Frequently Asked Questions

If you have the existing Tortoise app:
– Those with “auto-updates” switched on in their App Store settings will get the update automatically.
– Those with “auto-updates” switched off will receive a notification when the update is ready to install. All you’ll need to do is find the Tortoise app in your app store and press “update”.

If you do not have the existing Tortoise app:
You can download the app for free by scanning the QR code or tapping the relevant download link below.



Download from the App Store →
Download from the Google Play Store →

You’ll be able access our entire library of audio journalism, from our daily and weekly shows to multi-part investigations. Here’s what’s new:
– A seamless listening experience. Now with all the core features you need when you’re out and about, plus plenty more to come. Download and add episodes to your queue, and pause and restart from where you left off. 
– Personalised feed. Discover more of what you want by following your favourite journalists, topics and shows. 
– Editorially curated playlists. Let our journalists curate a feed for you.
– Uncompromising audio quality. All our podcasts are now available in high-fidelity audio.

Yes! With the Tortoise app, you can listen to all our audio journalism free of charge, supported by ads. To unlock early and ad-free access, you can subscribe through the app for £4.99 a month or even better, become a member on our website to add on our Sensemaker newsletters, tickets to live events in the Tortoise newsroom and much more.

If you’re already a member, you’ll be able to use your existing account details to login to the new app. As in the old app, you will continue to get early and ad-free access to our audio journalism, as well as all your existing entitlements.

If you join through the App Store or Google Play, you’ll unlock early and ad-free access to all our audio journalism. To add on our written journalism, tickets to live events in the Tortoise newsroom and the Tortoise print edition, join us as a fully-fledged member on our website.

If you’ve already created an account through the Tortoise app or website, you’ll be able to sign in with your existing account. 
Please note, if you subscribe through Apple Podcasts/Tortoise +, you won’t be able to use your Apple ID to sign in as the app is offered by Tortoise rather than Apple. However, you’ll be able to create an account and access our content for free.

Yes, the app supports accessible navigation as well as voiceover and talkback. Users will also be able to adjust the text size and access transcripts where available.

Please let us know what you think! To send us feedback, simply press the little Tortoise button in the top right corner of the Tortoise app, and navigate to the ‘Give feedback’ section. This will put you in touch with our lovely member services team.

Tortoise members receive: 
– Early, ad-free and exclusive access to award-winning audio stories and investigations 
– The Sensemaker newsletters, daily in your inbox (you can opt out anytime)
– Free tickets to all our Live events, free and discounted tickets for guests
– The Tortoise Quarterly book, in glorious old-fashioned print 
– Exclusive member-only events, hosted by Tortoise editors 
– Discounted tickets to KITE festival 
– Discounts on everything in the Tortoise shop

You can join through the website by clicking the ‘Join us’ button, or through the App Store or Google Play. Anybody can join Tortoise, so long as you’re over 16 years of age.

A Tortoise membership is £120 a year, or £35 per quarter. An under-30’s membership is £60 a year and doesn’t include the Tortoise Quarterly or invites to special events.

Members who join through the App Store or Google Play Store pay £4.99 month, or £99.99 annually, and become members.

Yes, we offer discounted memberships for under 30s, and students get their first year for free. We also offer special membership experiences for bigger groups and companies. If you would like more information on bespoke group memberships, please get in touch.

You may also be eligible to receive a complimentary membership, funded by our Supporter partners, through the Tortoise Community Network. Through our Network partners, the Network distributes Tortoise memberships to people on low incomes and/or working for change on the frontlines in their local communities. You can apply to receive a funded membership as an individual by writing to us.
Find out more about how the Tortoise Community Network works here.

To activate your membership, please follow these steps:

1. Follow the link on the gift card
2. Click on the ‘Join us’ button
3. Fill in a few personal details
4. Enter the code on your gift card into the box when prompted to
5. Click ‘confirm’ and you’ll receive a welcome email shortly.

To activate your membership, please follow these steps:

1. Open your ‘You’ve been given Tortoise membership’ email
2. Click on ‘link’
3. A pop up box should immediately appear detailing the terms of your membership (if it doesn’t, please disable any ad blockers you have installed on your computer
4. Click on the ‘Redeem’ button
5. Fill in a few personal details
6. Click ‘Ok, done’ and you’ll receive a welcome email from us shortly.

If you signed up through the app, you will need to choose your password to unlock your full membership benefits.
You can easily choose your password by clicking ‘Forgotten your password?’ on our log-in page on either the website or the app. After entering your email address, we’ll send you an email which will tell you how to choose your password. If you can’t find it please check your junk folder! If you have any other log-in issues, just email us.

You can easily reset your password by clicking ‘Forgotten your password?’ on our log-in page on either the website or the app. 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.

A ThinkIn is a forum for civilised disagreement. It’s open discussions between Tortoise editors, special-guests and you. It’s where we get to hear what you think, drawn from your experience, energy and expertise. ThinkIns are streamed online and can be usually attended either digitally or in-person.

Tortoise Lates are an evening of ideas, entertainment and conversation in the Tortoise Newsroom. We provide all Lates guests with complimentary drinks and snacks. Lates are not live-streamed and can only be attended in-person.

Yes. If you aren’t a member, tickets to our digital events cost £10 or you can join us in person at our London newsroom for £15. 

Tickets to Tortoise Lates cost £35 for non-members and are sold by Design My Night and can be bought here.

Log in to either our website or our app using your email address and password, then select the session you’d like to attend in the ‘Book’ section, and click ‘Book a ticket’. You’ll then get an email booking confirmation.

You can find all our upcoming ThinkIns and events here.

Absolutely! We live stream almost all of our events so you can join from wherever you are in the world. Tortoise Lates are a live studio broadcast and so aren’t live-streamed. However, you can watch them back on our Youtube channel.

Of course! To catch up on our previous ThinkIns or Lates, head to our YouTube channel. 

To join a Digital ThinkIn, register the same way through our app or website, and select ‘Digital ticket’ when prompted. You will receive a confirmation email with the Zoom link to join. Make sure you join with your full name so we know who you are and can introduce you if you would like to contribute. If you have any trouble, just email us.

In-person ThinkIns are open to members and non-members. If you are a member, register through our app or website and select ‘In-person ticket’ when prompted. If you are not a member, guest tickets are available to buy through our ‘Book’ page for £15. 

The location of the ThinkIn is included both on the ThinkIn booking page and in your confirmation email. All Newsroom ThinkIns take place in our London office, the address of which is:
Fora
22 Berners Street
London
W1T 3LP

We’d love to hear your ideas for potential future ThinkIn topics, and people who’d make good expert speakers and contributors. Please email Liz, our Members’ Editor, with your suggestions.

You can find your renewal date in the My Tortoise section of the website and app, but we’ll write to you before that date to let you know when your membership is due to expire, and whether you need to do anything to stay with us. Depending on when you joined and the type of membership you have, your membership may or may not renew automatically.

Go to My Tortoise > My Membership in the website or app
• Click EDIT next to ‘My Membership’
• Go to the ‘Membership’ tab
• Next to your active membership, click on the ‘Manage’ drop down
• Select update renewal payment method

If you signed up via the Tortoise website, please email memberhelp@tortoisemedia.com

If you signed up to Tortoise via the App Store or Google Play Store, the instructions to cancel are below.

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.

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

You can find our current vacancies over on our ‘Opportunities’ page and LinkedIn.
If you’d like, you can also send your CV to us and we’ll keep it on file.

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