Richard Watson @richardwatson1 Twitter profile

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Richard Watson

@richardwatson1

3 months

Following the decision to end investigative journalism at @BBCNewsnight , I’m leaving the BBC today after 33 years - 25 on Newsnight itself. It’s been wonderful to work with so many talented friends & a privilege to have been able to focus on public interest journalism. A🧵…

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Richard Watson

@richardwatson1

3 months

It has been a great run. Onwards! (As one of my Editors used to say!)

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Richard Watson

@richardwatson1

3 months

Many investigations made a difference. In 2002, I revealed that legally available air guns were being converted to fire live rounds by armed robbers; that investigation changed the law.

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Richard Watson

@richardwatson1

3 months

My last day today ⁦ @BBCNewsnight ⁩ after 33 years at the BBC. Lots to celebrate tonight, but may be I’m most proud to see my daughter ⁦ @ninakwatson ⁩ making her way as a young freelance journalist covering world affairs.

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Richard Watson

@richardwatson1

3 months

Another film revealed that the wife of an Islamist extremist was being groomed to become a suicide bomber in the UK, shedding fresh light on the UK terror threat.

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Richard Watson

@richardwatson1

3 months

I’m particularly proud of the film we did in 2020 showing how the Met Police had failed to investigate a vicious racist attack; that investigation forced the Met to reopen the case & led to a conviction.

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Richard Watson

@richardwatson1

3 months

In 2011, we uncovered the Met Police’s use of undercover cops to infiltrate climate protestors, one cop even maintained his cover to lie in court. An issue that has continued to make headlines.

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Richard Watson

@richardwatson1

3 months

Another recent film presented new evidence that MI5 had been given specific intelligence in the weeks before the Manchester Arena bombing that Salman Abedi planned to attack with explosives, which was a huge shock to the families involved.

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Richard Watson

@richardwatson1

3 months

3 months after the London bombings, we revealed that the leader of the plot, Mohammed Siddique Khan, featured in surveillance BEFORE the 7/7 attack.

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Richard Watson

@richardwatson1

3 months

Also in 2011, we were the first to reveal that News of the World had used a private detective for surveillance on celebrities & politicians - even targeting defence lawyers in legal cases to discredit them.

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Richard Watson

@richardwatson1

3 months

In 2014, we exposed that organised criminals were targeting the UK visa system - our undercover investigation led to three trials and 11 convictions.

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Richard Watson

@richardwatson1

3 months

One of our more recent films explored a possible motivation for the Westminster Bridge terror attack, fresh information that later featured in the inquest.

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Richard Watson

@richardwatson1

3 months

@diane25026692 @BBCNewsnight Ha! (Couldn’t possibly comment)

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Richard Watson

@richardwatson1

3 months

@girlyswotspider @BBCNewsnight Many thanks

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Richard Watson

@richardwatson1

4 years

Our key interviewee, Niyad Farah, shows real tenacity in holding the Met to account in our investigative film tonight.

Stewart Maclean

@stewartmaclean

4 years

Full story on Newsnight later at 2245 - following a 10 month investigation by @richardwatson1 into the Metropolitan Police's response to a horrifying racist attack..

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Richard Watson

@richardwatson1

3 years

Full circle for Ed Main & me... Our 2014 @BBCPanorama uncovered shocking abuse of the visa system. Our new investigation for @BBCNewsnight reveals serious concerns about @ukhomeoffice response: 100s perhaps 1000s of international students may have been wrongly accused of fraud.

Richard Burgess

@rburgessbbc

3 years

Thousands of people were thrown out of the UK for allegedly cheating in an English test - but new evidence from a BBC investigation suggests they did nothing wrong. Important work from ⁦ @richardwatson1 ⁩ and Ed Main.

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Richard Watson

@richardwatson1

3 months

@Paul63B @maitlis @BBCNewsnight Many thanks Paul.

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Richard Watson

@richardwatson1

3 years

Grateful to be longlisted for @TheOrwellPrize ‘Exposing Britain’s Social Evils’ for a @Newsnight film I made with @trickyparry and @warwickhs about the Met Police’s failure to investigate a vicious hate crime against a 37 year old woman Niyad Farah.

Richard Watson: 'Hate Crime' | The Orwell Foundation

Richard Watson is a correspondent for BBC Newsnight, specialising in investigative work. At the start of his career, Richard covered the first Gulf war. After this he joined the BBC, working for The...

www.orwellfoundation.com

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Richard Watson

@richardwatson1

3 months

@MarkSeddon1962 @BBCNewsnight Thank you Mark.

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Richard Watson

@richardwatson1

10 months

We were right…12 years ago: ‘BBC's Newsnight has revealed what it calls "the first chink in the armour" of news groups beyond the Murdoch empire. The programme reported on what it claims was widespread use of phone hacking and private detectives at the Sunday Mirror.’

Meirion Jones

@MeirionTweets

10 months

Mirror Group denied it was true when we broke the Mirror phone hacking story @BBCNewsnight in 2011

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Richard Watson

@richardwatson1

3 months

@IssyJas @BBCNewsnight Thanks Gracie.

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Richard Watson

@richardwatson1

1 year

Lovely to be able to go to local restaurant @LouieLouie_Ldn for dinner now they have a disabled ramp. Excellent new chef. Dinner of plaice and greens then strawberries and mousse. Well worth the wait.

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Richard Watson

@richardwatson1

3 years

The film exposed huge failures by the Met, forcing it to reopen its investigation. After watching the @newsnight film, a witness came forward who’d filmed the attack on his mobile phone. A suspect was arrested and charged. You can watch the film here

Racist attack investigation reopened by Met Police - BBC Newsnight

After a racist attack on three black women, a Newsnight investigation has found that for nearly two weeks police officers failed to recover CCTV or take witn...

www.youtube.com

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Richard Watson

@richardwatson1

7 years

Shocking undercover filming in our Panorama investigation into student loan fraud - tonight 1930 BBC1

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Richard Watson

@richardwatson1

1 year

I pledged a paid subscription to The Kramatorsk Diaries

The Kramatorsk Diaries | Paul Conroy | Substack

Reporting and photographing the Ukraine war since March 2022. Click to read The Kramatorsk Diaries, by Paul Conroy, a Substack publication with hundreds of subscribers.

paulconroy.substack.com

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Richard Watson

@richardwatson1

10 months

First-class reporting by my former Newsnight colleague @SecKermani and team.

Lindsey Hilsum

@lindseyhilsum

10 months

Eye opening piece about Israeli settlers and Palestinians in the West Bank by my colleagues @SecKermani @MillyTeasdale @althomsonC4

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Richard Watson

@richardwatson1

3 months

@j1heff @BBCNewsnight Many thanks!

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Richard Watson

@richardwatson1

3 years

The film is a testament to the courage and persistence of @niyad_farah who sought justice and refused to be fobbed off by the police.

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Richard Watson

@richardwatson1

3 months

@mpscomms @BBCNewsnight Many thanks Mike.

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Richard Watson

@richardwatson1

3 years

Great to work with you Eddie on your project.

TruthtoPowerexhibition

@Truthtopowerexb

3 years

We’re celebrating the journalists who've been long listed for the @TheOrwellPrize . @richardwatson1 is an investigative correspondent for @BBCNewsnight .His film ‘Hate Crime’ detailed the failures of the Met police to properly investigate a racist attack on a woman & her friends.

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Richard Watson

@richardwatson1

4 months

Thank you Candy. And you.

Candy Bowman💙#gotyourbackNHS

@candybowman

4 months

@maitlis @jennymparks @MarkUrban01 @mpolachowska @richardwatson1 @nicholaswatt As viewers, we have been extremely fortunate to have benefitted from Newsnight. Thanks to you all, and very best wishes for the future.

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Richard Watson

@richardwatson1

3 months

@Rosiecat2 @BBCNewsnight Thank you!

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Richard Watson

@richardwatson1

5 years

Brilliant important journalism

Nevine Mabro

@NevMab

5 years

Incredible piece by @paraicobrien from Idlib

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Richard Watson

@richardwatson1

10 years

Important project documenting impact of conflict ac world. Look at photos. @gilesduley is a great photojournalist. http://t.co/ID03Dxc3gC

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Richard Watson

@richardwatson1

3 months

@snevinoj @BBCNewsnight Thanks Jon

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Richard Watson

@richardwatson1

1 year

@daisyayliffe @SaraAfshar @spectator @FraserNelson What a nightmare, Daisy. Sorry you had to endure that. We’ll done for going public. Best wishes, Richard

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Richard Watson

@richardwatson1

6 years

Vital journalism from my former Newsnight colleague @SaraAfshar and @NicolaCutcher Compelling evidence demonstrates Assad regime's torture programme.

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Richard Watson

@richardwatson1

3 years

...very true (unless you're on a global warming story)

Meirion Jones

@MeirionTweets

3 years

As a journalism Prof once said "If someone says it's raining and another person says it's dry, it's not your job to quote them both. Your job is to look out the fucking window"

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Richard Watson

@richardwatson1

3 months

@NCM90921176 @BBCNewsnight Many thanks

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Richard Watson

@richardwatson1

5 years

What a great life

Lucy Ashton

@LutheBlue

5 years

My dad has passed away. I wasn't able to be with him at the end because of Covid-19 The funeral will just be me and my husband and I can't even buy flowers So I wrote this because it's the only way I can pay tribute to him and say goodbye. RIP Dad

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Richard Watson

@richardwatson1

10 months

A very good thread.

Ian Dunt

@IanDunt

10 months

The last thing we need is more "debate and discussion". We've plenty of that already, usually composed of shouty know- nothing bollocks which does little to inform the viewer. What we need is decent committed reporting. But then, that's much more expensive.

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Richard Watson

@richardwatson1

10 months

Very well deserved. @ianbirrell is a great journalist. Check out his stuff. You won’t be disappointed.

Press Gazette

@pressgazette

10 months

Big congratulations to @ianbirrell who has been awarded the Public Service Journalism prize for his work for the Daily Mail, Mail on Sunday and the i. The judges said his “ability to bring public interest investigative journalism to a mass audience” is “incomparable” #BJA2023

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Richard Watson

@richardwatson1

3 months

@trevjrho @BBCNewsnight Thanks Trevor

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Richard Watson

@richardwatson1

9 years

Alexander Litvinenko murdered in London by radioactive Polonium because he crossed 2 red lines, key source tells @Newsnight ...

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Richard Watson

@richardwatson1

3 years

@TheOrwellPrize - thank you for your kind words about my investigation (shortlisted for Exposing Britain's Social Evils prize).

The Orwell Prizes

@TheOrwellPrize

3 years

"This was @BBCNewsnight at its best, taking a simple story of ordinary people and exposing a much bigger problem." Richard Watson ( @richardwatson1 ) is shortlisted for this year's @jrf_uk Prize for Exposing Britain's Social Evils. Judge @ianbirrell explains why 👇

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Richard Watson

@richardwatson1

4 years

Good piece on deradicalisation.

You can't deradicalise every terrorist

Too many jihadis treat rehabilitation with contempt

unherd.com

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Richard Watson

@richardwatson1

3 months

@StephenSmithWDS @BBCNewsnight Ha! Mind you, I've always looked askance at politicians who go on about legacy!

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Richard Watson

@richardwatson1

3 years

What a fantastic photo!

Mark Urban

@MarkUrban01

3 years

OTD 1992 I was with ‘Lion of the Panjsher’ Ahmed Shah Massoud, as he ordered his forces into Kabul - Afghanistan’s terrible civil war was about to begin

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Richard Watson

@richardwatson1

3 months

@ShirazMaher @BBCNewsnight Many thanks Shiraz. It’s been great to work with you!

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Richard Watson

@richardwatson1

8 years

Amazing video from China if missed first time around - BBC stopped from visiting China independent candidate

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Richard Watson

@richardwatson1

1 year

We definitely need more disabled journalists reporting the world and shaping public opinion. Great opportunity.

Academy for Disabled Journalists

@ADJnews

2 years

Do you have a disability, a passion for writing & want a career in media? Next CFJ course starts 4th May 2023 backed by @TNLComFund in partnership with @NCTJ_news gain a qualification & start your journalism journey. APPLY NOW!

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Richard Watson

@richardwatson1

3 years

@SecKermani Congrats Sec. China is THE story of the next decades!

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Richard Watson

@richardwatson1

6 years

Centimetre by centimetre the truth emerges

Meirion Jones

@MeirionTweets

6 years

When we all revealed #spycops 2011 Met denied it was SOP to casually destroy lives of women (not terrorists or hardened criminals) as if they were nothing. @robevansgdn proves they lied @helensteel12 @paullewis @richardwatson1 @daisyayliffe @out_of_lives

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Richard Watson

@richardwatson1

4 years

UK Terrorism: for anyone wondering ‘how did we get here?’ this provides a compelling insight. Very good work.

Innes Bowen

@innesbowen

4 years

Gripped by this! And honoured to have a bit part alongside its stars: @jimbooth10 @richardwatson1 @masoodkhan and ofcourse @shivmalik

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Richard Watson

@richardwatson1

5 years

20 years tracking the extreme Islamist group al-Muhajiroun in my piece for the New Statesman. The seeds of the current terror threat were sown 1996-2004.

The New Statesman

@NewStatesman

5 years

The murder of two young Cambridge graduates on London Bridge last year was the latest atrocity committed by a follower of al-Muhajiroun, the Islamist group that has radicalised a generation of Muslims. @richardwatson1 reports:

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Richard Watson

@richardwatson1

3 months

@WillBaldet @BBCNewsnight @maitlis Thank you William, and that was a good interview!

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Richard Watson

@richardwatson1

4 years

Shameful inequalities of Covid-19. Powerful, important journalism. No paywall. ]

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Richard Watson

@richardwatson1

3 months

@ThatNeilMartin @BBCNewsnight Thanks Neil

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Richard Watson

@richardwatson1

8 years

@MeirionTweets @robevansgdn @lizmackean @richarddanbury Yes, good to catch up! When the nights draw in...come for mulled wine on the roof!

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Richard Watson

@richardwatson1

3 months

@newman_andrea @BBCNewsnight Thank you Andrea.

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Richard Watson

@richardwatson1

3 years

Help Frontline Club support crucial independent journalism in Ukraine. It’s a vital cause.

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Richard Watson

@richardwatson1

3 months

@2BDsided @BBCNewsnight Many thanks

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Richard Watson

@richardwatson1

8 years

Revenge of the forgotten class

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Richard Watson

@richardwatson1

9 years

Official figures: around 700 Brits have gone to Syria to fight. But well-placed counter-terrorist source tells me it's around 2000.

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Richard Watson

@richardwatson1

3 months

@hannahsbee @BBCNewsnight Thanks Hannah.

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Richard Watson

@richardwatson1

6 years

The British #MeToo scandal which cannot be revealed. Privacy v public interest: worrying judgment for press freedom.

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Richard Watson

@richardwatson1

2 years

Good piece by my former Newsnight colleague.

The left should lead the case for higher defence spending

Faced with fascism in the 1930s, Labour developed a distinct, progressive agenda on defence. It must do the same against Russia today.

www.newstatesman.com

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Richard Watson

@richardwatson1

3 years

This is a great initiative worth supporting. Ability Today Proud to be Launching Year 2 of the Academy for Disabled Journalists - Ability Today

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Richard Watson

@richardwatson1

10 years

Very important initiative: British Muslims protest against Isis. #NotInMyName http://t.co/w9VWwWVkQY

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Richard Watson

@richardwatson1

1 year

Impressive sweep of history - the personal and the political - from Tam Hussein. Really great writing.

Donald McRae

@donaldgmcrae

1 year

This a brilliant piece of writing, and reflection, by @tamhussein on Naseem Hamed in @newlinesmag . As personal as it is precise. For Tam, on Naz, "He was what any of us could be in Britain if we were just left unfettered, free to realize our dreams..."

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Richard Watson

@richardwatson1

10 years

Convincing aerial view of the climate change threat...and a conspiracy of silence. @GeorgeMonbiot http://t.co/iV9x3Jhezj

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Richard Watson

@richardwatson1

2 years

Good move, Richard. If you ever have cause to invoke Conan Doyle again with a Newsnight jv, I'm your man.

Richard Holmes 🕵🏻‍♂️

@Richard_AHolmes

2 years

Some news: I'm thrilled to announce that I am starting today at @theipaper as a senior reporter looking at breaking exclusives and ambitious investigations with the brilliant team here. Got flaming hot tips? Hit me up on richard.holmes @inews .co.uk

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Richard Watson

@richardwatson1

3 months

@josh_aero1 @maitlis @BBCNewsnight Thanks Josh.

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Richard Watson

@richardwatson1

5 months

This is a great opportunity. If you have a disability, train to become a professional journalist. The journalism business needs you!

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Richard Watson

@richardwatson1

4 years

@Lucy_Webster_ That's absolutely outrageous Lucy.

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Richard Watson

@richardwatson1

3 months

@TobarnanCeann @BBCNewsnight Many thanks

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Richard Watson

@richardwatson1

3 years

@nkropotkine @frontlineclub A really good campaign

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Richard Watson

@richardwatson1

3 months

@AlladinNoons @BBCNewsnight Many thanks Alladin.

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Richard Watson

@richardwatson1

10 years

Perceptive piece by my former colleague: http://t.co/PXtP9Ddfgg

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Richard Watson

@richardwatson1

7 years

Surveillance firms spied on campaign groups for big companies, leak shows. Another great story from Rob Evans at the Guardian and Meirion Jones at the Bureau for Investigative Journalism

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Richard Watson

@richardwatson1

5 years

I realise there's irony in using Twitter to promote Sacha Baron Cohen's Presidential-quality speech calling for social media companies to be regulated like any other publisher, but this is pure genius. Powerful, compelling, unanswerable. SBC for PM.

Sacha Baron Cohen

@SachaBaronCohen

5 years

Thank you, @ADL , for your International Leadership Award. My message: if we want to stop hate, we have to regulate Facebook and social media - the greatest propaganda machine in history. My full speech here:

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Richard Watson

@richardwatson1

3 months

@fionamce @BBCNewsnight Many thanks Fiona.

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Richard Watson

@richardwatson1

3 months

@BernODonoghue @BBCNewsnight Many thanks

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Richard Watson

@richardwatson1

1 year

@jfwbaker Hi John. Could you follow me back so I can dm you? Many thanks, Richard

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Richard Watson

@richardwatson1

10 years

Neil MacGregor on Buchenwald camp. If you listen to one thing this week make it this. Devastatingly powerful. http://t.co/SgosJnpNPC

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Richard Watson

@richardwatson1

3 months

@SamMcAlister1 @BBCNewsnight @ninakwatson Many thanks Sam! Glad you met Nina at FC.

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Richard Watson

@richardwatson1

10 years

Shocking stories about devastation of personal bankruptcy in my report on @BBCNewsnight tonight. Government says it wants reform.

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Richard Watson

@richardwatson1

3 months

@DustyFootprints @BBCNewsnight Thanks Alan.

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Richard Watson

@richardwatson1

3 months

@johnsweeneyroar Thanks John

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Richard Watson

@richardwatson1

7 years

@SaraAfshar @C4Dispatches Brilliant work. Very well done. Richard

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Richard Watson

@richardwatson1

3 months

@esotericvicky @BBCNewsnight Thanks Vicky

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Richard Watson

@richardwatson1

3 months

@MarkUrban01 Many thanks Mark!

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Richard Watson

@richardwatson1

10 years

The Syrian Assad opposition is complex. @tamhussein gives a good guide: http://t.co/17KU8VmWo5

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Richard Watson

@richardwatson1

2 years

@warwickhs Atmospheric!

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Richard Watson

@richardwatson1

2 years

Great opportunity - Academy for Disabled Journalists launches 2nd year of its Diploma in Journalism in partnership with the NCTJ. Pathway to a career in media. Closing date 16/9. If you know anyone who might want to apply.

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Richard Watson

@richardwatson1

3 months

@JoBurkill @BBCNewsnight Thanks Jo.

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Richard Watson

@richardwatson1

9 years

Clearly, my former Newsnight colleague's team touched a raw nerve in this beacon of democracy. Glad they're safe. http://t.co/lx1fYTEP8y