Episodes
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In this week’s Q&A, Alan and Lionel discuss the sale of the Telegraph and what comes next for the newspaper.
They also talk about whether anything can be done to revive the print newspaper and are asked about what's happening with the sale of Paramount in the US.
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This week on Media Confidential, Alan and Lionel are joined by Joseph Kahn, executive editor of the New York Times. Alan, Lionel and Joe discuss editing in the time of Trump, why US media organisations are bending to the president, and whether publications owned by corporations are really equipped to resist the government.
Plus, the hosts talk about Gary Lineker’s departure from the BBC—and a new book which explores what journalists knew about former president Joe Biden’s deteriorating health but withheld from the public, for fear of losing access to the White House.
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In this week’s Q&A episode, Alan and Lionel discuss their most difficult interviews.
They also discuss why journalists are no longer sent out to cover council meetings and whether that has an impact on democracy.
Plus, the hosts answer an email about the BBC’s dominance over online news in the UK.
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At the Truth Tellers summit in London, Alan and Lionel sit down with Mark Thompson, the CEO of American media giant CNN.Mark is asked if he has sat down with Trump since he started in office.
Does he feel a slide towards state-owned media, monitored by the White House? And why does CNN continue to give the president airtime?
“If the rule was [that] we didn't have politicians on the air who might lie", he says, "we'd be struggling possibly to fill the airwaves.”
Plus, after listening to the ‘Rest is Classified’ podcast series on whistleblower Edward Snowden, Alan discusses his role in publishing the Snowden documents, and how he believes the BBC was too timid to cover the story.
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In this week’s Q&A session, Alan and Lionel are asked whether there’s still a market for the London Standard and what they would do if its owner Evgeny Lebedev came asking for advice.
They also discuss undercover reporting: after interviewing Harry Shukman who spent a year infiltrating far right groups in the UK, the editors discuss how to prepare a reporter for covert investigations.
Plus, as press freedom hits an all-time low, how can we make the world safer for journalists?
To submit your questions to Alan and Lionel, email [email protected].uk
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This week on Media Confidential, journalist Harry Shukman joins Alan and Lionel to discuss his year spent infiltrating the far right.
Harry’s new book Year of the Rat explores this journey. He shares why he went undercover to report on the story, why he thinks the threat from the British far right has been underestimated, and moments when he risked discovery.
Plus, the editors mull over Jon Voight’s plan to “make Hollywood great again”, and discuss the BBC choosing to shelve a new film about the destruction of Gaza’s health service.
Harry’s book ‘Year of the Rat: Undercover in the British Far Right’ is out today (May 8th)
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In this week’s Q&A, Alan and Lionel are presented with a thought experiment: if they had to join forces, how would they run a brand new media venture?
What’s it all about? Where is the money coming from? And, contentiously…who would be the editor?
With half a million households cancelling their licence fee in 2023 alone, the hosts are also asked about alternatives to a TV license fee, as the BBC struggles to connect with younger audiences.
They also speculate on who might step into the shoes of Alex Mahon, Channel 4’s outgoing CEO, who joined Media Confidential to talk about gen Z’s media habits back in March.
Keep your questions coming via [email protected].uk
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Alan and Lionel are joined by Lea Korsgaard, co-founder and editor-in-chief at Zetland, the Danish media organisation revolutionising the way people engage with the news.
She discusses what makes the media platform, which Alan describes as “a beacon of optimism”, so unique—and shares the secret to its success.
Plus, Alan and Lionel cast their editorial eyes over the first edition of the Observer, now under new ownership, and give their professional opinions.
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Following the death of Pope Francis last week, Alan and Lionel answer how a reporter should prepare for the expected—and the unexpected.
They discuss the perks of having a network of correspondents and give their opinions on freelance journalists: is it better to be a lone operator or under the wing of a big publication?
To ask Alan Rusbridger and Lionel Barber your questions, email [email protected].uk
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What is allowed to be a joking matter? And where does one draw the line?
This week, Alan and Lionel discuss the pitfalls of being a satirist in 2025. They talk to political cartoonist Steve Bell, who worked for the Guardian for over 40 years before being unceremoniously dismissed after an image of Benjamin Netanyahu drew ire.
They’re also joined by former Spectator editor Fraser Nelson, who leapt to Steve’s defence, despite being on opposite ends of the political aisle. Fraser also shares how he put his job on the line whilst at the helm of the magazine.
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Alan and Lionel are asked about Tortoise's imminent takeover of the Observer. The hosts discuss a surprisingly timely encounter, and share some breaking news about Prospect.
They also discuss blasting off into space and whether they’d rather put their lives in the hands of Jeff Bezos or Elon Musk.
Plus, has the press regulator IPSO lost its teeth? Has it ever had any?
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Does it matter who funds and owns the media?
This week, Alan and Lionel are joined by Rodney Benson, professor and author of How Media Ownership Matters, who compares the ways in which newspapers are funded around the world—and how this fundamentally shapes democracy.
Plus, Alan shares stories from his recent trip to Perugia, which holds the annual International Journalism festival. He discusses his mood after the festival, and what columnists are debating (is Donald Trump bonkers? We’ll never know!)
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In this week’s Q&A, Alan and Lionel are asked what makes a good story—and which big ones they’ve missed.
They reminisce over the hedonistic days of Vanity Fair magazine, following the release of former editor Graydon Carter’s swashbuckling new memoir.
And they remember the legacies, lives and careers of two former colleagues: Gwen Robinson, former foreign correspondent for the Financial Times and Tim Radford, the Guardian science editor known for penning the 25 commandments for journalists.
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On Media Confidential this week, Alan and Lionel discuss the world being turned upside down by Donald Trump’s tariffs.
As former editor of the Financial Times, Lionel weighs in on how the press are handling the situation: what are they getting right…and what are they missing? Have financial journalists failed to spot the biggest story yet?
And amid a slew of suspensions and politically-motivated arrests at Columbia University, the hosts also talk to Anya Schiffrin, director of the university’s Technology, Media and Communications programme. As the university yields to the Trump administration’s demands, they discuss the pressures colleges are facing, the role of the media, and the importance of resistance to authoritarianism.
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What would you do if you realised your work was putting you in danger?
This week, Alan and Lionel are asked if they’ve ever been unsafe because of their journalism.
They talk about Tom McTague moving jobs across the political spectrum, from UnHerd's political editor, to editor at the New Statesman.
And as Jim Mullen announces his departure from the media company Reach, the hosts discuss his tenure.
If you have a question for Alan and Lionel, send them to [email protected].uk
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This week, Alan and Lionel discuss alarming threats to global press freedom with guests Jodie Ginsberg and former war correspondent Peter Greste.
As an award-winning journalist with Al Jazeera, Peter was reporting on the Arab Spring when he was arrested under charges of terrorism. He shares his story of being wrongfully imprisoned in Egypt for 400 days (later dramatised in the film The Correspondent).
Jodie, director of the Committee to Protect Journalists, an American nonprofit organisation, also highlights the increasing dangers facing journalists in the US, including attacks on public broadcasting and legal threats.
In the face of mounting pressures, how can young reporters find hope?
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What would you do if you got added to a messaging group that was discussing top-level classified information?
This week, Alan and Lionel are asked about the Atlantic’s stunning report that some of the highest level figures in American defence discussed war plans in a Signal group containing its editor, Jeff Goldberg.
How have new communication technologies changed journalism—and the search for a scoop?
Alan and Lionel answer more listeners' questions on the smash Netflix series Adolescence, social media and how Michael Gove’s tenure as Spectator editor is progressing.
If you have a question for Alan and Lionel send them to [email protected].uk
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In this episode Alan and Lionel talk to journalist and author Michael Wolff, who has chronicled the rise and fall and rise again of Donald Trump across his “Fire and Fury” book series.
The latest instalment, “All or Nothing” was published just after Trump re-entered the White House in January.The trio discuss the future of media under Donald Trump, how he has taken control of news cycles and what happens when corporate interests infringe on the business of journalism.
Wolff suggests that the media caved in to government pressure about his book. “A lot of television was set up, as happens in the pre-publication of a book, [and] as soon as the White House started to attack me all of my appearances were canceled”.
“The executives who we confronted on this were pretty straightforward, they said, ‘look we are in a new climate’ and then they would blame the higher ups, the corporate overlords and super structure who has weighed in on this.”
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How will artificial intelligence change how people consume media?
Alan and Lionel discuss more listeners' questions on this week's Q&A.The editors also chew over how best to tackle conspiracy theories, and how media outlets can avoid being part of the problem.
If you have a question for Alan and Lionel send them to [email protected].uk
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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This week, Alan and Lionel are joined by former MI6 chief Sir John Sawers to discuss the new world order...or should that be disorder?
They share their views on the threat posed by the second Trump presidency and whether the world has reverted to “might is right”. John raises concerns over the future of the Five Eyes intelligence alliance—which consists of the UK, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the US. Could this mean the end of intelligence sharing with America?
Plus, Alan and Lionel discuss the unexpected outcome of Ofcom’s cases against GB News.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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