Ladies and gentlemen, we’re diving head first into 2026 and kicking things off with none other than the forbidden topic… embargoes.
I’m wading into dangerous territory here because everyone (and I mean absolutely everyone) has an opinion on them. What’s the best embargo? Should they exist at all? Can a single embargo ever work for print, broadcast and digital?
These questions matter more now than it did even a year ago. Newsrooms are thinner and digital publishing rhythms have shifted.
When I say an embargo “works”, I mean it does three things at once:
Maximises digital pickup
Keeps broadcasters onside
Doesn’t alienate print readers
I love embargoes. I think they absolutely still have a place in the current media landscape. At their best, they give journalists time to properly interrogate a story, do interviews, take our own pictures and ask the questions that need to be asked without the fear of being beaten by a rival.
But lots of the embargoes in use today are designed for a media ecosystem that no longer exists.
If there’s one thing to take away from this edition of Off the Record, it’s this: the midnight embargo does not work in the digital age. It is dead. The 10.30pm one is on life support too.
For a long time last year, I argued the 8pm embargo was the sweet spot, capitalising on rising evening traffic while staying fresh for the 10pm bulletins. But it’s a new year and clearly I have new thoughts on the matter. The issue with my thinking in 2025 is that broadcasters don’t want “nearly fresh” content for early-morning programmes. They want new content. Paper readers also want new content. Is there a way to keep everyone happy?
So, what is the best embargo in 2026?
