News
Who is Tortoise Media?
Tortoise was founded six years ago and has been built by a group of leading journalists and editors from newsrooms across the UK. Tortoise produces a variety of "slow news", designed to help make sense of the world. Now, they have brought a group of fully transparent people together to invest in responsible, liberal journalism and build The Observer for the 21st century.
Who owns the The Observer?
In 2024 Tortoise Media signed a deal to buy The Observer from The Guardian Media Group and The Scott Trust. You can learn more about our story here.
What’s happening with my Tortoise membership?
Your Tortoise membership will gradually become an Observer membership. You will still be able to enjoy everything you love about Tortoise, just under a different name. There are also brand new benefits you’ll be able to enjoy; seven day digital news from The Observer online at observer.co.uk, as well as some exciting features on their way!
Do I have to register to read The Observer’s online articles and listen to The Observer’s podcasts?
No, but by signing up you can subscribe to our range of newsletters and you’ll be the first to know about exciting new events in The Observer newsroom.
Does The Observer have an app?
Watch this space! You can listen to the best of Tortoise’s archive and new Observer podcasts on The Observer website.
What kind of events does The Observer run?
The Observer hosts a range of events, from live podcast recordings to conversations with special guests. Check out our events page to find out what’s on.
What do I get as an Observer print subscriber?
In addition to the print edition every Sunday, as an Observer subscriber you can now enjoy access to exclusive slow news digital newsletters like the Observer Daily Sensemaker, thought-provoking podcasts including the Tortoise Investigates series and our exclusive Think-Ins, discussions with Observer editors and journalists.
How do I manage my Observer-only subscription once it transfers to Tortoise Media?
From completion after 22 April 2025, Guardian will continue to assist Tortoise Media in the delivery of Observer subscriptions, this means:
Where can I read the Observer Online?
You can enjoy The Observer digital content at observer.co.uk seven days a week.
Where can I sign up to Observer Newsletters?
Sign up for news in your inbox, on your terms at observer.co.uk/profile. There you can enjoy a diverse set of newsletters like Observer Daily, Sensemaker by The Observer and Observer Food Monthly.
What if I have a payment or billing query?
Manage your payments, billing queries and holiday stops directly with The Guardian in your Guardian account at manage.theguardian.com/subscriptions.
What will happen to my Direct Debit?
There’s no action required from you to continue paying by Direct Debit. If you pay by direct debit, from 22 April 2025, you will notice that 'The Observer' will appear on your bank statement instead of 'Guardian Media Group'. All your payments will continue to be fully protected by the Direct Debit Guarantee, as detailed at the bottom of this page.
Will I still have access to the crossword?
Yes, the crossword is free to access for everyone.
How do I cancel my membership?
Are you sure you want to cancel and lose out on all the fantastic content in print and digital, seven days a week? If you want to cancel your membership you can go to your Observer My account pages at observer.co.uk/profile.
How do I join a Think-In?
Think-ins are our live, unscripted events with the editors, journalists and renowned guests like Michael Palin, Mishal Husain and Richard Curtis, among many others. To join, free for members, simply navigate to observer.co.uk/events
I forgot my password.
You can easily reset your password by clicking ‘I forgot my password’ on our log-in page. After entering your email address, we’ll send you an email which will tell you how to reset your password. If you can’t find it please check your junk folder! If you have any other log-in issues, just email us.
How can I sign up?
You can subscribe to The Observer here - just choose whether you’d like home delivery or a subscription card and select “The Observer” on the right of the selection box.
I need help with my Observer print subscription
The Guardian will continue managing the Observer’s print subscriptions. You should continue to manage your subscription (including arrangement of holiday stops) through your Guardian account. You can log-in to your Guardian account at manage.theguardian.com/subscriptions
I forgot my password.
You can easily reset your password by clicking ‘I forgot my password’ on our log-in page. After entering your email address, we’ll send you an email which will tell you how to reset your password. If you can’t find it please check your junk folder! If you have any other log-in issues, just email us members@observer.co.uk
What do I get as a Tortoise member?
- Early, ad-free and exclusive access to award-winning audio stories and investigations
- Free tickets to all our Live events, free and discounted tickets for guests
- Discounted tickets to KITE festival
You can join through the Tortoise app, which is available on Google Play and the App Store. Anybody can join, so long as you’re over 16 years of age.
Download from the Google Play Store →
Where can I access content from The Observer and Tortoise?
All Tortoise content can now be found on observer.co.uk. You can continue to enjoy ad-free podcasts in the Tortoise app, but all new written content will be published only on observer.co.uk.
How do I cancel my membership?
If you have any concerns, please email members@observer.co.uk
If you signed up to Tortoise via the App Store or Google Play Store, the instructions to cancel are below.
How do I cancel my App Store subscription?
If you registered for membership through the App Store, just follow these steps:
1. Visit the App Store on your device
2. Click on the profile icon in the top right-hand corner
3. Click on the ‘Subscriptions’ button
4. Press the red ‘Cancel subscription’ button
5. Confirm cancellation
If you’re having any trouble cancelling, please get in touch with Apple’s support team.
How do I cancel my Google Play subscription?
If you registered for membership through Google Play, just follow these steps:
1. On your Android phone or tablet, open the Google Play store
2. Tap ‘Menu’ and then ‘Subscriptions’
3. Select Tortoise
4. Tap ‘Cancel subscription’
5. Follow the instructions
How do I create an Observer account?
You don’t have to! Simply log-in at observer.co.uk/profile with your Tortoise login details and you’ll be squared away.
How do I update my payment details?
You can update your payment details in your new Observer account at observer.co.uk/profile.
How do I cancel my membership?
Are you sure you want to cancel? You’ll miss out on all the slow news podcasts, newsletters and new Observer content you’ve come to enjoy. We’re sorry to see you go. If you want to cancel your membership you can go to your Observer My account pages at observer.co.uk/profile
How do I join a Think-In?
Think-ins are our live, unscripted events with the editors, journalists and renowned guests like Michael Palin, Mishal Husain and Richard Curtis, among many others. To join, free for members, simply navigate to observer.co.uk/our-events
The Direct Debit Guarantee