Media Confidential
Alan Rusbridger and Lionel Barber, two of the world's greatest editors, dive into the hugely important world of media. What—and who—drives it? What do they get right... And what do they get wrong? Lionel, former editor of the Financial Times, and Alan, editor of Prospect and former editor of the Guardian, bring revealing, high profile interviews and in-depth discussion. Media Confidential is produced by Prospect Magazine.
Episodes
Burnham’s new cabinet: What did the media miss?
As Andy Burnham becomes prime minister, Alan Rusbridger and Lionel Barber discuss the new cabinet on Media Confidential. When it comes to new appointments, how did the media get it so wrong?As Lisa Nandy keeps her role as culture secretary, the pair discuss the BBC charter renewal and the broadcaster’s advert during the football World Cup which asked “what has the BBC ever done for me?”They also r
Political censorship: How governments are using national security laws to silence journalists
In this episode of Media Confidential, Clothilde Redfern and Martin Bright join Alan Rusbridger and Lionel Barber to discuss how national security laws are increasingly being used to restrict journalism around the world.Clothilde is the director of the UK branch of Reporters Without Borders (RSF) and Martin Bright is a journalist and contributing editor of a new report by the charity which sh
Ann Widdecombe’s murder: Have the police said too much?
Alan and Lionel discuss the suspected murder of MP Ann Widdecombe. They discuss contempt of court laws and how they differ from those in the United States, as well as the impact of public scrutiny on police communication. Is it wise to have a running commentary on all investigations?They also unpick the Trump administration’s latest attack on the journalism, as the Department of Justice serves sub
Iain Dale: I'm a Conservative but I don't do propaganda (unlike GB News)
In this week’s episode of Media Confidential, Alan and Lionel are joined by presenter and commentator Iain Dale.As he releases a new memoir, the three discuss his life in broadcasting and a brief stint of political ambition, as well as his ideological leanings. Iain discusses how he tries to keep his LBC show unbiased and the behind-the-scenes work that goes into creating lively debate with a
It’s the media’s fault! Nigel Farage plays the victim card
In today’s Media Confidential, Alan Rusbridger and Lionel Barber discuss Nigel Farage’s resignation in Clacton, triggering a by-election in which he will stand. They discuss Farage’s attacks on the press, including on a Sky News reporter. Did reporting around undeclared donations really cross the line?They also analyse the judgment in Prince Harry’s case against the Daily Mail, which alleged unlaw
Lachlan Cartwright: ‘American media became a propaganda arm to get Trump elected’
In today’s episode Lachlan Cartwright, the founder of Breaker Media, joins Alan and Lionel to discuss why he went solo and launched the outlet after two decades in journalism.They ask how he treads the line between privacy and public interest when searching for scoops. The Breaker founder also discusses his tumultuous time at the National Enquirer, the US tabloid’s backing of Trump, and his role a
Will the BBC cave in to Trump?
In today’s Media Confidential, Alan and Lionel discuss Donald Trump’s court case against the BBC. As the broadcaster requests the president’s phone records from January 6th, some commentators think it should settle with the president. Do our hosts agree?The Telegraph’s takeover by major media company Axel Springer is finally complete, and the paper’s new owner Matthias Döpfner has appointed a Germ
Vicious media: How the Murdoch press attacks its targets
In this week’s Media Confidential, Alan Rusbridger talks to Andrew Dodd and Matthew Ricketson, authors of Getting Murdoched: How Murdoch’s Media Wields Power and Punishment.The three discuss the structure of Rupert Murdoch’s media empire, as well as infamous cases of “Murdoching”—described by the authors as “using media power to bully, manipulate and spread false narratives”.They also talk about t
Starmer’s downfall: Is the media to blame?
In this week’s episode, Alan and Lionel chew over Keir Starmer's resignation. How does a modern politician feed the media—and avoid being eaten? If Andy Burnham becomes prime minister, will he be better at communicating with the media?They also discuss the government’s green paper on public service media and the role of BBC, ITV, YouTube, and Facebook.As presenters Jon Snow and Jeremy Clarkson rev
Beeban Kidron: What the Online Safety Act gets right (and wrong)
This week on Media Confidential, Alan and Lionel speak to crossbench peer and activist Beeban Kidron about the Online Safety Act.Beeban has spent years advocating for children's rights in the digital world and has played a role in establishing standards for online safety and privacy across the world. She debunks the misconceptions around the issue—and explains why a social media ban won’t work on
Murdoch’s biggest deal yet
This week on Media Confidential, Alan and Lionel discuss the Murdoch family’s biggest ever deal, as Lachlan Murdoch’s Fox TV buys streaming service Roku. What does it suggest about the company’s direction under its new CEO? And why isn’t Alan a fan of Roku?They discuss an AI-generated video of Nigel Farage fist-fighting Bank of England governor Andrew Bailey in a Question Time Studio—and how the d
The 60 Minutes meltdown: inside the power struggles reshaping America’s iconic news show
In this Monday’s episode of Media Confidential Alan and Lionel are talking to NPR’s media correspondent David Folkenflik about what is actually happening at American broadcaster CBS.They discuss the popularity of CBS’s flagship show 60 Minutes and how a new leadership is trying to make changes at the programme.They’ll talk about how Bari Weiss, editor-in-chief of CBS News, is getting along in her
Henry Nowak and how the media fuels racism
In this episode of Media Confidential, Alan questions the quality of reporting around the Henry Nowak case, and questions why so many in the media are focusing on the cost of DEI training in the police and neglecting to mention the recent Louise Casey report into racism in the police force.They also discuss how the media is amplifying the messages of politicians such as Nigel Farage when Nowak’s f
Joshi Herrmann ‘If we're going to devolve more power to places like Greater Manchester we’re going to need to bulk up the quality of the local media.’
In this week’s Media Confidential Alan and Lionel are joined by Joshi Hermann, founder of The Mill. The three discuss how The Mill has expanded out from Manchester to seven cities in just three years and it’s plans to revitalise and redefine local reporting. They also discuss The Mill’s funding model and why Joshi believes the method is sustainable, and how he is ensuring that essential
Ofcom’s Michael Grade doesn't understand impartiality
Should a politician be allowed to present the BBC’s Today Programme? Former Ofcom chair Michael Grade thinks so.This week on Media Confidential, Alan and Lionel pick apart Grade’s recent interview, where he claimed that mainstream broadcasters are afraid of GB News.They discuss the logic behind the rules of impartiality—and what Grade’s opinions reveal about Ofcom’s controversial decisions under h
Why are Britain’s politicians so weak on freedom of speech?
Who do media organisations go to when they get sued? In today’s Media Confidential, Alan and Lionel talk to Gavin Millar KC, an expert in media law. The three talk about SLAPPs, strategic lawsuits increasingly used by the powerful to silence journalists and stop crucial reporting. They discuss why the fight against SLAPPs is vital for democracy: after suggestions that a Labour gover
Peter Geoghegan on getting SLAPP’d: ‘It had a huge chilling effect’
On this week’s Media Confidential Alan and Lionel talk to Peter Geoghegan, journalist, broadcaster and founder of Democracy for Sale.The three discuss the problem of SLAPPs, lawsuits used by the wealthy to silence and intimidate critics. They talk about the chilling effect these lawsuits can have have on democracy, and how they discourage journalists from pursuing stories in the public interest. W
Hiring on the cheap: Are news organisations exploiting young journalists?
In this week’s Media Confidential, Alan and Lionel discuss the changing winds at Ofcom, after its prospective new chair was scrutinised by a select committee. How much was Ian Cheshire briefed beforehand? And will he do anything to tackle GB News?The pair also talk about Trump's latest attack on the BBC—as well as Fran Unsworth’s departure from the broadcaster, after the former news boss claimed t
Investigative journalist Gabriel Pogrund: ‘Go after big targets because they deserve to be pursued, not because you want to take them down’
In this episode of Media Confidential, Alan and Lionel talk to Gabriel Pogrund, newly appointed editor of Insight, the Sunday Times investigative team. After Gabriel exposed £730,000 in undeclared donations to Labour Together, he and other journalists became victims of a smear campaign. He discusses why the thinktank commissioned an investigation into him—and how he was falsely accused of having R
Will Ofcom finally sanction GB News?
In this week’s Media Confidential, Alan and Lionel discuss Ofcom finally investigating GB News over their second airing of a controversial interview with Donald Trump. Did it fail the impartiality test?After Nigel Farage was confronted about an undeclared £5m donation from a crypto billionaire, the pair discuss how to deal with evasive politicians. They also talk about the Evening Standard running
Liam Byrne: What happens when populists win?
In this episode of Media Confidential Alan and Lionel talk to Liam Byrne, Labour MP for for Birmingham Hodge hill and Solihull and author of Why Populists are winning; and how to beat them.The three discuss the rise of populism and what happens to the media and democracy when they win—including how foreign influence and money can corrupt the UK media landscape.They’ll talk about GB News, with Alan
Slapped: Why can’t we talk about Nigel Farage’s crypto donations?
In today’s Media Confidential Alan and Lionel discuss Reform UK leader Nigel Farage. With recent revelations that he received £5m in personal donations before becoming an MP they’ll talk about stark differences in how the story was covered in the Guardian and the Telegraph.Our hosts also risk the wrath of legal firm Addleshaw Goddard, which has sent letters warning against discussing how one of th
Killing with impunity: the death of Amal Khalil in Lebanon
In this week’s Media Confidential, Alan and Lionel talk to Yara Hawari, co-director of Al-Shabaka, the Palestinian policy network, about the dangers journalists face in the Middle East.Amal Khalil, a Lebanese journalist and reporter for the daily newspaper Al-Akhbar, was killed by the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) in an airstrike on 22nd April. On the podcast, the three discuss the risks Amal faced
Trump: AI accusations and assassination attempts
In this episode Alan and Lionel discuss the White House correspondents’ dinner and the alarm at how a lone shooter was able to break through levels of security.They also talk about Donald Trump’s interview with 60 minutes, in which the president claims the BBC used AI to manipulate what he was saying. Our hosts also talk about the chummy relationship between Paramount Skydance CEO David Ellison an
Press Gazette and the end of ‘Barbara Santini’
On today’s Media Confidential, Alan and Lionel are joined by Press Gazette editor Dominic Ponsford to discuss the magazine’s investigative work into the floods of fake experts being quoted in the media. Where do they come from—and who is behind this?The editors discuss journalist Rob Waugh, who helped uncover the truth behind fake or AI-generated experts including “Barbara Santini” and “Esme Gelde
Mandygate: The megaton bomb that shook Westminster
This week on Media Confidential, Alan and Lionel discuss the top story of the week—Peter Mandelson’s failed security vetting before he was appointed as ambassador to the United States.As Keir Starmer goes toe-to-toe with the Foreign Office, the hosts discuss the excellent coverage of Guardian journalists Pippa Crerar, Paul Lewis and Henry Dyer.They also speculate on King Charles’s upcoming state v
Sidney Blumenthal: ‘There’s about to be a real, severe change in American politics’
This week on Media Confidential, Alan and Lionel are joined by Sidney Blumenthal, journalist and former adviser to the Clintons.As a judge throws out a $10bn claim from the president against the Wall Street Journal, the trio discuss Trump’s legal battles with the media, including the BBC. Is there hope for the British broadcaster?They also address the president’s mental state and how coverage comp
How the media brought down Viktor Orbán
In this episode of Media Confidential, Alan and Lionel reflect on the results of election in Hungary, and how the media coverage of Viktor Orbán’s foreign dealings and corruption allegations may have contributed to his downfall.They'll also discuss why British investor and alleged sexual predator Crispin Odey abandoned his £79m libel claim against the Financial Times—across the pond—whether the le
Democracy at risk: The big banks censoring free speech
In this week’s episode of Media Confidential, Alan and Lionel are joined by Rainey Reitman, writer and civil liberties advocate. She is the co-founder and president of the board of Freedom of the Press Foundation and is the author of Transaction Denied: Big Finance’s Power to Punish Speech.The three explore financial censorship: how companies like Visa, PayPal, and Mastercard have cut off sup
The madness of King Trump (continued)
In this episode of Media Confidential, Alan and Lionel discuss the reporting on the “madness of ‘King Trump’”, the war in Iran and the developments since the last episode, in which journalist Susan Glasser described the president as “the big, fat, naked emperor in the room”.As a surprising pick is announced as the new Ofcom chair, the editors spill the beans on what they know about him and their h
Susan Glasser on Trump: ‘The big, fat, naked emperor in the room’
On this week’s Media Confidential interview, New Yorker columnist Susan Glasser joins Alan and Lionel to discuss how reporters should deal with President Trump.The three discuss how to hold power to account when the president’s communications are so vast, from phone interviews to social media posts. They also talk about the risks of US media “sanewashing” Trump and normalising a distorted new real
Why the US treasury secretary thinks the FT has become ‘tabloid trash’
Alan and Lionel discuss the Observer after investigative journalist Carole Cadwalladr, the paper’s former features writer, suggests that some of its new funders may not be who they seem.And as Scott Bessent, US secretary to the Treasury, takes aim at the Financial Times—claiming that a story about him was “manufactured”—former FT editor Lionel gives a considered reply.The editors also examine the
Does the Washington Post have a future?
In this week’s Media Confidential, Alan and Lionel are joined by former Washington Post media reporter Paul Farhi.The three discuss the Post’s editor-in-chief Will Lewis, following his resignation in February. They discuss how Lewis got the role, his tenure and his abrupt exit, days after overseeing mass layoffs.They also talk about key decisions made by Post owner Jeff Bezos and how they led to t
Breaking news: the BBC’s new director-general
In this episode of Media Confidential, Alan and Lionel react to the news that Matt Brittin has been confirmed as the new director-general of the BBC. They discuss his suitability for the role and make their predictions. What will his first moves be?Following Alan’s recent investigation into GB News, the duo ask if the electoral commission should be paying attention to the channel for its coverage
Why isn’t Ofcom investigating GB News?
In today’s episode of Media Confidential Alan and Lionel are joined by Chris Banatvala. Chris was Ofcom’s founding director of standards and executive member of the content board.The three discuss Ofcom’s approach to GB News after Alan headed an investigation into the broadcaster and ask if the regulator is turning a blind eye to the channel’s content.They also discuss the evolution of Ofcom’s inv
Pete Hegseth and the future of American press
In today’s Media Confidential, Alan and Lionel talk about the US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, after he told a CNN reporter he was looking forward to the CNN takeover by the family of billionaire Larry Ellison.They’ll also discuss the comments of Brendan Carr, the chairman of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), in which he threatened to censor broadcasters who don’t toe the Republican pa
What gets lost when war hits the headlines
In today’s episode of Media Confidential, Alan and Lionel are joined by Margaret Sullivan, former public editor at the New York Times and writer of the Substack newsletter American Crisis.The three talk about the war in Iran and how it has been covered by the American press, as well as debating whether certain other stories have fallen to the wayside because war is dominating the he
The Telegraph: The deal is done
In today’s episode Alan and Lionel focus on the sale of the Telegraph.They discuss the new owner, Axel Springer, and what its CEO Mathias Döpfner said he would do if he bought it when he appeared as a guest on Media Confidential in 2023. Döpfner had previously tried and failed to buy the same paper.Our hosts also disagree over Döpfner’s approach to controversy, the political right and journal
The Murdochs: Autopsy of a family’s slow death
In this Monday’s Media Confidential interview Alan and Lionel talk to Gabriel Sherman, journalist and author of Bonfire of the Murdochs, how the fight to control the last great media dynasty broke a family and the world.Gabriel has been a Murdoch-watcher for many years and scoured the thousands of documents of the Nevada trial where the succession struggles played out in the courts and all “their
Reporting on Iran: How to cover total warfare
On this week’s Media Confidential, as conflict in the Middle East escalates, Alan and Lionel explore the challenges of reporting on fast-moving international crises. How has the Trump administration been briefing the media, as Israel and the United States wage war with Iran?And after the Pentagon's blacklisting of Claude, they also discuss artificial intelligence: should governments and militaries
Is the Westminster lobby a victim of groupthink?
This week on Media Confidential, Alan and Lionel are joined by Ailbhe Rea, political editor at the New Statesman, and George Parker, political editor of the Financial Times, for an insider’s account of the Westminster “Lobby”—the exclusive group of journalists with privileged access to Britain’s corridors of power.With enormous influence over political narratives, the Lobby shapes how the country
Arresting images: How to snap an (ex) prince
In this episode of Media Confidential, the Times beats Lionel to his scoop about the leading contender for the BBC’s new director-general. Will Matt Brittin be a good fit? Alan and Lionel investigate Brittin’s background and discuss why the BBC urgently needs editorial oversight.After a takeover of the Telegraph collapsed, negotiations about its sale are underway (again). The editors analyse compe
‘It’s dangerous work’: The battle against digital disinformation
This week, Alan and Lionel are joined by Clare Melford, CEO and co-founder of the Global Disinformation Index (GDI), a non-profit which aims to mitigate the spread of digital disinformation.Labelled a “radical activist” by the Trump administration and denied a Visa waiver from the US for her work, Clare discusses the political and financial pressures on the GDI—and the protective measures her co-f
Labour Together’s snooping operation on journalists
In today’s Media Confidential, Alan Rusbridger and Lionel Barber discuss Labour’s latest scandal, after thinktank Labour Together reportedly hired a company to gather material about journalists Gabriel Pogrund and Harry Yorke—who were investigating its financial affairs—and then handed over the information to GCHQ.The information produced by the US-based PR firm allegedly included “deeply personal
Marty Baron on the Washington Post’s ‘death spiral’
In today’s Media Confidential, Alan Rusbridger is joined by Marty Baron, long-time former editor of the Washington Post. Marty discusses the recent sweeping cuts across the paper—including the decimation of the sports department—and reveals the shocking way one foreign correspondent found out their job was being axed.He talks about his own relationship with Post owner Jeff Bezos, as well as how th
‘Jeff Bezos could have saved the Washington Post. Instead he’s trashed it’
In this episode of Media Confidential, Alan and Lionel discuss the Washington Post sacking over 300 journalists—or one-third of its newsroom—and the dangers of not having a strong journalistic organisation in the US capital.Lionel challenges Post owner Jeff Bezos’s argument that decisions about cuts have to be data-led and speculates on the departure of editor Will Lewis: was it out of his own fre
Bellingcat founder: ‘Playing whack-a-mole with disinformation is always going to fail’
In this episode of Media Confidential, Alan and Lionel are joined by Eliot Higgins, founder of Bellingcat, an independent investigative collective of researchers, investigators and citizen journalists.The trio discuss the growing importance of open-source investigation techniques to verify cases, including the recent ICE shooting of Alex Pretti, where Bellingcat was able to confirm events through
Bezos, the BBC and reporting the Epstein files
In this week’s episode of Media Confidential, Alan and Lionel discuss the decline of the Washington Post. Has owner Jeff Bezos just lost interest—and is the Post now losing the readers? And, staying in America, they discuss President Trump’s ongoing treatment of female reporters in Washington.Keeping track of the BBC, Alan and Lionel also discuss the new interim director general at the BBC, Rhodhr
When did climate coverage become part of the culture wars?
In this episode of Media Confidential, Alan and Lionel are joined by Bob Ward, policy and communications director of LSE’s Grantham Research Institute on Climate Change and the Environment.The three discuss how climate issues are covered by the press, why this kind of reporting has become embroiled in the culture wars—and why the health of our democracy (and planet) depends on solid reporting abou
Alex Pretti, ICE and the New York Times
After ICE’s killing of nurse Alex Pretti in Minneapolis, Alan and Lionel discuss how strong reporting has shed light on what really happened. As the New York Times’s forensic video analysis contradicts the government narrative, the pair explore the fractious relationship between US politics and journalism.They also analyse GB News presenter Matthew Goodwin standing for Reform UK, a shake-up at CBS
How to protect the BBC from its enemies
Should the BBC be publicly funded? This week, Alan and Lionel are joined by media researchers and fellows of the British Academy, Georgina Born and Justin Lewis, whose new report on public service media tells us what the data really says. Reforms are needed, but how radical should they be?The researchers discuss how to ensure the BBC’s independence and accountability, and what the UK can learn fro
Prince Harry v the tabloids
This week, Alan and Lionel unpack Prince Harry’s ongoing trial against the Daily Mail’s publisher, Associated Newspapers—and the implications for media ethics and privacy.They also discuss US government intrusion into journalism, in light of the FBI’s seizure of a Washington Post reporter’s electronic equipment to reveal her sources, which Alan calls “menacing in the extreme”.Though a judge has te
Elon Musk vs Wikipedia: Jimmy Wales on why democracy won’t survive without facts
This week on Media Confidential, Alan and Lionel talk to Jimmy Wales, founder of Wikipedia and the author of The Seven Rules of Trust. They discuss how the online encyclopaedia has evolved to deal with the rise of new digital challenges, like bots and AI. After Elon Musk branded the website “Wokepedia” and launched Grokipedia as a competitor, the trio discuss regulation, as well as how to add
Liz Truss and the rise of YouTube politics
This week, Lionel tunes in from a cycling trip in South Africa to discuss the baboons he’s encountered on his visit—and in British journalism. Alan reviews Liz Truss’s recently launched YouTube channel, which seems rife with conspiracy theories, and the pair discuss the rise of social media politics.As Starmer says that X could lose the right to self-regulate, our hosts also talk about the UK’s st
How CBS lost its way
With one America’s biggest news broadcasters, CBS News, reportedly in turmoil under editor-in-chief Bari Weiss, Alan and Lionel are joined by former CBS president Sir Howard Stringer. After Bari Weiss reportedly pulled a recent episode of the popular 60 Minutes programme from the air, some critics have accused the channel, and its editor, of censorship. Alan and Lionel ask Howard about t
Trump, Maduro and the Washington Post
This week, Alan and Lionel return to their Media Confidential duties to analyse the good, the bad and the ugly media reactions to the US abduction of Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro.They also discuss a new documentary on investigative journalist Seymour Hersh, whose career has spanned from Watergate to Abu Ghraib. In response to a listener’s question, Alan shares a life hack to broaden your re
Are we losing our civil liberties?
You’ve been listening to the Prospect Podcast, Media Confidential’s sister podcast. To subscribe on Spotify, click HERE. For Apple podcasts, click HERE. Is Britain becoming a police state?Last September, Ellen and Imaan were joined by Conor Gearty, a barrister and professor of human rights law at LSE. In his final interview before his passing, Conor explained how his views on the fu
‘Despair is a luxury’: A year of hope with Zizek, Mehdi Hasan, Robert Macfarlane and others
You’ve been listening to the Prospect Podcast, Media Confidential’s sister podcast. To subscribe on Spotify, click HERE. For Apple podcasts, click HERE. In the final podcast of the year, Ellen and Alona look back at their favourite episodes from 2025. During a dark year, Prospect has been collecting glimmers of hope. They asked some of the most interesting thinkers today—from politics, t
Cory Doctorow: How the internet went to sh*t
You’ve been listening to the Prospect Podcast, Media Confidential’s sister podcast. To subscribe on Spotify, click HERE. For Apple podcasts, click HERE. Why does every platform seem to get worse over time? Ellen Halliday and Alona Ferber are joined by journalist, tech activist and sci-fi writer Cory Doctorow, who coined the term “enshittification” to describe the decay of digit
Only in Denmark? The ‘existential editor’ covering life, death, love and everything in between
Back in July, Alan and Lionel were joined by Line Vaaben, who is ‘existential editor’ at Danish newspaper Politiken.Line and her team write stories that explore the complexities of life, love and death. She discussed her award-winning journalism with Alan and Lionel, which included spending time embedded in a palliative care ward, notepad in hand, as people took their last breaths.To listen t
Zanny Minton Beddoes on Steve Bannon: ‘Comparing Trump to Moses was quite something’
Does “no-platforming” have a place in journalism? Alan and Lionel are joined by Zanny Minton Beddoes, the editor-in-chief of the Economist.They discuss how to cover far-right politics and whether a reporter should ever avoid interviewing divisive figures. Zanny and Lionel talk about the backlash they each received after interviewing Steve Bannon.The three also reflect on biggest news stories
What’s next for Alan Rusbridger?
As his time as editor comes to an end, Alan talks to Lionel about his final edition of Prospect—and what he plans to do next. He reflects on his time at the magazine and how it compares to his old haunt at the Guardian.The pair also discuss Netflix’s bid for Warner Bros, the hunt for Channel 4’s new CEO and the murky world of content moderation.‘Media Confidential’ with Alan Rusbrid
The investigative journalists resisting legal threats
Franz Wild is our guest on this week’s Media Confidential. He’s the editor-in-chief and CEO of the Bureau of Investigative Journalism—also known as “The Bureau”.Alan, Lionel and Franz discuss society’s dire need for investigative journalism and why the job of being an investigative journalist attracts a certain type of character: someone who is willing to keep their eye on a story that m
‘I’m with you on the free press, it’s the newspapers I can’t stand’: What Tom Stoppard got right about journalism
This week, Alan and Lionel discuss editorial independence, the BBC’s search for a new director general and ask if the current structure is even working.Is the role too much for one person? As the post-budget scrutiny rumbles on, they also talk about which publications are producing the best analysis—and whose is best avoided...Plus, the hosts discuss 40 years of the Independent after lea
Ben Zand: How to make money in journalism (without selling your soul)
Alan and Lionel are joined by documentary maker Ben Zand, founder of documentary company Zandland and co-host of the new current affairs podcast Untangled.He talks about the era of podcasts, how to reach younger audiences and what being “authentic” means in practice. Ben also shares his journey from self-shooting to the BBC, to starting his own company.He gives advice for early career journal
The OBR springs a leak! Reporting on a budget shambles story
After this month’s media chaos, Alan shares his experience of Monday’s select committee hearing, where BBC board members were brought before MPs. But why did no-one address the elephant in the room?As Lionel returns from his overseas travels, the reunited hosts discuss the media bombshells that dropped in his absence. They also examine claims by historian Rutger Bregman that the BBC censored his s
The BBC crisis: The next test
The Media Confidential team got up early to talk through the options in advance of BBC heads facing the cross-party Culture, Media and Sport select committee.Alan and Janine discussed what might happen next, as MPs prepare to question organisation chiefs over a leaked memo accusing the BBC of bias and systemic problems. And who might be helicoptered in to sort the chaos at the broadcaster?The host
‘The New York Times won’t settle’: Why reporters will not be intimidated by Donald Trump
In an era of punitive lawsuits, how can we protect journalistic freedoms? This week, Alan and Janine talk to David McCraw, the lead newsroom lawyer for the New York Times. With Donald Trump’s record of launching libel cases against major media outlets on both sides of the pond, the three discuss how big lawsuits are used to capture headlines and apply pressure.They talk about the significance
What’s next for the BBC? A new director-general
Alan and Janine discuss the potential candidates for the top job in British media—and there’s no shortage of suspects.The pair break down the candidates’ CVs and even ring up one Lionel Barber on holiday to get his thoughts...Plus, one listener asks who signs off on decisions like the one to edit the Trump speech that got BBC’s Panorama programme into such hot water. Where does an editor
‘Trump is a grifter. The BBC must not pay him a dime’
The BBC is under attack. Alan and Janine go to heart of the biggest media story of the week, and reveal what really happened at the disastrous board meeting that toppled BBC leadership. Under fire from powerful enemies at home and abroad, does the broadcasting service have a future? They're joined by Pat Younge, chair of the British Broadcasting Challenge, which promotes public discussion abo
The Nerve: ‘We want to shine a light on culture… with a bit of “F— you” energy on the side’
Do you have the nerve? Carole Cadwalladr and Sarah Donaldson join Alan and Janine to discuss their new independent media platform the Nerve which focuses on culture, politics and tech—and share why they felt there was no room for their work at the Observer under new management.The four discuss the all-female founding team, the driving mission behind the project and ho
The BBC is in a mess—but it’s not what you think
Alan is joined by Janine Gibson, editor of the Weekend FT and this week’s guest host on Media Confidential.The pair discuss the media response to a train stabbing incident in Huntingdon.They also weigh in on the Telegraph’s attacks on the BBC, amid reports that a Panorama documentary misled viewers by selectively editing a Donald Trump speech during the storming of the Capitol. Shou
Goalhanger co-founder: ‘I’ve stepped in to stop Alastair Campbell and Rory Stewart arguing’
In this week’s Media Confidential, the co-founder of podcasting giant Goalhanger, Tony Pastor, reveals the drama behind The Rest is Politics and the secrets to the podcast’s success.He, Alan and Lionel chat about the podcast revolution and how the Covid-19 pandemic transformed the audio landscape in the UK. Plus, Tony explains how each host gets ‘chemistry tested’ before a new series, w
Has Ofcom opened the door to a British Fox News?
As American firm RedBird continues its bid to take over the Telegraph, Alan and Lionel discuss concerns about foreign influence and what it means for media ownership in Britain.They weigh in on Ofcom updating its guidance on politicians being news presenters. Does it open the doors to a Fox News equivalent in the UK?Plus, Alan and Lionel talk about Michael Wolff counter-suing Melani
Peter Oborne: Is the British media complicit in genocide?
Is the British media complicit in the Gaza genocide?This week, things heat up as Alan and Lionel are joined by Peter Oborne, former Telegraph chief political commentator, whose most recent book is Complicit: Britain’s role in the destruction of Gaza.Peter discusses the influence of pro-Israel lobbyists on British politics, his own political evolution, and the challenges of reporting fairly. He ask
How would you prepare to interview Putin?
In this week’s special episode, Alan and Lionel are grilled by Sheffield University’s third-year Broadcast Journalism students.The pair are asked about using artificial intelligence in newsrooms, how to cover Gaza with fairness, and whether they think China is being underreported on.They also discuss imposter syndrome in the media world, and how to report stories that people don’t want to hear (bu
‘We asked Israel to investigate the deaths of our journalists. We’re still waiting’
More journalists have been killed in Gaza than in any other conflict in history.This week, the editor-in-chief at Reuters, Alessandra Galloni, joins Alan and Lionel to reflect on the last two years of covering the war on Gaza.She discusses the Israeli Defence Force’s killing of journalists in both Gaza and Lebanon, amid ongoing calls for accountability, and reveals why the news agency stopped givi
‘Rupert Murdoch follows me on Substack’
In this week’s Media Confidential, Alan has returned from a trip to Israel that coincided with a ceasefire brokered in Gaza. The hosts discuss his visit to the West Bank with Gideon Levy of Haaretz and how Israeli news outlets have covered the war.Alan and Lionel also talk about the Pope being an unexpected voice against clickbait and review “The Nerve”, a new publication launched b
‘Lord Lebedev called me a prick…which sold extra subscriptions’
Some news outlets insist that London is a city in crisis—but who profits from that message?On the first anniversary of the launch of London Centric, its founder and owner Jim Waterson joins Alan and Lionel to talk about the new London-focused publication.Within four months of launching the newsletter, the news outlet hit its three-year targets. Jim unpacks this wild success, what makes h
The Hack: What happens now?
How do you turn one of the biggest media scandals into gripping television—and what unfinished business still lingers off-screen?Media Confidential hosted a live episode at Prospect HQ, with Toby Jones, Patrick Spence and Jack Thorne, about the real story behind the ITV drama The Hack. In this episode, the panel takes audience questions on press freedom, and whether it’s time for a long-delayed Le
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