Review of UK and world papers and coverage of UK and global journalism stories and Journalism History for Sunday 22nd 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 Sunday 22nd February 2026: “Andrew ‘inquiry’ calls and hiding from ‘Putin’s killer drones.'” See: https://x.com/CIoJournalist/status/2025470219368501520
To:
Sky News ‘The Wrap’ discussing UK national newspapers for Sunday 22nd February 2026 with Rachel Shabi, journalist and author, and Tony Diver, associate political editor at The Daily Telegraph. Mirror: ‘Epstein Scandal- Who Knew What and When?’ See: https://x.com/CIoJournalist/status/2025472289114890498
Telegraph reports (behind paywall): ‘Sack minister who asked law firm to smear journalists, Starmer told Josh Simons’s position in government is ‘untenable’, senior MPs say.’ See: https://x.com/CIoJournalist/status/2025470856017625425
CIoJ LinkedIn news edited by Liz Justice:
US Magistrate Judge William Porter on Friday pressed government lawyers to explain why they did not mention a 1980 law restricting searches of journalists’ homes. See: https://www.linkedin.com/…/urn:li:activity… & https://www.reuters.com/…/us-judge-questions-doj…/
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/
The Winners of the 2026 Young Journalist of the Year Awards will be announced 17th March 2026.
Finalists for 2026 Awards
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 Sunday 22nd February 2026
We begin with The Sunday Times, which leads with:
“Met officers told to guard Epstein dinner party.”
The paper reports claims that police were instructed to provide protection linked to a dinner attended by Jeffrey Epstein. It also carries the line: “Andrew crisis will run for years, sources fear.” The story suggests continuing repercussions for the Royal Family.
The royal theme is echoed across several titles.
The Mail on Sunday claims:
“EMAIL PROVES CHARLES WAS WARNED ABOUT HIS BROTHER’S ‘SECRET DEALS’.”
It describes what it calls a “world exclusive,” alleging that the King had prior warning about business associations connected to the Duke of York.
The Sunday Mirror leads with:
“EXCLUSIVE: EPSTEIN SCANDAL – WHO KNEW WHAT AND WHEN?”
It reports calls for an inquiry into what it terms a “conspiracy of silence” around Andrew.
Similarly, the Sunday People headlines:
“EX ROYAL COP: WE NEED AN INQUIRY”,
with a subheading referring to questions over “silence” in the Andrew scandal.
The Sunday Telegraph takes a slightly different angle, reporting:
“Brown calls for police to probe Andrew’s use of jets.”
It says the former Prime Minister has called for questions over taxpayer-funded flights and links to Jeffrey Epstein.
The Observer also focuses on the monarchy, with the stark headline:
“Nowhere to hide – Mountbatten-Windsor and a monarchy in peril.”
It promises commentary on the wider implications for the institution itself.
The Sun on Sunday goes further still with a dramatic splash:
“MP: Parliament should decide if Andy & Mandy have committed TREASON.”
It describes what it calls a “new shock after royal arrest,” reporting demands for parliamentary scrutiny.
Away from royal matters, The Independent on Sunday leads internationally with:
“The only place to hide from Putin’s killer drones is our underground school.”
Its special report marks four years of war in Ukraine, focusing on children sheltering from drone attacks.
The Sunday Express turns to foreign policy, headlining:
“PRITI’S MISSION TO SAVE CHAGOS.”
It reports that Sir Keir Starmer faces what it describes as “humiliation” over the future of the Chagos Islands.
And finally, the Daily Star Sunday takes a characteristically punchy tone with:
“SAS STAR: Arrogant Andy’s bubbles burst!”
It reports criticism from a television personality directed at the Duke of York.
So today’s front pages are dominated by developments in the continuing Epstein-linked controversy surrounding the Duke of York, with several titles calling for inquiries or further investigation. Alongside that, there is significant coverage of Ukraine four years into the conflict, and political debate over Britain’s overseas territories.
That’s the overview of this morning’s national newspaper front pages.
Review of front pages of UK’s regional England, and nation Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland newspapers
Good morning. Here is a further look at today’s front pages from across England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland, in a style you might hear on BBC or Sky News.
Across much of the UK and Ireland, sport and the Royal Family dominate the agenda.
Starting in Ireland, the Irish Sunday Mirror leads with a stark headline following a fatal collision: “TWO KILLED IN CRASH HORROR”, describing a man and woman dead and two others critically injured. Above that, it carries “ANDREW PROBE – Who knew what and when?”, reflecting continuing scrutiny around the Duke of York.
The Sunday Independent focuses on national security, reporting “McEntee in scramble to strengthen security as threats grow”, and says legislation may be fast-tracked. Alongside that, a personal reflection from Ukraine reads: “When I left, this field was nearly empty. Now there is a sea of graves.”
The Irish Independent turns to trade tensions with the headline “No end to tariff chaos for firms here as Trump doubles down”, warning that exporters face renewed uncertainty after US court developments.
Meanwhile, the Sunday World leads with a crime exclusive, “DON OF A NEW ERA”, profiling what it describes as the new head of the so-called Gucci Gang.
In England, the Manchester Evening News reports disorder on the streets with “Arrests as protesters clash with riot cops”, saying a far-right march was met by counter-demonstrations.
In Scotland, the Sunday Mail carries the exclusive “NOT FIT FOR TRIAL”, about a former councillor excused from court proceedings, while also featuring a royal angle with “New plea to probe Charles charities.”
The Sunday Post highlights concerns over weight-loss drugs, headlining “Fat jabs linked to two deaths a week”, citing new data on fatalities connected to injections. It also takes up a sporting theme with “HANDS OFF OUR SPORRANS”, reporting criticism over football kit regulations.
The Herald on Sunday focuses on education spending, with “‘350 teacher salaries’ – The true cost of Scots school overcrowding”, suggesting councils are spending millions on temporary buildings.
In Scotland on Sunday, the lead story is political, “Government accused of secrecy over budget cuts”, while sport is celebrated with “Rory’s relief” after Scotland’s Six Nations victory.
And in Wales, Wales on Sunday goes large on rugby with the play on words “SCOT-CHED”, saying Wales were denied victory in the final minutes, alongside a human interest story: “8,000-mile trip to finally say goodbye.”
So, a Sunday mix of politics, protest and public safety, alongside continued questions over the monarchy and strong sporting narratives across the home nations.
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 22nd February 2026
French Newspapers for Sunday 22nd February 2026
Montage of world newspapers Sunday 22nd 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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