The guardian’s Today in Focus podcast celebrates five years
The Guardian’s flagship daily news podcast, Today in Focus is celebrating five years since its launch and achieving 250 million listens.
Since launching in November 2018, the podcast hosted by Guardian journalists Nosheen Iqbal and Michael Safi has won a number of industry awards for its reporting, production and sound design. Most recently winning gold in the ‘best news and current affairs’ category and silver in the ‘best daily podcast’ category at the 2023 British Podcast awards.
Today in Focus has a highly engaged global audience, with almost half of the podcast’s listeners routinely tuning in daily from outside the UK. The top five continents and countries drawing in listeners are Europe, the US, Canada, Australia and New Zealand.
Those listening for at least a year, make up 76% of its audience and 35% have been listening for over three years. Predominantly, those listening are 25-34 and female (52%), younger and more diverse than the typically older and male dominated UK podcast industry and listening audience.
Nosheen Iqbal said: “A big thank you to all our listeners, in the UK and around the world who have helped make Today in Focus what it is today.
“Going beyond UK scandal, every day we aim to create the show with an international outlook but a local feel – we’ve had episodes set in the Amazon rainforest and direct from Gaza, Ukraine and the US. And rather than just recording journalists sitting in our offices in London, we have great production quality and sound design, to take our listeners closer to the action.
“The results have been incredible, and I’m thrilled that a remarkable 250 million people, from all over the world, have joined us on this journey.”
Michael Safi added: “Today in Focus is an incredible show to be a part of and to have been going for five years is a real testament to the hard work that goes into it.
“Reaching 250 million people is also a phenomenal milestone and evidence of the podcast’s ability to tell a detailed story that connects with listeners, rather than just chatting about what’s happening in the news.
“The show is made daily with our audience in mind, who they are, where they are from and what they may want to know. It’s really exciting to see that the show has become a daily listening habit for so many, all over the world.
“So many writers and journalists we work with tell us that their stories get much more attention and make more of an impact when they’re featured on the podcast.”
Christian Bennett, executive editor, multimedia, Guardian News & Media, said: “At a time when we are in podcast overload, filled with many Westminster-centric double acts, Today in Focus sets out to do something very different – stepping back from the daily noise, telling one investigative and absorbing, human story each day.
“Centred on brilliant Guardian reporters, their expertise and sources, the hope is that listeners come away from each episode feeling that along with our hosts, they’ve learned something new that they can share with friends and contacts, whether it be about a global issue, a national scandal, or something unusual, useful and occasionally fun.”
Weekday episodes of Today in Focus can be found on theguardian.com/audio.