Media Confidential

Alan and Lionel sit down with AG Sulzberger, chair and publisher of the New York Times. AG took over as publisher of the New York Times six years ago after many years as a hack. His term coincided with that of Donald J Trump, for whom the Times was public enemy number one. AG stood his ground, telling the president to his face that his anti-press rhetoric was “not just divisive but increasingly dangerous”. He and his team have taken the Times and transformed the digital offering, adding millions of subscribers worldwide. And he’s responsible for bringing a simple, yet addictive word game, Wordle, to a mass audience. Recent weeks have seen the New York Times come under fire from several angles, yet AG continues to champion independent journalism. Alan and Lionel ask him if he believes he always get it right? This episode of Media Confidential is sponsored by Bridged Media. Get started for your AI pilot by visiting www.bridged.media or book a free strategy session at [email protected] Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Vice and BuzzFeed were once at the forefront of the digital media revolution—Vice alone was once valued at nearly double the New York Times! But now, both firms have shut their news operations, Vice has closed its flagship site, and further cuts to staff numbers are expected. BuzzFeed’s former UK editor Janine Gibson, now weekend editor of the Financial Times, analyses why these millennial media giants became so troubled. Plus, writer Peter Pomerantsev chats about a forgotten master of Second World War propaganda and discusses contemporary information manipulation, touching on Vladimir Putin, Alexei Navalny, Ukraine and Donald Trump. Enjoy one-month’s free trial to Prospect’s digital content, and get full access to rigorously fact-checked, truly independent analysis and perspectives. No commitment—you can cancel at any time. Click here to subscribe: https://subscription.prospectmagazine.co.uk/1mfd/prospect-magazine/mcpod1mf Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

An investigation by Hope Not Hate reported this week that Paul Marshall, owner of GB News and UnHerd and frontrunner in the race to buy the Telegraph, had repeatedly liked and re-tweeted racist and Islamophobic content. In this special bonus episode, Alan and Lionel discuss who decides whether someone is fit to own a major UK newspaper, what Ofcom can do to uphold standards—and what could happen to political discourse in the United Kingdom if Marshall’s bid succeeds. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Does the word “PRESS” on a flak jacket keep a journalist safe or make them a target? In this week’s Media Confidential, we focus on the sobering death toll of reporters covering the war in Gaza, as highlighted by the annual report of the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ). Alan and Lionel hear from the CPJ’s chief executive Jodie Ginsberg and speak to AFP’s Global News Director Phil Chetwynd, who has a team reporting from inside Gaza and who highlights an incident when journalists were seemingly targeted by Israeli guns. Alan also gives insight on dealing with Julian Assange, the Wikileaks founder, whose latest high profile court proceedings began this weekEnjoy one-month’s free trial to Prospect’s digital content, and get full access to rigorously fact-checked, truly independent analysis and perspectives. No commitment—you can cancel at any time. Click here to subscribe: https://subscription.prospectmagazine.co.uk/1mfd/prospect-magazine/mcpod1mf Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What motivates the media world behind the clickbait? What drives broadcast, print and digital media producers and journalists? In this episode, Alan Rusbridger and Lionel Barber answer listeners’ questions on media bias in an election year, the impact of 24-hour news on mental health, and whether President Biden should be active on TikTok. Plus—do Lionel and Alan think Taylor Swift could swing the US election? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Amid great concern over the provision of local news in the UK and beyond, could organisations such as the Manchester Mill and the Bristol Cable challenge famous old papers in some of Britain’s biggest cities and calm long-term fears of areas becoming “news deserts”? Alan and Lionel hear from Joshi Herrmann and Sophie Atkinson from Manchester Mill about whether their community subscriber model is the way to fund commercially sustainable journalism capable of holding powerful people and institutions to account in local and regional “patches”. There’s also an update on “Gibb gate”, comment on the latest limp Ofcom ruling pertaining to GB News, plus analysis of Tucker Carlson flying to Moscow to interview the Russian president, Vladimir Putin. Enjoy one-month’s free trial to Prospect’s digital content, and get full access to rigorously fact-checked, truly independent analysis and perspectives. No commitment—you can cancel at any time. Click here to subscribe: https://subscription.prospectmagazine.co.uk/1mfd/prospect-magazine/mcpod1mf Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Can Rishi Sunak still rely on what has often been called the “Conservative media”, or are news organisations on the political right becoming increasingly hostile to the prime minister? Journalist David Aaronovitch helps Alan and Lionel analyse who and what is driving significant cultural and political shifts in some of the UK’s newsrooms and media boardrooms. Could the Telegraph and GB News even desert the Tories and back the Reform party at the next general election? Enjoy one-month’s free trial to Prospect’s digital content, and get full access to rigorously fact-checked, truly independent analysis and perspectives. No commitment—you can cancel at any time. Click here to subscribe: https://subscription.prospectmagazine.co.uk/1mfd/prospect-magazine/mcpod1mf Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Alan’s investigation into “Gibb-gate” continues. In a major article for Prospect, he sets out the influence and connections of a tight-knit and largely unaccountable clique which is undermining the political independence and regulation of public service broadcasting. At the centre of that group is Robbie Gibb, Theresa May’s director of communications when she was prime minister. Alan and Lionel discuss the independence of the BBC and its journalism, as well as government appointments more generally, with Roger Mosey (former head of BBC TV News, controller of Radio 5 Live and Editor of the Today programme) and Dorothy Byrne (former Head of News and Current Affairs at Channel 4). Enjoy one-month’s free trial to Prospect’s digital content, and get full access to rigorously fact-checked, truly independent analysis and perspectives. No commitment—you can cancel at any time.   Click here to subscribe: https://subscription.prospectmagazine.co.uk/1mfd/prospect-magazine/mcpod1mf  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Is Donald Trump now unstoppable in his quest to secure the Republican presidential nomination, after kicking off caucus season with a decisive win in Iowa? As Trump shapes up for another shot at the White House, Alan and Lionel ask how US media can pitch their coverage and analysis to ensure scrutiny of such an unreliable and divisive figure, without ignoring the election issues that matter to his supporters. They’re joined by Alex Burns, who is now head of news at POLITICO and covered the 2020 election for the New York Times, to analyse how news organisations will and should cover the Trump campaign and question the record of President Joe Biden. Plus, what is former chancellor George Osborne’s involvement with one of the key bidders for the Daily Telegraph, and what is going on at Reach plc as Alison Phillips departs as editor of the Daily Mirror? Here's a new seasonal subscription offer from Prospect. We’re discounting the price of an annual digital subscription by 50%. To take advantage of this great deal, please search for ‘Prospect New Year offer’ or visit https://subscribe.prospectmagazine.co.uk/mc. Offer ends Friday 19th Jan. We'd love your feedback! Tell us more at: https://f9ce3vpjrw3.typeform.com/to/bxJBPxN2 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Award-winning actor Toby Jones, who plays Alan Bates in ITV’s Mr Bates vs the Post Office, reflects on the drama’s huge public and political impact, alongside its producer Patrick Spence.  Alan and Lionel ask why this screen version has cut through in a way that news reporting of the Post Office Horizon scandal did not, with insights from Professor Rasmus Nielsen, Director of the Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism at the University of Oxford. Here's a new seasonal subscription offer from Prospect. We’re discounting the price of an annual digital subscription by 50%. To take advantage of this great deal, please search for ‘Prospect New Year offer’ or visit https://subscribe.prospectmagazine.co.uk/mc. Offer ends Friday 19th Jan. We'd love your feedback! Tell us more at: https://f9ce3vpjrw3.typeform.com/to/bxJBPxN2 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

2024 is a crucial year for liberal democracies around the world, with over 50 nations voting in general elections and up to 4.2bn people casting their votes. In this episode, Alan Rusbridger and Lionel Barber discuss why media election coverage will be more important than ever, as key campaigns spill over from conventional, legacy formats such as print, television and radio and onto a wide range of social media platforms. Will fake news and misinformation become even more widespread, and could artificial intelligence have a decisive impact on outcomes? Alan and Lionel also unpick the importance of a key AI lawsuit between the New York Times and Open AI and Microsoft. And then there’s Twitter, or X. How will the social media platform perform with the challenges that it faces on a daily basis since Elon Musk took over the reins? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sky News’s Political Editor Beth Rigby joins Alan and Lionel to reflect on 2023’s key events and to launch the inaugural Media Confidential “awards”, nominating people, stories and news organisations for recognition in these categories: Most important story of the yearMost under-reported story of the yearTurkey of the yearPolitical scoop of the yearNews organisation of the yearJournalist of the yearVillain of the yearHero/Heroine of the year Here's a new seasonal subscription offer from Prospect. We’re discounting the price of an annual digital subscription by 50%. To take advantage of this great deal, please search for ‘Prospect New Year offer’ or visit https://subscribe.prospectmagazine.co.uk/mc. Offer ends Friday 19th Jan.   We’d love your feedback! Tell us more here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

One of the world’s leading photojournalists discusses her career in conflict zones and tells the story of how she captured a famous, horrific image while under fire in Ukraine.   Lynsey Addario analyses the challenges of war photography in an era when journalists are increasingly likely to be targets and false images on social media make it difficult to assess what is real. She also shares her perspective on the pictures coming out of the war in Gaza and the courage of those capturing them.    Plus, Alan and Lionel discuss the latest phone hacking headlines: court success for Prince Harry, and allegations about the role of Sir William Lewis, who is set to become CEO of The Washington Post.  Here's a new seasonal subscription offer from Prospect. We’re discounting the price of an annual digital subscription by 50%. To take advantage of this great deal, please search for ‘Prospect New Year offer’ or visit https://subscribe.prospectmagazine.co.uk/mc. Offer ends Friday 19th Jan.   We’d love your feedback! Tell us more here.   Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Alan and Lionel hear Israeli and Palestinian perspectives on how the war in Gaza is being covered and on the continuing fight to control the media narrative. Palestinian-British writer Samir El-Youssef discusses how the conflict and Hamas are reported on by Arabic-language news channels while Esther Solomon, editor-in-chief of Haaretz English, talks about trying to balance opposition to the politics of Benjamin Netanyahu with covering the on-going impacts and consequences of Hamas’s terrorism on the 7th October. Enjoy one-month's free trial to Prospect's digital content, and get full access to rigorously fact-checked, truly independent analysis and perspectives. No commitment - you can cancel at any time. Click https://subscription.prospectmagazine.co.uk/1mfd/prospect-magazine/mcpod1mf to unlock your free digital trial today.We'd love your feedback! Tell us more at: https://f9ce3vpjrw3.typeform.com/to/bxJBPxN2 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Award-winning journalist Nick Davies broke the story of phone hacking by UK newspapers back in 2009 and now lays out the startling implications of News Group Newspapers’ major settlement with former Cabinet minister Chris Huhne, which adds a significant extra dimension to the affair.Plus, Alan and Lionel discuss the issue of BBC funding with the former BBC executive Pat Younge, as the government look set to renege on its agreement with the corporation over the amount of the licence fee. Enjoy one-month's free trial to Prospect's digital content, and get full access to rigorously fact-checked, truly independent analysis and perspectives.  No commitment - you can cancel at any time.  Click https://subscription.prospectmagazine.co.uk/1mfd/prospect-magazine/mcpod1mf to unlock your free digital trial today.We'd love your feedback! Tell us more at: https://f9ce3vpjrw3.typeform.com/to/bxJBPxN2 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A remarkable interview with arguably Britain’s greatest living photographer, Sir Don McCullin. He opens up about his career in-and-out of war zones, saying he's been “damaged” by some of the things he saw in Vietnam, Biafra and elsewhere, and that he was “poisoned” by his profession. McCullin talks about some of his most dramatic photos and about feeling like he was “stealing” images of suffering. The legendary photojournalist also analyses the craft of modern war photography in an age of heavily restricted battlefield access and citizen journalists. Plus, Lionel dissects the latest in the competition to own the Telegraph and Alan updates us about his quest to uncover whether there was interference from a BBC director in who would become chair of the media regulator Ofcom.Enjoy one-month's free trial to Prospect's digital content, and get full access to rigorously fact-checked, truly independent analysis and perspectives.  No commitment - you can cancel at any time.   Click https://subscription.prospectmagazine.co.uk/1mfd/prospect-magazine/mcpod1mf to unlock your free digital trial today.We'd love your feedback! Tell us more at: https://f9ce3vpjrw3.typeform.com/to/bxJBPxN2 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Pulitzer Prize-winning data journalist and artist Mona Chalabi, a contributor to the New York Times, discusses her eye-catching work, her criticism of the paper’s coverage of Israel-Palestine and the current conflict in Gaza, and making a stand about that issue at the recent Pulitzer Prize ceremony. Alan and Lionel also discuss the Silicon Valley boardroom drama which saw OpenAI co-founder Sam Altman sacked—and then return as boss just days later, via a big job offer from Microsoft—as well as the latest on who is likely to buy The Telegraph.About Prospect Prospect brings rigorously fact-checked analysis, ideas and perspectives to the big topics the world is grappling with. In addition to being the UK’s leading monthly current affairs magazine, Prospect publishes daily commentary and analysis online. Even more discussion about the ideas that matter is available in our growing range of newsletters and podcasts, the most recent of which is Media Confidential. Black Friday offer: Enjoy 50% off an annual digital subscription and receive full access to rigorously fact-checked, truly independent analysis and perspectives.   Take advantage of this time-limited offer. Click here to subscribe now at https://subscription.prospectmagazine.co.uk/blfrcymo/prospect-magazine/bfmctextBe quick: promotion ends Mon 27th November.  We'd love your feedback! Tell us more at: https://f9ce3vpjrw3.typeform.com/to/bxJBPxN2 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Alan and Lionel speak to LBC broadcaster and author James O’Brien, who takes aim at Daily Mail chief Paul Dacre, news mogul Rupert Murdoch and journalist, broadcaster and editor Andrew Neil—three media figures he includes in his book about the people he thinks “broke Britain”. O’Brien also reflects on David Cameron’s return to frontline politics and discusses his own version of opinionated political broadcasting.About Prospect Prospect brings rigorously fact-checked analysis, ideas and perspectives to the big topics the world is grappling with. In addition to being the UK’s leading monthly current affairs magazine, Prospect publishes daily commentary and analysis online. Even more discussion about the ideas that matter is available in our growing range of newsletters and podcasts, the most recent of which is Media Confidential. Black Friday offer: Enjoy 50% off an annual digital subscription and receive full access to rigorously fact-checked, truly independent analysis and perspectives.   Take advantage of this time-limited offer. Click here to subscribe now at https://subscription.prospectmagazine.co.uk/blfrcymo/prospect-magazine/bfmctext Be quick: promotion ends Mon 27th November.  We'd love your feedback! Tell us more at: https://f9ce3vpjrw3.typeform.com/to/bxJBPxN2 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

With former prime minister Boris Johnson soon joining Jacob Rees-Mogg, Lee Anderson and Nigel Farage as a presenter on GB News, there appears to be little attempt by the channel to provide balance to its roster of right-wing voices and even current Conservative politicians. Should the media regulator insist that it provides that balance, or should broadcasters be allowed to present just one side of a political argument?On Media Confidential, Alan and Lionel hear from media professor Steve Barnett, a critic of Ofcom, and veteran commentator and TV executive David Elstein, who views the growth of GB News far more favourably.Enjoy one-month's free trial to Prospect's digital content, and get full access to rigorously fact-checked, truly independent analysis and perspectives. No commitment - you can cancel at any time. Unlock your free digital trial today at https://subscription.prospectmagazine.co.uk/1mfd/prospect-magazine/mctex1mfWe'd love your feedback! Tell us more at: https://f9ce3vpjrw3.typeform.com/to/bxJBPxN2 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

One of the key figures in global media talks to Alan and Lionel about how artificial intelligence will transform the industry. Mathias Döpfner is the CEO of the international media group Axel Springer and he’s a big thinker about how AI will impact news organisations and beyond.  He also talks about public trust in media, his friend Elon Musk at Twitter/X, and how post-Cold War trade with countries like Russia and China has failed to transfer Western ideas of freedom and democracy. Döpfner is questioned about reports that Axel Springer wants to buy The Telegraph, before Barclay brothers biographer Jane Martinson considers the battle to become the newspaper’s next owners, along with the significant concerns that follow some of the interested parties. Plus, Alan and Lionel reflect on the news that former prime minister Boris Johnson is joining GB News and how far Ofcom will allow the politically partisan channel to go. Enjoy one-month's free trial to Prospect's digital content, and get full access to rigorously fact-checked, truly independent analysis and perspectives. No commitment - you can cancel at any time.   Unlock your free digital trial today at https://subscription.prospectmagazine.co.uk/1mfd/prospect-magazine/mctex1mfWe’d love your feedback! Tell us more at: https://f9ce3vpjrw3.typeform.com/to/bxJBPxN2   Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The BBC has come under fire for the way it has reported on the war between Israel and Hamas—but is it the only organisation to have made mistakes?  Lionel Barber and Alan Rusbridger analyse the way that the massacre of 7th October and subsequent war have been covered, including explosion at Al-Ahli hospital, which some media outlets initially blamed on Israeli strikes. Jake Wallis Simons, editor of the Jewish Chronicle explains how damaging it is to the British Jewish population when errors are made, and former BBC editor and Radio 4 controller Mark Damazer defends the role of the war reporters on the ground.Today you can get an annual Prospect subscription for as little as £49, and *while stocks last* you’ll get a free signed copy of Breaking News, Alan's excellent book about the remaking of journalism and why it matters, which is worth £10.99. Sign up now at: https://subscribe.prospectmagazine.co.uk/mediaconfidential We'd love your feedback! Tell us more at: https://f9ce3vpjrw3.typeform.com/to/bxJBPxN2  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As the Israel-Gaza war boosts concerns about disinformation and misinformation on X, Alan and Lionel speak to Joanna Geary, who used to be Twitter’s Senior Director of Curation. What important checks and filters did Elon Musk strip away when he took over? Plus, author Jane Martinson discusses her new book about the Barclay brothers, two of the most significant UK media owners of recent decades, as the Barclay family seems keen to buy back the Telegraph Media Group. Today you can get an annual Prospect subscription for as little as £49, and *while stocks last* you’ll get a free signed copy of Breaking News, Alan's excellent book about the remaking of journalism and why it matters, which is worth £10.99. Sign up now at: https://subscribe.prospectmagazine.co.uk/mediaconfidential We'd love your feedback! Tell us more at: https://f9ce3vpjrw3.typeform.com/to/bxJBPxN2  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Alan and Lionel discuss how the awful violence in Israel and Gaza is being reported by media there (and elsewhere), and the extent to which local news organisations are able to give a balanced and nuanced account of what is happening. They are joined by Esther Solomon, editor-in-chief of Haaretz English and Sarah Helm, former diplomatic editor and Middle East correspondent of The Independent, who is currently writing a book about the Gaza Strip. Prospect brings rigorously fact-checked analysis, ideas and perspectives to the big topics the world is grappling with.  Special offer: Buy a digital subscription – only £3 for three months' access (then £49 annually). Click HERE to subscribe Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Alan and Lionel talk to Marty Baron, perhaps the most distinguished and garlanded editor in America since Watergate.Collision of Power is Baron’s book about his time at the Washington Post, which won 10 Pulitzer Prizes under his leadership. He discusses standing up to then-President Donald Trump and the transformative impact of the Post’s new owner Jeff Bezos, while Marty and Alan compare notes about publishing the Edward Snowden story under high pressure from governments and intelligence services.Media Confidential also considers the chaos at GB News, after Laurence Fox’s on-air comments about Ava Evans, and whether Ofcom can reel it in.Follow us on X (Twitter): @MediaConfPodProspect brings rigorously fact-checked analysis, ideas and perspectives to the big topics the world is grappling with.  Special offer: Buy a digital subscription – only £3 for three months' access (then £49 annually). Click HERE to subscribe Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Alan and Lionel discuss the Murdoch family ‘succession’, after Rupert Murdoch handed control of Fox and News Corp to his eldest son, Lachlan.They analyse the potential implications for media and politics, helped by Malcolm Turnbull, former prime minster of Australia, who tells them that Murdoch Sr has done “enormous damage" to democracy in the US, the UK and his own country.There’s insight too from American journalist Michael Wolff, whose new book is The Fall: The End of Fox News and the Murdoch Dynasty.Alan and Lionel also consider the media angles around the allegations facing Russell Brand.Follow us on X (Twitter!): @MediaConfPod.Media Confidential is a podcast from Prospect Magazine. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome to Media Confidential.Who are Alan and Lionel, and what will they be discussing in this brand new show from Prospect Magazine?Our hosts give an overview of their new podcast, why it's important, and their thoughts on the media landscape as they see it today. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.