime and sentencing with the headline: “WOMAN JAILED AFTER ATTACK KNOCKED GRAN’S TEETH OUT”, covering a case in which a woman was imprisoned following an assault.
And in Northern Ireland, the Belfast Telegraph says: “Damning report slams ‘toxic’ workplace culture at Sport NI”, reporting on a survey that found allegations of bullying, mistrust and fear of retaliation within the organisation.
Finally, The Irish News leads with public spending concerns over a major sporting event. Its headline reads: “Cost to host World Cup.. £112m Benefit to the economy.. £63m”, questioning the financial case for hosting matches and highlighting scrutiny over projected returns.
Across the UK this morning, themes include public spending pressures, defence, governance and accountability, as well as crime and justice stories featuring prominently in the regional press.
That’s a snapshot of today’s front pages.
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 Tuesday 17th February 2026
French Newspapers for Tuesday 17th February 2026
Montage of world newspapers Tuesday 17th February 2026
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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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