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The Media Show

The Media Show

830 episodes — Page 3 of 17

Papers, politics, power

How do we gauge the power of newspapers in this election? Will press endorsements from the mainstream media prove decisive, or does power now stem from corners of the media that are harder to define, boosted by opaque social media algorithms? And as big tech increasingly squeezes the revenue and audiences of news outlets, we talk to the Editor of The Atlantic on how to make journalism pay. Andrew Neil, presenter, Times Radio; Caroline Waterston, Editor-in-Chief, The Mirror; Jeffrey Goldberg, Editor in Chief, The Atlantic; Katie Notopoulos, Senior Tech Correspondent, Business InsiderPresenters: Katie Razzall and Ros Atkins Producer: Simon Richardson Assistant Producer: Lucy Wai

Jun 5, 202458 min

Is this the TikTok election?

A week into the election, we explore party control of the media message and the gaffes that happen when things go wrong. We hear live from the Labour battle bus, talk to Boris Johnson's former social media strategist and look at the way the different campaigns are crafting their message on TikTok. Guests: Shona Ghosh, Senior Editor, Bloomberg; Martha Lane Fox, former Board Member, Twitter/X; Katy Balls, Political Editor, The Spectator; Sean Topham, Co-Founder, Topham Guerin; Jessica Elgot, Deputy Political Editor, The Guardian; Timandra Harkness, writer and author of Technology is Not the Problem; Sam Jeffers, Executive Director, Who Targets Me.Presenter: Katie Razzall Producer: Simon Richardson

May 29, 202457 min

Newsnight: end of an era

At the end of this week Newsnight as we know it comes to an end. From Tuesday, its format will change – and it’ll be shorter too. To discuss the end of an era, Katie and Ros speak to an all-star Newsnight line up: Kirsty Wark, Peter Snow, Michael Crick. They're also joined by Professor Suzanne Franks, who researches changing broadcast news consumption. On Saturday, Oleksandr Usyk beat Tyson Fury to become boxing's undisputed heavyweight champion. The high-profile match was held in the Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, which has been accused of ‘sportswashing’. Alex Pattle from The Independent reveals what it was like reporting from the event, and Prof Simon Chadwick analyses the Saudi sports investment strategy.The actor Scarlett Johansson has accused OpenAI of deliberately copying her voice for its latest chatbot ‘Sky’. OpenAI said that it would remove the voice, but insisted that it was not meant to be an "imitation" of the star. Lawyer Susan Aslan assesses if the actor has a case, and tech journalist Takara Small updates us on the latest AI releases. Guests: Kirsty Wark, broadcaster; Peter Snow, broadcaster; Michael Crick, broadcaster; Alex Pattle, Combat Sports correspondent, The Independent; Simon Chadwick, Professor of Sport and Geopolitical Economy, Skema Business school; Takara Small, technology journalist; Susan Aslan, Partner, ACK Media Law.Presenters: Katie Razzall and Ros Atkins Producer: Simon Richardson

May 22, 202453 min

Baby Reindeer: truth or fiction?

Katie and Ros go inside the controversy about Netflix drama Baby Reindeer which has raised questions about the impact drama inspired by true events can have on real people. They’ll be helped by Piers Morgan who just interviewed one of the alleged subjects; Clive Coleman, legal expert and dramatist; and Chris Banatvala, former Head of Standards at Ofcom who can explain the rules for these kinds of productions. Also in the programme, ahead of the infected blood inquiry publishing its final report on Monday, we speak to Caroline Wheeler who has followed the story for over two decades. We're also joined by Maggie Harrison Dupree, the journalist who broke the story of Sports Illustrated allegedly publishing AI generated stories. Plus, how do you compose an iconic news theme? As the BBC news theme celebrates its 25th birthday, we speak to its composer David Lowe and Victor Vlam, who owns the largest collection of news theme tunes in the world.Guests: Piers Morgan, presenter, Piers Morgan Uncensored; Chris Banatvala former Ofcom Director of Standards; Clive Coleman, Partner at Maltin PR and former BBC News Legal Correspondent; Caroline Wheeler, Political editor, The Sunday Times; Maggie Harrison Dupre, tech writer, Futurism; Victor Vlam, Founder, Network News Music Presenters: Katie Razzall and Ros Atkins Producer: Simon Richardson

May 15, 202457 min

Inside the US campus protests

US university campuses have been the scene of pro-Palestinian demonstrations over the last month. We assess the challenges of reporting the protests and hear why student journalists have been crucial to our understanding of the story. We also look at Israel’s ban of Al Jazeera where the government accuses it of being a mouthpiece for Hamas, a charge the network denies. Plus, what’s it like to cover the Met Gala? And how are the media strategies of political parties evolving as we approach a general election in the UK? Guests: Pippa Crerar, Political Editor, The Guardian; Ben Riley-Smith, Political Editor, The Daily Telegraph; Leila Nathoo, Political Correspondent, BBC News; Richard Hall, Senior US Correspondent, The Independent; Julia Vargas Jones, Reporter, CNN; Doug MacLeod, Professor, University of Wisconsin–Madison; Jada Yuan, National Culture Writer, Washington Post; Shaina Oppenheimer, Journalist, BBC Monitoring Jerusalem; Mohamed Moawad, Managing Editor, Al JazeeraPresenters: Katie Razzall and Ros Atkins Producer: Simon Richardson

May 8, 202457 min

Behind the Information Iron Curtain

An information iron curtain has fallen across large parts of the globe, where access to impartial news reporting and information has never been more difficult. With the help of BBC specialists, Ros and Katie consider the impact of censorship and technological controls on Russia, Iran and China; how ingrained state disinformation has become and how it has distorted their citizens’ perception of the world. Our panel also look at attempts to circumvent internet blocking and state restrictions on free media, from the use of VPNs by those on the inside, to the innovative tactics adopted by outsiders who are trying to deliver truthful news to an often indoctrinated audience. Guests: Kerry Allen, China media analyst, BBC; Francis Scarr, journalist, BBC Monitoring; Kia Atri, journalist, BBC Middle East; Suzanne Raine, Centre for Geopolitics, University of Cambridge; Joe Tidy, cyber correspondent, BBC News; Fabian Falch, tech entrepreneur; Evie Aspinall, Director, British Foreign Policy Group, Jonathan Munro Deputy CEO & Director of Journalism, BBC News; Famil Ismailov, News Editor, BBC Russian Service.Presenters: Katie Razzall and Ros Atkins Producer: Simon Richardson

May 1, 202457 min

Ofcom, impartiality and elections

Katie and Ros explore the place of creativity in modern media, from advertising to game show formats. They talk to the producers behind ITV’s The 1% Club and Channel 4’s Hunted. They’ll also hear about concerns over dating app Grindr’s use of user data and talk to media regulator Ofcom about new research into how audiences feel about politicians presenting current affairs programmes. Guests: Cristina Nicolotti Squires, Group Director, Ofcom; Decca Aitkenhead, Chief Interviewer, The Sunday Times; Matt Bennett, Senior Executive Producer, Shine TV; Dean Nabarro, Co-founder, Magnum Media; Sir John Hegarty, Advertising Executive, The Garage Soho; Josh Parry, Senior Journalist LGBT and Identity, BBC; Zoe Schiffer, Managing Editor, PlatformerPresenters: Katie Razzall and Ros Atkins Producer: Simon Richardson

Apr 24, 202457 min

What next for Channel 4?

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 RazzallProducer: Simon RichardsonGuests: 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.

Apr 17, 202457 min

How I set up Truth Social

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 RazzallProducer: Simon RichardsonGuests: 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.

Apr 10, 202457 min

Fear, threats and intimidation

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 RazzallProducer: Simon RichardsonGuests: 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

Apr 3, 202457 min

How conspiracy theories went mainstream

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 Atkins Producer: Dan Hardoon

Mar 27, 202428 min

Is the clock ticking for TikTok?

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 Razzall Producer: Simon Richardson

Mar 20, 202428 min

Is seeing still believing?

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 Atkins Producer: Simon Richardson

Mar 13, 202428 min

Pam Abdy, CEO Warner Bros Motion Picture Group

Exclusive interview with one of Hollywood's most powerful executives

Mar 8, 202443 min

Is this the end for TalkTV?

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 Atkins Producer: Simon Richardson

Mar 6, 202428 min

Reverberations of the Israel-Gaza War

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 GovernmentPresenter: Katie RazzallProducer: Dan Hardoon

Feb 28, 202428 min

Russia and Ukraine: reporting the war two years on

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 LondonPresenter: Katie Razzall Producer: Simon Richardson

Feb 21, 202428 min

Prince Harry's dispute with the tabloids - who's next?

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 Razzall Producer: Simon Richardson

Feb 14, 202428 min

Tucker Carlson's head to head with Putin

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 AtkinsProducer: Simon Richardson

Feb 7, 202428 min

How air fryers cooked up a media feast

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 IQPresenter: Ros AtkinsProducer: Simon Richardson

Jan 31, 202428 min

Deepfakes v democracy

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 AssociationPresenter: Katie RazzallProducer: Simon Richardson

Jan 24, 202428 min

Hashtags and hijacking

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 Atkins Producer: Simon Richardson

Jan 17, 202428 min

The Post Office Scandal: a failure of the press?

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 GuardianPresenter: Katie RazzallProducer: Simon Richardson

Jan 10, 202428 min

Return of The Traitors

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 RichardsonPresenter: Ros Atkins

Jan 3, 202429 min

Meera Syal

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 AtkinsProducer: Simon Richardson

Dec 27, 202327 min

How CNN got into Gaza

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 RazzallProducer: Simon Richardson

Dec 20, 202329 min

Martin Lewis, Britain's most influential journalist?

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

Dec 13, 202356 min

Investigating Lockerbie, 35 Years On

How Christina Lamb pieced together for The Sunday Times reports of acts of sexual violence by Hamas during the 7 October attacks. What a new documentary about the 1988 Lockerbie bombing tells us about how journalists would now cover a major tragedy. And a new chair for the BBC is proposed by the government.Guests: Christina Lamb, chief foreign correspondent, The Sunday Times; Daniel Thomas, global media editor, The Financial Times; John Dower, director, Lockerbie; Frank O’Donnell, former editor of The Scotsman; Eleni Courea, deputy editor, Politico London PlaybookPresenter: Katie RazzallProducer: Simon Richardson

Dec 6, 202328 min

BONUS Lord Grade, Ofcom Chair, in conversation with Katie Razzall

Lord Grade recorded at the Voice of the Listener and Viewer conference, 29 November 2023

Nov 29, 202323 min

Regenerating the Doctor

We look at the latest developments in the sale of the Telegraph Newspaper and planned cuts at BBC Newsnight. Jane Tranter, the force behind the new Doctor Who, tells us what the franchise is worth for the BBC and Katie talks to Ofcom chair Lord Michael Grade about the future of public service broadcasting. Guests: Hannah Walsh, Principal Analyst, Ampere Analysis; Jane Tranter, Founder and CEO, Bad Wolf; Oliver Shah, Associate Editor and Leader Writer, The Sunday Times; Jane Martinson, author of You May Never See Us Again: The Barclay Dynasty; Michael Grade, Chair, OfcomPresenter: Katie Razzall Producer: Simon Richardson

Nov 29, 202328 min

Inside the mind of the tech bro

As Sam Altman returns to run OpenAI after his sensational firing just days earlier, why is the idea of the charismatic founder so appealing in Silicon Valley? Why are they often men? And do some tech firms now look more like cults than companies?Guests: Walter Isaacson, who spent two years following Elon Musk for a new biography; Helen Lewis, staff writer, The Atlantic; Shona Ghosh, Deputy Executive Editor, Business Insider UKPresenter: Katie RazzallProducer: Simon Richardson

Nov 22, 202327 min

Suella Braverman's high-risk media strategy

It's a week since Suella Braverman published that article about the policing of protests in The Times and the repercussions are still being felt. We consider why ministers still go direct to the papers with such statements. And we explore the relationship between journalists and the military, hearing from journalists from CNN and Channel 4 who recently embedded with the Israel Defence Forces in Gaza. Guests: Geri Scott, Senior Political correspondent, The Times; Nic Robertson, International Diplomatic Editor, CNN; Jo Tanner, Senior Director, ACPO Worldwide; Michael Crick, journalist; Tim Marshall, journalistPresenter: Ros AtkinsProducer: Simon Richardson

Nov 15, 202328 min

Conspiracy theories and the Israel Gaza conflict

It's claimed social media videos featuring bogus "crisis actors" are being used by both sides as part of the conflict's information war. We explore the meaning of these allegations. We evaluate the implications for the media outlined in the King's Speech. And former Controller of BBC One, Peter Fincham, talks about his new podcast Have You Seen?Guests: Louise Callaghan, Middle East Correspondent, The Times and Sunday Times; Robert Topinka, Senior Lecturer School of Creative Arts, Culture and Communication, Birkbeck, University of London; Daniel Thomas, Global Media Editor, Financial Times; Seana David, Misinformation Specialist, Reuters; Peter Fincham, Co-host, Have You Seen?Presenter: Katie Razzall Producer: Simon Richardson

Nov 8, 202328 min

Al Jazeera and the information war

The Israel-Gaza war continues to raise pressing questions about how the media covers the conflict, including media blackouts and the challenges reporters face in getting access to Gaza. One of the most important regional broadcasters is Al Jazeera. It’s owned by the Qatari state and has TV and digital output in English and Arabic. It’s one of the oldest regional news broadcasters and has a substantial presence in Gaza. We consider its influence.Guests: Achiya Schatz, Executive Director, FakeReporter; Shaina Oppenheimer. Journalist, BBC Monitoring; Philip Seib, Professor Emeritus, School of Journalism and Public Diplomacy, University of Southern California; Bel Trew, International Correspondent, The Independent; Ismaeel Naar, Arab Affairs Editor, The NationalPresenter: Ros Atkins Producer: Simon Richardson

Nov 1, 202328 min

From Frozen to the top of Disney

Jennifer Lee changed cinema forever when she wrote and directed Frozen. The film won her an Academy Award and she became the first woman to helm a feature film that grossed more than $1bn. She is now Chief Creative Officer of Walt Disney Animation Studios but continues to direct and write, including Disney’s latest release, the computer-animated musical, Wish. In this interview with Katie Razzall, she reflects on her story; how she went from Disney obsessive who used to watch Cinderella to cope with school bullies, to reaching the top of one of the world’s greatest entertainment companies.Produced for BBC Radio 4 by Simon Richardson and for BBC News by Roxanne Panthaki.

Oct 25, 202327 min

Gaza hospital blast: searching for the facts

The deadly explosion at a hospital in Gaza raises many questions about how the media is covering the Israel Gaza war. Ros Atkins talks to senior executives from Reuters, BBC and AFP about how news organisations should report claims being made by both sides. We consider the terms of engagement for journalists after a Reuters video journalist was killed in a strike in Lebanon, and hear what it's like reporting on Hamas.Alessandra Galloni, Editor in Chief, Reuters; Phil Chetwynd, Global News Director, AFP news agency; Richard Burgess, Director of News Content, BBC News; Emily Bell, Director, Tow Center for Digital Journalism; Isobel Yeung, foreign correspondent.Presenter: Ros Atkins Producer: Simon Richardson

Oct 18, 202327 min

Reporting the Israel Gaza war

Exploring how the media is covering the conflict, we look at the battle for influence online and some of the misinformation that has been circulating, plus we talk to the BBC’s director of editorial policy about why BBC journalists won't use the word 'terrorists' to describe the perpetrators of the atrocities. Guests:Secunder Kermani, Foreign Correspondent, Channel 4 News; Bel Trew, International Correspondent, The Independent; Ben Goggin, Deputy Tech Editor, NBC News Digital; Sherif Mansour, Committee to Protect Journalists; David Jordan, Director, Editorial Policy and Standards, BBCPresenter: Katie Razzall Producer: Simon Richardson

Oct 11, 202328 min

The Tories, the message and the media

Tim Montgomerie Eleni Courea and Cleo Watson discuss goings on at the Conservative party conference with Ros Atkins. Plus Jennie King and Marco Silva on 15 Minute Cities.Guests: Tim Montgomerie, journalist; Eleni Courea, Deputy Editor, Politico's London Playbook; Cleo Watson, presenter, Radio 4 series How to Win a Campaign; Jennie King, Head of Climate Research and Policy, Institute for Strategic Dialogue; Marco Silva, BBC Verify.Producer: Simon Richardson

Oct 4, 202328 min

Guardian editor-in-chief Katharine Viner

We look at Rumble, the online platform where Russell Brand's is now hosting a regular show, and explore the politics of free speech on the internet. Plus Guardian editor-in-chief, Katharine Viner, tells Katie Razzall about their expansion into Europe and Nick Robinson talks about his new Today Podcast, which he's hosting with Amol Rajan.Guests: Katharine Viner, editor-in-chief, Guardian; Nick Robinson, presenter, The Today Podcast; Libby Emmons, Editor-in-chief, The Post Millennial; Sarah Grevy Gotfredsen, Research Fellow, Tow Center for Digital Journalism Presenter: Katie Razzall Producer: Simon Richardson

Sep 27, 202328 min

The Russell Brand allegations

Channel 4's CEO Alex Mahon says the allegations made against Russell Brand are "disgusting and saddening," but what do the claims mean for the TV industry as a whole? And when reporting the testimony of anonymous witnesses, how hard is it to get a story like this over the line? Ros Atkins talks to the Channel 4 executive behind the Russell Brand story about their collaboration with the Times and the Sunday Times and we get the government's view on regulation of internet TV channels and social media.Guests: Lucy Frazer, Secretary of State, Department for Culture, Media and Sport; Louisa Compton, Head of News and Current Affairs and Specialist Factual, Channel 4; Mark Williams-Thomas, investigative journalist; Chris Curtis, Editor in Chief, Broadcast; Alexandra Topping, Senior News Reporter, The Guardian; Peter Guest, Acting Business Editor, Wired.Producer: Simon Richardson

Sep 20, 202327 min

Who will buy The Telegraph?

Who’s going to buy The Daily Telegraph and the Spectator? The titles have been up for sale since June, after Lloyds seized control from the Barclay family. Also in the programme, a government taskforce to tackle Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation (SLAPPs), and George Osborne launches a podcast with Ed Balls, his former political adversary. Guests: George Osborne, co-host, Political Currency, Paul Staines, founder, Guido Fawkes, Jane Martinson, author of a forthcoming book about the Barclay family called You May Never See Us Again, Fiona O’Brien, London bureau director, Reporters Without Borders, and Dr Susan Karamanian, dean of the College of Law, Hamad Bin Khalifa UniversitySound engineer: Emma HarthProduced by: Simon Richardson

Sep 13, 202328 min

A rulebook for the web

The EU Digital Services Act, which aims to tackle disinformation and misuse of user data, offers a blueprint for internet regulation around the world, but will it work? Plus we hear results of a new survey from entertainment union Bectu about the plight of UK freelancers during the Hollywood writers' strike.Guests: Jen Baker, European tech and policy journalist; Adam Satariano, Technology Correspondent, New York Times; Chris Stokel-Walker, tech journalist; Nick Seeber, Global Lead Partner for Internet Regulation, Deloitte; Jackie Sweeny, independent hair and makeup artist; Spencer MacDonald, National Secretary, Bectu.Presenter: Ros Atkins Producer: Simon Richardson

Sep 6, 202328 min

Is AI now coming for your private data?

Ros Atkins and guests consider the dilemmas faced by streaming companies in the face of growing costs and competition, the changing face of sports broadcasting and concerns about AI trawling our private data.Guests: Minal Modha, Consumer Lead, Ampere Analysis; Scott Bryan, TV Critic; Brian Merchant, Technology Columnist, LA Times; Eugene Kim, Chief Tech Correspondent, Insider Business.Presenter: Ros Atkins Producer: Simon Richardson

Aug 30, 202328 min

Reporting the Lucy Letby Trial

The murder trial of Lucy Letby lasted 10 months and came to its conclusion this week, with the former nurse being sentenced to a whole life prison sentence. For journalists covering the trial, their work was complicated by strict reporting restrictions the judge had imposed from the outset. Also in the programme, a new Channel 4 documentary tells the story of the Russian newspaper Novaya Gazeta and its Nobel Peace prize winning editor Dmitry Muratov.Guests: Judith Moritz, North of England Correspondent, BBC News; Steve Ford, Editor, Nursing Times; Marc Waddington, Senior Editor, Cheshire Live; Patrick Forbes, Director, The Price of Truth; Kirill Martynov, Editor in Chief, Novaya Gazeta EuropeProducer: Simon RichardsonPresenter: Ros Atkins

Aug 23, 202327 min

AI - destroyer of journalism?

How will the recent explosion in AI change how we find out about what’s going on in the world? What sources will AI rely on to deliver trustworthy news? Will it put journalists out of work? This week we answer these questions and more.Guests: Madhumita Murgia, Artificial Intelligence Editor, Financial Times; Tom Clarke, Science and Technology Editor, Sky News; Eliz Mizon, Communications Lead, The Bristol Cable; Jackson Ryan, Science Editor, CNETPresenter: Katie Razzall Producer: Simon Richardson

Aug 16, 202328 min

Trying Trump

As of now, Donald Trump has three criminal trials pending – the latest, and most serious, concerns allegations that he conspired to overturn the results of the 2020 election. When it gets to full trial, it will be box office. But the conventions of the Federal Court ban any electronic broadcast or photography. What are the implications for Trump and for American democracy?Plus Jeff Jarvis discusses his book The Gutenberg Parenthesis and we hear about the row consuming France’s only national Sunday newspaper.Guests: Jeff Jarvis, Associate Professor, City University of New York's Graduate School of Journalism; Elie Honig, Senior Legal Analyst, CNN; Naomi Lim, White House Reporter, The Washington Examiner; Jeremy Barr, Media Reporter, The Washington Post. Presenter: Katie Razzall Producer: Simon Richardson

Aug 9, 202328 min

The Hegarty Effect

Advertising executive Sir John Hegarty has created campaigns for some of the world's most famous brands including Levi's, Lynx, and Audi. He was a founding partner of Saatchi and Saatchi before co-founding his own firm, Bartle Bogle Hegarty, in 1982. But he believes that advertising today has lost sight of creativity, in its relentless focus on data and targeted advertising. He joins Ros Atkins to discuss his career, his theory of creativity, and the future of his industry.Presenter: Ros AtkinsProducer: Dan Hardoon

Aug 2, 202328 min

Hot off the press

How journalists are covering the European heatwaves and wildfires.Guests: Justin Rowlatt, Climate Editor, BBC News; Laura Tobin, broadcast meteorologist, Good Morning Britain; Anjana Ahuja, contributing writer on science, FT; Ross Clark, freelance journalist writing for the Daily Mail; Kamal Ahmed, Editor-in-Chief, The News MovementPresenter: Katie Razzall Producer: Simon Richardson

Jul 26, 202328 min

Going undercover in Myanmar

Stuart Ramsay has just returned from spending a month undercover in the jungle of Myanmar where an often forgotten civil war still rages. He tells us about how he got into the country and the dangers he faced as a reporter when he got there.The arrival of Threads is the latest seismic shock in a year of chaos for the major social platforms. We ask what social media users want now and explore the business models platforms must adopt to provide it.Guests: Stuart Ramsay, Chief Correspondent, Sky News; Dave Lee, US Technology Columnist, Bloomberg; Elaine Moore, Deputy Editor, FT Lex; Christopher Barrie, Lecturer in Computational Psychology, University of EdinburghPresenter: Ros Atkins Producer: Simon Richardson

Jul 19, 202328 min

The BBC Presenter Story

As the BBC pauses its investigation into the alleged inappropriate behaviour of an unnamed presenter, we consider why this is still a story with more questions than answers. And what does it tell us about the influence The Sun still holds on public discourse? In a quirk of timing, it’s also the week the corporation publishes its annual report showing what it describes as “another year of extraordinary delivery for audiences” but also outlines its failure to meet all its targets for engaging audiences. Guests: James Ball, Journalist; Jane Martinson, Professor of Journalism, City University London; Jake Kanter, International Investigations Editor, Deadline; Camilla Wright, Founder, Popbitch, Persephone Bridgman Baker, Partner, Carter-Ruck Presenter: Katie RazzallProducer: Simon Richardson

Jul 12, 202328 min