Episodes
-
Last week Dr Hilary Cass published her final report and recommendations to NHS England in her role as Chair of the Independent Review of gender identity services for children and young people. The Cass report recommends a new approach for clinicians. But what might journalism do differently in the way it covers such a polarising subject? We discuss with Hannah Barnes, the author of Time to Think: the Inside Story of the Collapse of the Tavistock’s Gender Service for Children ; and Rebecca Coombes, Head of Journalism at the British Medical Journal.
Hugh Grant has settled his privacy case against the publisher of the Sun newspaper. We get the latest from Jake Kanter, Investigations Editor from Deadline.
Taylor Swift is back in the headlines with the release of her 11th album, The Tortured Poets Department, on Friday. ITV's This Morning has also just appointed its first Taylor Swift correspondent. So what’s it like to report on the pop icon, and what’s her relationship with the media? We're joined by Laura Snapes, who writes a weekly newsletter called Swift Notes for The Guardian, and Augusta Saraiva from Bloomberg.
What is the role and impact of Channel 4 on our lives – and on the independent commercial sector? We speak to Alex Mahon, Chief Executive of Channel 4, Jake Kanter from Deadline and Joel Wilson, the co-founder of the production company Eleven, behind hits such as Sex Education and Ten Pound Poms.
Presenter: Katie Razzall
Producer: Simon Richardson
Guests: Jake Kanter, Investigations Editor, Deadline; Hannah Barnes, Associate Editor, New Statesman; Rebecca Coombes, Head of Journalism at the BMJ; Laura Snapes, Deputy Music Editor, The Guardian; Augusta Saraiva, Economics Reporter, Bloomberg; Alex Mahon, Chief Executive, Channel 4; Joel Wilson, Co-founder, Eleven.
-
The Executive Chairman of the Sky News Group, David Rhodes shares his plans for Sky News – and on his years as a senior TV news exec in New York.
Elon Musk has predicted that AI will surpass human intelligence within a year. OpenAI and Meta have also said that they're on the brink of releasing new AI models that will be capable of reason and planning. What will be the impact of these advanced AI models on the news media? We're joined by Madhumita Murgia, the AI Editor at the Financial Times, and author of a new book Code Dependent, to discuss.
Donald Trump's social media platform, Truth Social, continues to make headlines with its public listing. Billy Boozer, its former Chief Product Officer, reveals what it was like setting up the company with Trump. We're also joined by Prof Joshua Tucker and Prof Yini Zhang who has investigated how Trump has used Truth Social and X to drive news media attention.
Presenters: Ros Atkins and Katie Razzall
Producer: Simon Richardson
Guests: David Rhodes, Executive Chairman, Sky News group; Madhumita Murgia, Artificial Intelligence Editor, Financial Times; Joshua Tucker, Professor of Politics, New York University; Yini Zhang, Asst Professor of Communications, University at Buffalo; Billy Boozer, former Chief Product Officer, Truth Social.
-
Missing episodes?
-
British counter terrorism officers are investigating the stabbing last Friday of an Iranian TV host outside his home in London. Iran International presenter Pouria Zeraati was hospitalised, before being discharged and moving to a safe place under the supervision of the Metropolitan Police. We talk to British Iranian journalist Sima Sabet, who has also been targeted.
Have US diplomats been targeted by Russian sonic weaponry? A joint report between The Insider, Der Spiegel and CBS's 60 Minutes alleges it’s the result of their brains being targeted by "directed energy" weapons operated by a secretive Russian military unit. We meet one of the journalists involved in the story.
In Londonderry journalists covering a dissident republican parade on Easter Monday were attacked with petrol bombs thrown by masked youths. Politicians have condemned the violence. We hear the testimony of one of the reporters targeted.
We talk to the producers behind the successful BBC reboot of Gladiators.
And as Gmail celebrates its 20th anniversary, how useful is email today as a form of communication? Or has it been overtaken by messaging apps like WhatsApp?
Presenters: Ros Atkins and Katie Razzall
Producer: Simon Richardson
Guests: Sima Sabet, former presenter, Iran International; Dan Baldwin, Managing Director, Hungry Bear Media; Julia Hobsbawm, journalist and author; Niall Deeney, Derry Correspondent, Belfast Live; Mike Isaac, Tech Reporter, The New York Times; Shashank Joshi, Defence Editor, The Economist; Michael Weiss, Editor, The Insider
-
Last week, the Princess of Wales announced that she is undergoing treatment for cancer. It was preceded by weeks of speculation about her whereabouts that went well into conspiracy territory. How exactly did conspiracy theories move from the fringes to the mainstream? And what are the responsibilities of the "mainstream media" when covering them? Also on the programme, BBC Radio 5 Live celebrates its 30th anniversary and what Tim Davie's speech means for the future of the BBC.
Guests: Chris Curtis, editor in chief, Broadcast; Nicky Campbell, presenter, BBC Radio 5 Live; Rachel Cunliffe, associate political editor, New Statesman; Dr Annie Kelly, journalist and postdoctoral researcher specialising in conspiracy theories.
Presenter: Ros AtkinsProducer: Dan Hardoon
-
As the US Congress moves to ban TikTok on national security grounds, we ask could the UK follow? Elon Musk lured former CNN journalist Don Lemon to boost X's video credentials but the pair fell out after a recent interview. We find out why. Also on the programme, why the BBC has announced plans to move into UK podcast advertising and we explore what one journalist found when she downloaded all the data held on her after years of using Meta's services.
Guests: Ciaran Martin, Professor, Blavatnik School of Government, The University of Oxford; Max Tani, media journalist, Semafor; Matilda Davies, Data and Digital Journalist, The Times and The Sunday Times; Nick Hilton, Co-founder, Podot
Presenter: Katie RazzallProducer: Simon Richardson
-
We discuss the controversial photo of the Princess of Wales and her children released by Kensington Palace on Sunday which was removed from circulation by photo agencies due to concerns it had been inappropriately edited. The story raises many questions about how images in the media are sourced, how they’re checked and how they’re distributed. We talk to press photographers, picture agencies and newspaper picture editors. Also in the programme, two developing stories concerning Tiktok and the Daily Telegraph. In the United States, the House of Representatives have passed a bill that could see Tiktok banned and the UK government looks set to introduce legislation stopping the purchase of The Daily Telegraph by an investment vehicle backed by the United Arab Emirates.
Guests: Phil Chetwynd, Global News Director, AFP; Jamie Lorriman, Chair, British Press Photographers’ Association; Fiona Shields, Head of Photography, The Guardian; Christianna Silva, Senior Culture Reporter, Mashable; Christopher Williams, Business Editor, The Daily Telegraph
Presenter: Ros AtkinsProducer: Simon Richardson
-
Exclusive interview with one of Hollywood's most powerful executives
-
With the scandal still all over the front as well as the back pages, we explore what the Christian Horner allegations tell us about the challenges journalists face in holding sports leaders to account. TalkTV is moving to online only and GB News has been censured by Ofcom. We consider the successes and failures of both channels. Plus, as pictures of the Princess of Wales are published in the United States we hear why codes of behaviour among British journalists mean, despite being freely available online, they will not be appearing on TV or in print here.
Contributors: Jake Kanter, Investigations Editor, Deadline; Aggie Chambre, Host, Westminster Insider podcast; Andrew Benson, Chief F1 Writer, BBC Sport; Fern Buckley, F1 Correspondent, talkSPORT; Chris Ship, Royal Editor, ITV News
Presenter: Ros AtkinsProducer: Simon Richardson
-
With Islamophobia, antisemitism, and threats against MPs all in the news, what role has the media itself played in stoking tensions? Also in the programme, as international broadcasters sign a letter calling for access to Gaza, what impact would that have on how the conflict is reported?
Guests: Alex Crawford, Special Correspondent, Sky News; Caroline Wheeler, Political Editor, Sunday Times; Ayesha Hazarika, Columnist and Presenter, Times Radio; Tim Montgomerie, Columnist and Founder of Conservative Home; Dr Hannah White, Director, Institute for Government
Presenter: Katie Razzall
Producer: Dan Hardoon
-
Two years on from Russia's full scale invasion of Ukraine and in the week of the death of opposition leader Alexei Navalny, what have reports from the region taught us about journalism and its ability to inform and influence? Has Western reporting got Russia and Putin fundamentally wrong? Meanwhile, what's the state of journalism in Russia itself, after Putin's crackdown on independent news outlets? We talk to the journalists and experts following the conflict and hear the story of Novaya Gazeta Europe's scoops from Alexei Navalny's prison.
Guests: Diana Magnay, International Correspondent, Sky News; Romeo Kokriatski, Managing Editor, The New Voice of Ukraine; Katya Glikman, Deputy Editor, Novaya Gazeta Europe; Lyse Doucet, Chief International Correspondent, BBC; Samuel Greene, Professor of Russian Politics, King's College London
Presenter: Katie RazzallProducer: Simon Richardson
-
Last week Prince Harry settled his outstanding claims with the Mirror titles – but only after he took them to court – where a judge ruled the Prince had been the subject of extensive phone hacking by Mirror Group Newspapers. We explore the meaning of the verdict and the resulting settlement. Is traditional broadcast TV dead? Piers Morgan seems to think so – he’s leaving his nightly TV show and setting up shop on YouTube. Ben Smith from Semafor, who broke the story, joins us. Also on the programme we discuss Disney's new partnership with the Fortnite online platform plus Gillian Reynolds explains what made the late Steve Wright a radio legend.
Guests: Evan Harris, legal analyst, former Executive Director, Hacked Off; Jane Martinson, Professor of Financial Journalism, City University of London; Ben Smith, Co-founder, Semafor; Gillian Reynolds, Radio Critic, Daily Telegraph; Takara Small, Tech Columnist, CBC
Presenter: Katie RazzallProducer: Simon Richardson
-
Tucker Carlson, the former Fox News presenter, has travelled to Moscow to interview Russian President Vladimir Putin. What will both men hope to gain from the encounter?
Also in the programme, Anushka Asthana on following Rishi Sunak for a new ITV programme, and the BBC's plans to launch four new music radio stations.
Guests: Francis Scarr, Journalist, BBC Monitoring; Brian Stelter, Special Correspondent, Vanity Fair; Anushka Asthana, Deputy Political Editor, ITV News; Lorna Clarke, Director of Music, BBC; Gill Hind, Chief Operating Officer, Enders Analysis; Phil Riley, co-founder, Boom Radio.
Presenter: Ros Atkins
Producer: Simon Richardson
-
This week Channel 4 announced major job cuts, caused in part by a decline in the amount of advertising the channel sells to fund its programmes. We look at Channel 4's plans to become a 'digital first' organisation, as well as talking to leaders in the UK advertising industry about the problems they're currently facing.
Also on the programme, what's behind the current air fryer cookery boom? Take a look at the UK non-fiction bestseller charts and you'll find multiple air fryer cookery books, many with similar titles, and channels 4 and 5 have been airing documentaries about the cooking trend. We talk to the commissioner of the best selling title in the field.
Guests: Chris Curtis, Editor, Broadcast; Josh Krichefski, CEO, Europe, the Middle East and Africa, GroupM; Lily James, Creative, Lucky Generals; Celia Palazzo, Commissioning Editor, Ebury Press; Philip Stone, Media Manager, Nielsen IQ
Presenter: Ros Atkins
Producer: Simon Richardson
-
Voters in New Hampshire have been getting phone messages apparently from Joe Biden urging them not to take part in the state's presidential primaries. How alarmed should we be about the potential for deepfakes to derail elections? We also talk about the world’s number one YouTuber, MrBeast and why Elon Musk was desperate to get him onto X. Also on the programme, we explore the government’s proposed reforms of the BBC and the political debates they have stirred.
Guests: Jake Kanter, International Investigations Editor, Deadline; Emily Bell, Director, Tow Center for Digital Journalism; Zoe Kleinman, Technology Editor, BBC News; James Ball, Fellow, Demos; Walter Sheirer, Professor of Computer Science, University of Notre Dame; Owen Meredith, Chief Executive, News Media Association
Presenter: Katie Razzall
Producer: Simon Richardson
-
On the day the United States designates the Houthis as a terror group, we explore how the organisation hones its message through music, video and poetry on social media. Also on the programme, we hear an update on the sale of The Telegraph and The Spectator and what the success of the BBC reboot of Gladiators tells us about a resurgence of 'event TV'.
Guests: Nic Robertson, International Diplomatic Editor, CNN; Chris Williams, Business Editor, The Telegraph; Hisham Al-Omeisy, Yemeni analyst and Senior Advisor, European Institute for Peace; Hannah Porter, independent Yemen researcher; Abi Watson, Senior Media Analyst, Enders Analysis; David Brown, TV critic, The Radio Times.
Presenter: Ros AtkinsProducer: Simon Richardson
-
Why did it take an ITV drama for a huge miscarriage of justice to get the headlines it deserves? As the government races to respond to public outrage over the Post Office scandal, The Media Show meets some of the key journalists who have reported on it over the last 15 years, and asks why it is only now that the story is cutting through.
Guests: Rebecca Thomson, former Computer Weekly journalist; Nick Wallis, presenter of The Great Post Office Trial; Tim Brentnall, former sub-postmaster; Ian Hislop, Editor of Private Eye; Amelia Gentleman, reporter at The Guardian
Presenter: Katie Razzall
Producer: Simon Richardson
-
The Traitors is a format based on the Dutch series De Verraders and it's now popular all over the world. We talk to Mike Cotton, a reality TV expert who has also worked on Gogglebox, Naked Attraction, The Only Way is Essex and Undercover Boss, about what makes reality TV work.
And we explore the wider implications of The New York Times' legal action against artificial intelligence company OpenAI and Microsoft. The New York Times claims its copyright has been infringed because these companies use millions of its articles to train their AI models.
Plus, we explore the idea of the media gatekeeper with Neil Maggs whose new documentary A Spokesperson Said explores their role for Radio 4.
Guests: Mike Cotton, Deputy Creative Director, Studio Lambert; Claire Atkinson, founder, The Media Mix; Siobhan Synnot, TV critic; Vivian Schiller, Executive Director, Aspen Digital; Neil Maggs, journalist.
Producer: Simon Richardson
Presenter: Ros Atkins
-
When she graduated from university, Meera Syal says she couldn't see a future for a young Asian woman in showbusiness. Four decades later, on top of an MBE and CBE for services to drama and literature, in 2023 she's been awarded a prestigious BAFTA Fellowship and this month Women in Film and TV has given her a Lifetime Achievement Award. Meera tells Ros about her trailblazing career showcasing unheard British Asian stories, including hit comedies Goodness Gracious Me and The Kumars at No. 42, and her early screenplay Bhaji on the Beach. Meera also reflects on how the TV industry has changed and the work still left to do.
Presenter: Ros Atkins
Producer: Simon Richardson
-
It's currently almost impossible for international journalists to enter Gaza. For those who can, it's a deadly conflict to cover. We talk to news organisations working on the ground since before the current war began, alongside those monitoring the situation from abroad, and hear about legal action being taken by the Foreign Press Association in Israel to get access.
Guests: Clarissa Ward, Chief International Correspondent, CNN; Mohamed Moawad, Managing Editor, Al Jazeera; Josef Federman, News Director, Associated Press and board member of the Foreign Press Association; Jeremy Bowen, International Editor, BBC News.
Presenter: Katie Razzall
Producer: Simon Richardson
-
Martin Lewis is easily one of Britain's most influential and trusted journalists. His Money Saving Expert website ranks as one of the most-read news sites in the UK, his weekly newsletter has around 9 million subscribers, and he is a regular face on prime-time TV.
In a wide-ranging interview, Martin joins Ros Atkins to discuss his career in media, the state of British journalism, and the toll being in the public eye has had on his mental health.
He also talks about his campaign against scam ads on social media, and singles out Facebook-owner Meta for criticism, who told the BBC in October: "We're constantly working to improve our systems and encourage anyone who sees content they believe breaks our rules to report it using our in-app tools so we can investigate and take action."
Producer: Dan Hardoon
Presenter: Ros Atkins
- Show more
