The Media Show

Social media platforms earn a fortune from our unpaid labour. Users share pictures on Instagram, tell stories on Twitter, and offer up their music on YouTube - all for free. But have the tables now turned? Patreon offers fans the ability to pay their favourite artists and writers directly. TikTok and Facebook have started offering cash to the most popular "creators". So what is the Creator Economy - and who is policing this online world? Guests: Sam Yam, co-founder of Patreon; Kaya Yurieff, tech reporter at The Information; Beckii Flint, YouTube influencer and founder of Pepper Studio, a social media marketing agency; Chris Stokel-Walker, author of TikTok Boom: China’s Dynamite App and the Superpower Race for Social Media; Kaf Okpattah, reporter at BBC Panorama.Studio engineer: Giles AspenProducer: Hannah SanderPresenter: Julian Worricker

How hard is it to report on the ground in China? Journalists covering the recent floods found their presence was not always welcome. Major titles - including the New York Times - now have their China correspondents based outside the country. And Steve Vines, The Observer’s man in Hong Kong since the 1980s, said this week that it was no longer “safe” for him to be there. So what is the situation for journalists in China – and for those trying to cover the country from afar?Guests: Amy Qin, China correspondent for the New York Times; Sha Hua, China correspondent for the Wall Street Journal; Steve Vines, former China correspondent for The Observer; Cédric Alviani, East Asia Bureau head for Reporters without Borders; Meera Selva, Deputy Director of the Reuters Institute.Studio engineer: Donald MacDonaldProducer: Hannah SanderPresenter: Julian Worricker

ITN News is part of the iconography of British television news. But who watches bulletins these days? Younger audiences are moving online for their fix of news. Some older demographics are attracted to more partisan, opinionated platforms, such as GB News. And politicians have openly disparaged the so-called “mainstream media.” How can ITV’s News at Ten and Channel 4 News win audiences back - and regain our trust?Studio engineer: Nigel DixProducer: Hannah SanderPresenter: Clive Myrie

This is a packed summer of sport, from the Olympics and the Euros, to a new cricket competition called The Hundred on primetime BBC. But in the age of infinite choice, how can broadcasters make live sport more attractive than TikTok, Fortnite or the latest Netflix drama? And has the amount of money TV companies are prepared to pay for sport fallen during the pandemic? Guests: Andrew Georgiou, President of Sports at Discovery; Sanjay Patel, Managing Director of The Hundred for the England and Wales Cricket Board; Bryan Henderson, Director of Cricket at Sky Sports; Minal Modha, Sports Analyst at Ampere Analysis.Studio engineer: Bob NettlesProducer: Hannah Sander Presenter: Andrea Catherwood

A group of news outlets from countries around the world have banded together to expose the alleged use of a phone hacking tool to spy on leading journalists, politicians and human rights activists. How do you pull off a series of global scoops like this? Also in the programme, the role professional fact checkers now play in journalism.Guests: Laurent Richard, Founder of Forbidden Stories, Paul Lewis, Head of Investigations at The Guardian, Claire Milne, Acting Editor of Full Fact, and Ian Birrell, Contributing Editor of The Mail on Sunday

Footballers are being racially abused on social media. Why can't social media companies stop this from happening? An investigation by two New York Times journalists says Facebook's approach to moderation reflects a culture within the company. But social media also gives footballers a platform for campaigning - and even lets them shape their own public image.Guests: Henry Winter, Chief Football Writer at The Times; Joey D'Urso, Investigations Writer at The Athletic; Mayowa Quadri, freelance football writer and broadcaster; Sheera Frenkel and Cecilia Kang, New York Times journalists and authors of The Ugly Truth: Inside Facebook's Battle For Domination.Studio engineer: Giles AspenProducer: Hannah SanderPresenter: Andrea Catherwood

TikTok had a fantastic pandemic, stacking up over 800 million users. Hollywood studios are casting TikTok stars. Record labels are snapping up TikTok singers. Facebook and YouTube have both launched rival services. But the Chinese app is facing the same issues with disinformation and moderation as the Silicon Valley giants - and has become embroiled in geopolitics. What's next for this upstart?Guests: Richard Waterworth, TikTok's General Manager, UK and Europe; Rhiannon Williams, Tech Correspondent at The i Paper; Liza Lin, China Tech Reporter at the Wall Street Journal.Studio engineer: Tim HefferProducer: Hannah SanderPresenter: Datshiane Navanayagam

A scoop in The Sun forced health secretary Matt Hancock to resign. But how did The Sun come to have this explosive story, and what did they do with it once it landed on their desk? The pandemic has helped the British press regain its influence. Tabloids have launched charities and campaigned for people to get jabbed. So what role does the press play in public life - and do papers still have the power they once did?Guests: Victoria Newton, Editor-in-Chief of The Sun and Sun on Sunday; Tobyn Andreae, Deputy Editor of The Daily Mail; Emily Sheffield, Editor of The Evening Standard.Studio engineer: Duncan HannantProducer: Hannah SanderPresenter: Clive Myrie

The government has launched a consultation on the future of Channel 4 and privatisation is being considered. But what could that mean in practice? Would the channel see an influx of private cash, helping it compete with the streaming giants? Or would British TV suffer, with documentaries edged out by mass market gameshows? Also in the programme, the world of entertainment TV has been shaken up with the arrival of The Masked Singer. Are "guessing shows" here to stay?Guests: Alex Mahon, Chief Executive of Channel 4; Derek McLean, Managing Director of Bandicoot TV; Danielle Lux, Managing Director of CPL Productions; and Chris Curtis, Editor-in-Chief of Broadcast.Studio engineer: John BolandProducer: Hannah SanderPresenter: Olly Mann

The world’s biggest leaders have been face-to-face in a series of meetings. But as always, nobody from the press was allowed in the room. So how easy is it for journalists to sort the fact from the spin? And do the politicians even want them there – unless it’s to snap them posing grandly on the beach?Guests: Patrick Wintour, Diplomatic Editor at The Guardian; Steven Erlanger, Chief Diplomatic Correspondent at The New York Times; Rym Momtaz, Senior France Correspondent at Politico; Naomi O'Leary, Europe Correspondent at The Irish Times; Tom Wainwright, Media Editor at The Economist.Studio engineer: Emma HarthProducer: Hannah SanderPresenter: Datshiane Navanayagam

One of the UK’s commercial radio groups is launching ad-free versions of their stations for a monthly fee. Is this radio’s secret weapon to defeat Spotify and the streaming services? Or should more presenters follow Iain Lee's lead and swap network radio for digital platforms? Plus, an Ofcom report shows the new dominance of TikTok and the music streaming platforms.Guests: Paul Keenan, President of Audio at Bauer; Iain Lee and Katherine Boyle, presenters of The Late Night Alternative; Yih-Choung Teh, Strategy and Research Director at Ofcom; Madhumita Murgia, European Tech Correspondent at the Financial Times.Studio engineer: Giles AspenProducer: Hannah Sander Presenter: Datshiane Navanayagam

The role of foreign reporter is one of the most glamourous in journalism. But with international correspondents stuck at home during the pandemic, and editors looking to save money, foreign reporting now faces an existential crisis. What would we lose if our perspective on the world didn't come from our own correspondent? Guests: John Simpson, BBC World Affairs Editor; Sebastian Walker, Vice News Washington DC Bureau Chief; Christina Lamb, Sunday Times Chief Foreign Correspondent; Arwa Damon, CNN Senior International Correspondent.Studio engineer: Duncan HannantProducer: Hannah SanderPresenter: Datshiane Navanayagam

The BBC is facing intense scrutiny. Last week’s Dyson Report revealed multiple lies and deception by Martin Bashir - to secure his famous interview with Diana, Princess of Wales in 1995. Now, questions are being asked about the BBC’s entire governance. So what could actually be done? Are we about to see fundamental change at the BBC? And will this scandal bring about a reckoning for the whole industry? Guests: Richard Tait, professor of journalism at Cardiff University and former editor of ITN; Dorothy Byrne, former Head of News and Current Affairs at Channel 4; David Yelland, former editor of The Sun and founder of Kitchen Table Partners; John Ware, investigative reporter; Jane Martinson, professor of journalism at City.Studio engineer: Emma HarthProducer: Hannah SanderPresenter: Mobeen Azhar

The Israel-Gaza conflict is a local clash playing out on the global stage, with social media a weapon of war for both sides. But how did TikTok tutorials, Instagram infographics and Twitter posts become influential news sources for millions? Also in the programme, The Week Junior is one of the UK's fastest growing magazines. Are children much more how interested in the news than we expect?Guests: Gabriel Weimann, Professor of Communication at Haifa University; Rayhan Uddin, journalist at Middle East Eye; Sara Hirschhorn, Visiting Assistant Professor of Israel Studies at Northwestern University; Chris Stokel-Walker, journalist; Anna Bassi, Editorial Director at The Week Junior.Producer: Hannah SanderPresenter: Mobeen Azhar

The elections are over and the results are in - but a giant inflatable Boris Johnson has captured much of the press attention. So how does our new cycle work? Who gets to decide what stories make the front page, and how much control do politicians have over their depictions in the press? Plus, the 'news wire' agency Reuters provides photos, breaking news lines and copy to much of the world's press. How do they help to keep the news cycle spinning?Guests: Michael Friedenberg, President of Reuters News; Thomas Cock, Digital Editor of Bristol Live; Catriona Stewart, Chief Reporter at the Glasgow Times; Stephen Bush, Political Editor at the New Statesman; Katy Balls, Deputy Political Editor at the Spectator. Studio engineer: Giles AspenProducer: Hannah SanderPresenter: Mobeen Azhar

In his final edition as presenter of The Media Show, Amol Rajan looks at the challenges ahead for journalism. With help from leading journalists, Amol argues that this is a golden age of media - but a dark age for news. Readers increasingly don't trust what they see in newspapers. Journalists criticise each other in public. And editors have seen much of their power shift to Silicon Valley, where algorithms now decide what people see. What can the media do to fix itself?Contributors: James Mitchinson, Yorkshire Post and Yorkshire Evening Post editorial director; Dorothy Byrne, Channel 4 editor-at-large; Kath Viner, Guardian editor; Helen Lewis, journalist; Piers Morgan, journalist; Andrew Neil, GB News chairman; Brian Stelter, CNN correspondent; Susan Ferrechio, Washington Examiner correspondent; Dean Baquet, New York Times executive editor; the late Sir Harry Evans, former Sunday Times editor; Steve Huffman, Reddit chief executive.Studio engineer: Giles AspenProducer: Hannah Sander

Amazon-owned Wondery are launching their first British podcast, while Apple and Spotify are moving some of their most popular podcasts behind a subscription paywall. What impact will this have on the world of podcasts - and should British podcasters worry about the dominance of a few US players?Guests: Declan Moore, Head of International at Wondery, part of Amazon; Caroline Crampton, journalist and host of Shedunnit; Imriel Morgan, Chief Executive of Content is Queen; Matt Deegan, Creative Director at Folder Media.Studio engineer: Giles AspenProducer: Hannah Sander

The biggest political story of the year - David Cameron's involvement with the failed financial company Greensill - began as a scoop in The Financial Times. The newspaper has gained a reputation lately for its long-form investigations into poverty, deprivation and capitalist excess. But is there something inherently odd about the stockbroker's paper of choice taking on crusading topics? And how hard is it to take over the editorship of a newspaper already in rude health?Guest: Roula Khalaf, editor of The Financial Times.Studio engineer: Duncan HannantProducer: Hannah SanderPresenter: Amol Rajan

A cameraman has been assaulted while covering scenes of violence in Northern Ireland. Other journalists have faced death threats. So what is the best way to cover this volatile political story - and have London-based reporters been slow to pay attention? Plus, French media giant Banijay sells many of the UK's favourite TV programmes, from Masterchef to Peaky Blinders. What is their role in determining the shows we watch?Guests: Suzanne Breen, Political Editor at the Belfast Telegraph; Noel Doran, Editor of the Irish News; Marianna Spring, BBC's Disinformation Reporter; Cathy Payne, CEO of Banijay Rights.Studio engineer: Donald McDonaldProducer: Hannah SanderPresenter: Joe Tidy

Steve Huffman is co-founder and CEO of Reddit, the website that bills itself as "the front page of the internet". In this extended interview, Huffman tells Amol Rajan about his "pathological dedication" to Reddit's policy on free speech and moderation, why Reddit has always had an "anti-establishment edge", and his own mission "to fulfil the promise of the Internet". Earlier this year, Reddit hit the headlines after a community of amateur stock market traders set out to inflict losses on hedge funds that had bet against GameStop, an unfashionable US retailer.Producer: Hannah SanderStudio engineer: Duncan Hannant

As the UK marks one year since the start of the first lockdown, Amol joins the BBC World Service programme World Questions to take questions from listeners around the globe. His expert panel assesses how well the media has covered the pandemic and whether fake news and misinformation has influenced public behaviour.Guests: Nick Pickles, Senior Director of Public Policy Strategy and Development at Twitter, Zeynep Tufekci, sociologist and writer, Eliot Higgins, founder of Bellingcat, and Margaret Harris, spokesperson for the World Health OrganisationProducers: Helen Towner and Charlie TaylorStudio Engineers: Ronan Loftus and Duncan HannantThis edition of The Media Show is an edited version of the BBC World Service programme, World Questions, first broadcast on 24 March 2021.

Amol Rajan on the mechanics of investigative journalism: the nuts, bolts, fear, loathing and legal letters of being a proper investigative hack. But how easy is it to cultivate sources in a pandemic? And is the government changing the way it handles freedom of information requests?Guests: Rachel Oldroyd, Managing Editor and CEO of The Bureau of Investigative Journalism; Jennifer Williams, Politics and Investigations Editor for the Manchester Evening News; George Arbuthnott, Deputy Editor of The Sunday Times Insight investigations team; Marty Baron, former Editor of The Washington Post.Studio engineer: Donald McDonaldProducer: Hannah Sander

As he steps down as editor of the Washington Post, Marty Baron reflects on his tenure. When he joined the paper in 2012, it was a moderately profitable local newspaper. He leaves The Post as a global brand, with ten Pulitzer Prizes under his editorship and a new owner in Jeff Bezos.Studio engineer: Donald MacDonaldPresenter: Amol RajanProducer: Hannah Sander

The chairman of GB News, which launches later this year, tells Amol Rajan about editing The Sunday Times, launching Sky TV and publishing The Spectator.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex's interview with Oprah Winfrey delivered record ratings for ITV: at its peak, 12.4m viewers were watching, the broadcaster's biggest audience since the 2019 Rugby World Cup final. But it's also resulted in ITV's star journalist, Piers Morgan, resigning after he refused to apologise for his criticism of the couple on Good Morning Britain. What does Morgan's departure say about the future of highly-opinionated journalism in British media?Guests: Andrew Neil, chairman of GB News, Professor Jane Martinson, City University, Benjamin Cohen, CEO PinkNews, and Scott Bryan, TV criticPresenter: Amol RajanProducer: Hannah Sander

There’s an almighty ruckus going on in Holyrood, but London-based media seem to be finding the story difficult to follow. Is the UK media too focused on Westminster to cover politics properly? Plus BBC Three is returning to televisions as a broadcast channel, six years after it lost the spot. But is this a clever ploy to win back younger viewers – or an anxious attempt to compete with the streaming giants? Guests: Callum Baird, editor of The National; Frank O'Donnell, editor of Aberdeen Journals Ltd; Lara O'Reilly, Media Editor at Insider; Teddy Nygh, co-founder of Fully Focused Productions; Stuart Murphy, chief executive of the English National Opera and former controller of BBC Three.Studio engineer: John BolandProducer: Hannah SanderPresenter: Amol Rajan

A spat between the Australian government and Facebook resulted in the Silicon Valley giant blocking every news organisation from their platform in Australia. But what does this display of might from Facebook mean for other countries preparing to take on Big Tech? Plus the boss of new station Boom Radio on whether niche, age-based services are the future of radio.Guests: Latika Bourke, journalist at the Sydney Morning Herald; Dr Andrea Coscelli, chief executive of the Competition and Markets Authority; David Lloyd, head of Boom Radio; Gillian Reynolds, radio critic at the Sunday Times.Studio engineer: John BolandProducer: Hannah SanderPresenter: Amol Rajan

Andrea Coscelli, the chief executive of the UK's Competition and Markets Authority, tells the BBC that tech giants Google and Facebook have too great a share of the UK online advertising market and that regulation is needed. In this extended interview with Amol Rajan, Dr Coscelli also gives his response to Facebook's recent behaviour in Australia after a new law was proposed which would force tech companies to pay publishers for news.In response to this interview, Facebook said it faces "significant competition" online from rival firms and that "it’s always been our intention to support journalism in Australia and around the world, and we’ll continue to invest in news globally and resist efforts by media conglomerates to advance regulatory frameworks that do not take account of the true value exchange between publishers and platforms like Facebook". Google has also been approached for comment by the BBC.Producer for BBC News: Elizabeth Needham-Bennett Producer for The Media Show: Hannah Sander

The second impeachment trial of former president Donald Trump has dominated the news. Much of the trial focused on events at the Capitol buildings on January 6th. For several hours that day, only one TV crew was inside with the rioters. Producer Sophie Alexander and correspondent Robert Moore from ITV News tell Amol Rajan how they came to be alongside the Trump supporters - and how they came out unhurt.Guests: Sophie Alexander, producer, and Robert Moore, correspondent, ITV News.Producer: Hannah Sander

Dame Carolyn McCall, the chief executive of ITV, on the crucial role played by public service broadcasters and the "urgent" need for government protection. She tells Amol Rajan why she welcomes the arrival of GB News, and explains the decision to take the Jeremy Kyle Show off-air. Plus Poirot, Love Island and the return of Britain's Got Talent.Studio engineer: Sarah HockleyProducer: Hannah Sander

American streaming services dominate our viewing, even though many of their programmes are British-made. Discovery International's CEO tells Amol Rajan why streaming is now such a vital part of their strategy. Plus executive producer and director Julie Anne Robinson on making Netflix's Bridgerton, an American version of a British period drama devised by Hollywood "super-producer" Shonda Rhimes.Guests: JB Perrette, Discovery International president and CEO; Julie Anne Robinson, executive producer and director, Bridgerton; Manori Ravindran, International Editor at Variety.Studio engineer: John BolandProducer: Hannah Sander

Daily Express editor Gary Jones is Labour-voting, backed Remain, and wants his paper to reflect multicultural Britain. He tells Amol Rajan how he effected a complete change of direction at the tabloid, once known for its dodgy weather forecasts and anti-immigrant stance. Plus, why he gave Prime Minister Boris Johnson a beanie hat - and working at the News of the World under a young Piers Morgan.Guest: Gary Jones, Editor-in-Chief at the Daily Express.Studio engineer: John BolandProducer: Hannah Sander

If we are "at war" with coronavirus, where do journalists find the frontline? Or are more distanced, factual pieces better at keeping people informed? Also in the programme, as Joe Biden becomes US President, what does that mean for free speech, combative news stations and the tech platforms?Guests: Laura Donnelly, Health Editor at The Telegraph; Sarah Boseley, Health Editor at The Guardian; Clive Myrie, BBC presenter and foreign correspondent; Glenn Greenwald, author and journalist.Studio engineer: Tim HefferProducer: Hannah SanderPresenter: Amol Rajan

In the past week, President Trump has been deleted from Twitter, and suspended from Facebook - and now YouTube. Parler, a free speech network, has been forced offline after first Google and Apple, then Amazon, refused to host it. Is this grand de-platforming of Trump and his supporters the right thing to do? And if so, who should have the power to control how we speak online?Guests: Amy Peikoff, Chief Policy Officer at Parler; Glenn Greenwald, author and journalist; Danielle Citron, professor of law at University of Virginia, Siddharth Venkataramakrishnan, Europe Tech Correspondent at the Financial Times; Robert Moore, ITV News Washington Correspondent; Sophie Alexander, ITV News Washington Producer.Studio Engineer: Tim HefferProducer: Hannah SanderPresenter: Amol Rajan

Schools are shut across the UK and screens are the only route children have to teachers. So which bits of the media are stepping up to keep kids informed and entertained? Plus the launch of The Oldham Times, a new daily print newspaper; and we drill down into why YouTube banned - and later reinstated - TalkRadio.Guests: Lydia Winters, Chief Storyteller at Mojang, makers of Minecraft; David Statter, Adopt Me!, Chris Stokel-Walker, author of YouTubers; Marianna Spring, BBC Disinformation Reporter; Steve Thompson, editor of The Oldham Times; Jodi Birkett, technology, media and telecommunications partner at DeloitteStudio engineer: Tim HefferProducer: Hannah SanderPresenter: Joe Tidy

Jane Tranter is the super-producer behind shows like His Dark Materials, Succession, and the Emmy Award winning The Night Of. As co-founder of Bad Wolf, the Cardiff based production company, she has been credited with revitalising the Welsh TV industry. In this big interview, Jane Tranter discusses her career and gives the story behind some of her biggest hits.Studio Engineer: Donald MacDonaldPresenter: Amol RajanProducer: Hannah Sander

It’s been a big year for media lawyers. There's been the Johnny Depp libel trial, Harry and Meghan suing The Mail on Sunday, and the newsroom drama over Barnard Castle. Amol Rajan reunites the lawyers from both sides of the Depp case to debate press behaviour. Also in the programme, the backstory to the Mail's famous front page demanding justice for Stephen Lawrence, and how The Guardian came to trust Julian Assange as a source.Guests: Jenny Afia, Partner at Schillings; Louis Charalambous, head of the Media Content and Disputes Team at Simons Muirhead & Burton; Gill Phillips, Director of Editorial Legal Services for The Guardian; Eddie Young, former legal adviser to Associated Newspapers and contributor to Mail+ podcast The Murder That Shamed Britain.Producer: Hannah Sander

This is a bumper week for sports media. New rights deals are up for grabs, while a packed football calendar means logistical headaches for broadcasters. So why might Amazon want to get involved? And the traditional media on how they - and the freelancers who work for them - adapted to months without live sport.Guests: Alex Green, Sport MD for Amazon Prime Video; Kathryn Anastasi, Head of Live Sport at talkSPORT; Daniel Storey, freelance sports writer and broadcaster; Minal Modha, Consumer Lead at Ampere Analysis.Studio Engineer: John BolandProducer: Hannah SanderPresenter: Amol Rajan

This week Ofcom, the media regulator, warned that traditional broadcasting is "at risk" without "radical shake-up". But at risk of what, and what kind of shake-up does the regulator have in mind? Meanwhile, Ofcom is about to take on the massive task of regulating “online harm”, including social media platforms like YouTube and Instagram. But is a British regulator really able to police the internet? In her first major interview, Melanie Dawes, the new CEO of Ofcom, explains her strategy to Amol Rajan.Producer: Hannah Sander

The UK has approved a coronavirus vaccine and will start rolling it out. But what role does the media play in reporting the science, and perhaps even encouraging readers to take up the vaccine? Also in the programme, the government has announced a new Digital Markets Unit, a regulator of sorts that will look at Facebook and Google.Guests: Fiona Godlee, editor of the British Medical Journal, Laura Collins, editor of the Yorkshire Evening Post, Felicity Cross, deputy news editor of the Daily Star and Daily Star Sunday, and Philip Marsden, professor of law at the College of Europe.Studio engineer: John BolandProducer: Hannah Sander

This has been an exceptionally difficult year for advertisers. With shops closed and holidays cancelled, many advertisers saw their revenues drop. Amol Rajan speaks to Annette King, UK boss of Publicis Groupe, the ad giant that includes Saatchi & Saatchi. Even before the pandemic her industry faced enormous structural threats, including the dominance of Facebook and Google in the ad market.This programme includes clips from the British Airways 'Face' advert (1989) directed by Hugh Hudson, and McDonald's 'McDelivery' advert (2020) directed by Los Perez.Studio Engineer: John Boland Producer: Hannah Sander

Are we witnessing a shift in the balance of media power? The Labour party says emergency laws are needed to make social networks "criminally responsible" for anti-vaccine content their users post. Meanwhile, over in the US both Republicans and Democrats are vowing to change the way the likes of Twitter and Facebook are regulated. And could it also represent the birth of an alternative media? Donald Trump is rumoured to be plotting a new channel to rival Fox News.Guests: Amélie Pia Heldt, Leibniz-Institute for Media Research, Tom Wainwright, The Economist media editor, Shayan Sardarizadeh, BBC Monitoring disinformation journalist, and Mathew Ingram, Chief Digital Writer at Columbia Journalism ReviewPresenter: Joe TidyProducer: Richard Hooper

As Minister for Media and Data, John Whittingdale has the power to significantly change the media landscape in the UK over the next few years.Should Channel 4 be privatised? Do we still need the licence fee? Is there enough competition in radio? In this extended interview recorded at the Radio Academy Festival, John Whittingdale answers these big questions, sets out his vision for public service broadcasting and discusses the influence overseas tech companies now have in British media.Presenter: Amol Rajan Producer: Richard Hooper

Princess Diana's brother has called for an inquiry into the circumstances of his sister's historic Panorama interview. Charles Spencer alleges BBC reporter Martin Bashir used "sheer dishonesty" to secure the interview. The corporation said its investigation was "hampered at the moment" by the fact that Bashir was "seriously unwell" with complications from Covid-19. Amol Rajan discusses the allegations with BBC Royal correspondent, Jonny Dymond.Also in the programme, why Substack has become one of the hottest brands in media, and a libel case loss for Johnny Depp.Guests: Hamish McKenzie, co-founder of Substack, Vivian Schiller, executive director at the Aspen Institute, Persephone Bridgman Baker, senior associate at Carter Ruck, and Jonny Dymond, BBC Royal correspondent.Presenter: Amol RajanProducer: Richard Hooper

Alison Phillips is editor-in-chief of The Daily Mirror, Sunday Mirror and Sunday People. In this extended interview, Phillips discusses her strategy for the papers during the pandemic, how the Mirror worked with The Guardian on their Dominic Cummings lockdown scoop, and whether she considers the title to be a socialist paper.Presenter: Amol RajanProducer: Richard Hooper

Facebook and Twitter have been accused of censorship after they suppressed a story by the New York Post about Joe Biden's son, Hunter. The social media companies said the story breached their policy on misinformation and questioned the source of the allegations. Amol Rajan asks what the incident says about the power of the tech platforms, journalism ethics, and election strategy in the US.Guests: Brian Stelter, CNN anchor and author of Hoax: Donald Trump, Fox News and the Dangerous Distortion of Truth; Susan Ferrechio, Washington Examiner chief congressional correspondent; Sara Fischer, Axios media reporter; and Toni Cowan-Brown, podcaster and authorProducer: Natalia Fernandez Studio engineer: Giles Aspen

A global pandemic, the US election, Brexit negotiations, climate change - the news has never been busier, but how good a job are journalists doing at making sense of everything? Or have some journalists had their brains hijacked by social media opinion?Presenter: Amol RajanGuests: Helen Lewis, staff writer at The Atlantic and former deputy editor of the New Statesman and Piers Morgan, journalist and author of Wake Up.Producer: Richard Hooper

In this wide-ranging and exclusive interview, Ben McOwen Wilson, Managing Director of YouTube in the UK, reveals new trends seen during lockdown, how British creators became integral to their business, and why YouTube is heading for the living room.Presenter: Amol Rajan Producer: Richard HooperPhoto credit: TOGETHER WE RISE: The Uncompromised story of GRM Daily, a YouTube Originals series

Ahead of the first US presidential debate, right-wing commentators and Donald Trump's own campaign team, speculated that Joe Biden was using a hidden earpiece. Amol Rajan asks how conspiracy theories that previously only existed on the fringes of the internet now regularly cross over into mainstream media.Guests: Angie Drobnic Holan, editor in chief of PolitiFact, Professor Nancy L. Rosenblum, co-author of A Lot of People Are Saying: The New Conspiracism and the Assault on Democracy, Mike Thompson, chief content director at WOSU in Ohio, and Marianna Spring, BBC reporter.Producer: Richard Hooper

Ian Katz, Channel 4’s director of programmes, explains how the new series of The Great British Bake Off made it to air, and discusses the wider questions for public service broadcasters during the pandemic. Also in the programme, why the FinCEN Files are a landmark for investigative journalism, and official recognition of “charitable journalism” in the UK.Guests: Ian Katz, Director of Programmes at Channel 4, Azeen Ghorayshi, science editor at BuzzFeed News, and Jonathan Heawood, executive director of the Public Interest News FoundationPresenter: Amol RajanProducer: Richard HooperStudio engineer: Donald MacDonald