Mediahuis/Belfast Telegraph Review

The Belfast Telegraph Review, a perfect foil to its sister supplement, Weekend magazine, has agenda-setting journalism at its heart. It focuses on the issues, good, bad, light-hearted or serious, pertinent to Northern Ireland, and revisits and re-examines relevant political, historical and cultural anniversaries.

Local topics dominate, reflecting the expertise and breadth of the Belfast Telegraph’s editorial team’s knowledge. Many topics have an international reach, from appropriate teaching of sex education in primary schools to road safety challenges and environmental issues. At all turns, Reviews delivers on quality content with the ability to prompt conversation. It is a compact read, but an important one. Politics is of premium content with analysis offered by our informed political team. The often-unpalatable issues are written in such a way as to advance the journalism of previous decades. Review often takes a wry look at the stories behind headlines. Its Pet Project lead article (April 12, 2022) discussed the rise in couples choosing ‘fur babies’ over having children and Northern Ireland’s lowest birth rate in two decades. What is important too is giving a voice to those making their home in the locality, highlighting the locality’s diversity and changing population. This is particularly apt around voting in the Assembly elections, wherein Review featured opinions from the Eastern European community. Many popular culture features have been front page worthy: assessing the impact of Sir Kenneth Branagh’s film Belfast on Northern Ireland (January 29, 2022) for example or revealing how homegrown creative comic book talent is driving a global phenomenon (February 19, 2022). Politics aside, Review combines art, culture, books, film and theatre. A key feature is music, with insight from writer and broadcaster Stuart Bailie, a much-respected name in the industry, on prominent and rising Northern Irish performers. Review has offered immeasurable support to new and established writers through in-depth interviews and analysis, with a focus on introducing new talent. Given its reputation, Review has been given access to exclusive interviews with those who play a significant role in their chosen field: Sir Ian Rankin, Professor Brian Cox, former NBC commentator Bill Nighy and forensic scientist Professor Angela Gallop. Its spiritual content shines a light on another aspect of life in Northern Ireland. The weekly column, delivered by a different interviewee weekly, is complemented with a religious meditation written by people of faith. Relying on the parent publication’s ethos of ‘telling it like it is,’ Review’s final page is given over to reader interaction, opting not to shy away from printing letters that give a reader’s honest opinion of content.