What do 1920s newspaper letters have in common with social media bots?
Quite a lot, it turns out.
In this episode, we look at the surprising history of manufactured public opinion—from the letters pages of 1920s local newspapers to influencers, fake accounts, sock puppets and AI-powered bots.
As editor of the Nottingham Journal in the 1920s, Cecil Roberts found it challenging to differentiate between letters sent to the paper by genuine local readers and those sent by advertisers and campaign groups pretending to be ordinary people, On social media today, with all the sock puppets and bots, that challenge is greater than ever. Different technology, same basic trick: making a manufactured message look like genuine public opinion.
8 Oct 2026
One Hundred Years of Nottingham Trolls
Trolling isn't a modern invention. In the 1920s, Nottingham Journal editor Cecil Roberts was dealing with anonymous trolls sending him abusive letters.
From hate mail through to out-of-control comments sections, we take a look at how people in Nottingham have shared news, opinions, complaints and controversy from the days of the printing press to today's social media age.
26 Jun 2026
Trentbelly 12: The Water Cycle
In the series finale, we consider what we can learn from the history of rivers and water, and what the future could hold.
Click here for the Trentbelly Bibliography. (https://drive.google.com/file/d/1iCuOeXOU5kwRs3rlpo4aHsw13PNddnJU/view?usp=drive_link)
If you want to help make the future River Trent smug and silver, consider donating time or money to one of these charities that do river restoration and rewilding work:
Trent Rivers Trust (https://www.trentriverstrust.org/)
Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust (https://www.nottinghamshirewildlife.org/)
Canal & River Trust (https://canalrivertrust.org.uk/)
19 Jun 2026
Trentbelly 11: The Great Reset
The government has published its vision for the future of water - how radical is it?
Click here for the Trentbelly Bibliography. (https://drive.google.com/file/d/1iCuOeXOU5kwRs3rlpo4aHsw13PNddnJU/view?usp=drive_link)
12 Jun 2026
Trentbelly 10: Water World
We go on a tour to see how other countries are doing with their rivers and water.
Click here for the Trentbelly Bibliography. (https://drive.google.com/file/d/1iCuOeXOU5kwRs3rlpo4aHsw13PNddnJU/view?usp=drive_link)
5 Jun 2026
Trentbelly 9: The Pipe Dream
Why did privatized water go so wrong?
Click here for the Trentbelly Bibliography. (https://drive.google.com/file/d/1iCuOeXOU5kwRs3rlpo4aHsw13PNddnJU/view?usp=drive_link)
29 May 2026
Trentbelly 8: Sewer Shares
Margaret Thatcher and the Great Sewer Sell-Off.
Click here for the Trentbelly Bibiliography. (https://drive.google.com/file/d/1iCuOeXOU5kwRs3rlpo4aHsw13PNddnJU/view?usp=drive_link)
22 May 2026
Trentbelly 7: We Are Region
Water doesn't respect council boundaries.
Click here for the Trentbelly Bibiliography. (https://drive.google.com/file/d/1iCuOeXOU5kwRs3rlpo4aHsw13PNddnJU/view?usp=drive_link)
15 May 2026
Trentbelly 6: The Tarbotton Takeover
It's council vs company in a battle over Nottingham's water, and one workaholic leaves a huge legacy.
Click here for the Trentbelly Bibiliography. (https://drive.google.com/file/d/1iCuOeXOU5kwRs3rlpo4aHsw13PNddnJU/view?usp=drive_link)
8 May 2026
Trentbelly 5: Turning on the Tap
Returning to the Victorians, we learn about the local Notts engineer who pioneered the water system we take for granted today.
Click here for the Trentbelly Bibiliography. (https://drive.google.com/file/d/1iCuOeXOU5kwRs3rlpo4aHsw13PNddnJU/view?usp=drive_link)
1 May 2026
Trentbelly 4: Weirs and Years
Our rivers are unnatural, and not just because of pollution.
Click here for the Trentbelly Bibiliography. (https://drive.google.com/file/d/1iCuOeXOU5kwRs3rlpo4aHsw13PNddnJU/view?usp=drive_link)
24 Apr 2026
Trentbelly 3: In Rivers We Trust
NottsPod's first ever special guest, Dr Scott McKenzie, head of rivers and nature-based solutions at the Trent Rivers Trust, chats to us about healing the Trent.
Click here for the Trentbelly Bibiliography. (https://drive.google.com/file/d/1iCuOeXOU5kwRs3rlpo4aHsw13PNddnJU/view?usp=drive_link)
17 Apr 2026
Trentbelly 2: Beyond the Poo Dimension
It turns out there's a lot more than just sewage ruining our rivers.
Click here for the Trentbelly Bibiliography. (https://drive.google.com/file/d/1iCuOeXOU5kwRs3rlpo4aHsw13PNddnJU/view?usp=drive_link)
10 Apr 2026
Trentbelly 1: Poo in the Water
In the first episode of Trentbelly, we explore why sewage flows into our rivers.
Click here for the Trentbelly Bibiliography. (https://drive.google.com/file/d/1iCuOeXOU5kwRs3rlpo4aHsw13PNddnJU/view?usp=drive_link)
10 Apr 2026
Welcome to NottsPod!
Welcome to NottsPod, your new local podcast where Tom Suchoruczka and Michael Krawec investigate and discuss issues affecting your area!
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