Media Confidential

This week, Lionel tunes in from a cycling trip in South Africa to discuss the baboons he’s encountered on his visit—and in British journalism. Alan reviews Liz Truss’s recently launched YouTube channel, which seems rife with conspiracy theories, and the pair discuss the rise of social media politics. As Starmer says that X could lose the right to self-regulate, our hosts also talk about the UK’s stance on online safety and the ongoing tussle with tech giants. Should the government go head-to-head with Elon Musk? Plus, the editors share concerns about the potential sale of the Telegraph to the Daily Mail group and ask whether the merger of broadsheet and tabloid values can ever work. To read Alan’s recent column ‘How did Liz Truss become prime minister?’, click here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

With one America’s biggest news broadcasters, CBS News, reportedly in turmoil under editor-in-chief Bari Weiss, Alan and Lionel are joined by former CBS president Sir Howard Stringer. After Bari Weiss reportedly pulled a recent episode of the popular 60 Minutes programme from the air, some critics have accused the channel, and its editor, of censorship. Alan and Lionel ask Howard about the effect of Weiss’s management. Has CBS strayed from its original mission? And when did this slide begin? In a detailed conversation, Howard reflects on journalism at CBS during the Reagan administration, the decline of the network since, and the challenges it now faces. He also discusses the evolution of news media, Donald Trump’s impact on American journalism, and the state of the BBC. Plus, the three discuss the challenges posed by technological advancements in the media landscape. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, Alan and Lionel return to their Media Confidential duties to analyse the good, the bad and the ugly media reactions to the US abduction of Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro. They also discuss a new documentary on investigative journalist Seymour Hersh, whose career has spanned from Watergate to Abu Ghraib. In response to a listener’s question, Alan shares a life hack to broaden your reading for free, and escape information bubbles in an increasing polarised digital landscape. Plus, Lionel shares some gossip from Piers Morgan’s Christmas party.To have your question featured on Media Confidential, email mediaconfidential@prospectmagazine.co.uk. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

You’ve been listening to the Prospect Podcast, Media Confidential’s sister podcast. To subscribe on Spotify, click HERE. For Apple podcasts, click HERE.  Is Britain becoming a police state? Last September, Ellen and Imaan were joined by Conor Gearty, a barrister and professor of human rights law at LSE. In his final interview before his passing, Conor explained how his views on the future of protest had changed—and why he was more concerned than ever. Plus, after hundreds were arrested for supporting the proscribed group Palestine Action, he discussed his reaction to the ban and criticised the Labour government’s stance on protest, which he said panders to a “middle covert authoritarianism”. Are protests from the political left and right treated differently? Conor also weighed in on what will be at stake if Britain leaves the ECHR. How must Labour respond to Reform’s rhetoric on human rights? And how can democracy be fortified? To read Conor Gearty’s past writing for Prospect, click here. Or, to read an edited transcript of this interview, click here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

You’ve been listening to the Prospect Podcast, Media Confidential’s sister podcast. To subscribe on Spotify, click HERE. For Apple podcasts, click HERE.  In the final podcast of the year, Ellen and Alona look back at their favourite episodes from 2025. During a dark year, Prospect has been collecting glimmers of hope. They asked some of the most interesting thinkers today—from politics, to environment to tech—for their perspectives on hope and optimism. What keeps them fighting for a more just world? Philosopher Slavoj Zizek and broadcaster Mehdi Hasan talk about the merits of pessimism. Human rights lawyer Philippe Sands discusses justice in the age of international impunity, while authoritarianism expert Ruth Ben-Ghiat considers the situation in the US. Poet and writer Robert Macfarlane reflects on preserving nature in a time of destruction. Cory Doctorow and Laura Bates weigh in on transformations in technology and artificial intelligence. Yassmin Abdel-Magied discusses the humanitarianism crisis in Sudan, while Nicola Kelly explores the untold immigration story. Plus, veteran journalist and outgoing Prospect editor Alan Rusbridger joins the podcast to reflect on his journey, his mistakes, and how he feels about the future—including the contentious thing that unexpectedly makes him feel hopeful. You can revisit all our episodes from the past year here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

You’ve been listening to the Prospect Podcast, Media Confidential’s sister podcast. To subscribe on Spotify, click HERE. For Apple podcasts, click HERE.  Why does every platform seem to get worse over time? Ellen Halliday and Alona Ferber are joined by journalist, tech activist and sci-fi writer Cory Doctorow, who coined the term “enshittification” to describe the decay of digital services into exploitative, user-hostile platforms. As constraints that once kept platforms in check have broken down, Cory shares how tech giants polluted the digital landscape, why AI-generated “slop” has sped it up, and why we should all care. What’s in it for tech CEOs? What is this is doing to us as humans? And what would real de-enshittification look like? Cory discusses how to grab people’s attention, and how to fight back against tech giants. Cory’s book ‘Enshittification: Why Everything Suddenly Got Worse and What To Do About It’ is published by Verso Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Back in July, Alan and Lionel were joined by Line Vaaben, who is ‘existential editor’ at Danish newspaper Politiken. Line and her team write stories that explore the complexities of life, love and death. She discussed her award-winning journalism with Alan and Lionel, which included spending time embedded in a palliative care ward, notepad in hand, as people took their last breaths. To listen to all past episodes of Media Confidential, click here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Does “no-platforming” have a place in journalism? Alan and Lionel are joined by Zanny Minton Beddoes, the editor-in-chief of the Economist.They discuss how to cover far-right politics and whether a reporter should ever avoid interviewing divisive figures. Zanny and Lionel talk about the backlash they each received after interviewing Steve Bannon.The three also reflect on biggest news stories of the year, the “extraordinary” state of politics in the USA and the challenges of mainstream media in covering the Trump administration. Plus, Zanny explains how the Economist created a new AI lab and changed its strategy to adapt to how readers consume journalism now. And, with the biggest UK media job of still up for grabs, could she be in the running for director general of the BBC? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As his time as editor comes to an end, Alan talks to Lionel about his final edition of Prospect—and what he plans to do next. He reflects on his time at the magazine and how it compares to his old haunt at the Guardian. The pair also discuss Netflix’s bid for Warner Bros, the hunt for Channel 4’s new CEO and the murky world of content moderation. ‘Media Confidential’ with Alan Rusbridger and Lionel Barber will continue on Monday. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Franz Wild is our guest on this week’s Media Confidential. He’s the editor-in-chief and CEO of the Bureau of Investigative Journalism—also known as “The Bureau”. Alan, Lionel and Franz discuss society’s dire need for investigative journalism and why the job of being an investigative journalist attracts a certain type of character: someone who is willing to keep their eye on a story that might take years to come to light. They also talk about funding models, the menacing letters Bureau editors receive, and why they won’t be intimidated by threats of legal action against their journalists. Franz also talks about the importance of editorial independence and why the public discourse needs investigative journalists. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, Alan and Lionel discuss editorial independence, the BBC’s search for a new director general and ask if the current structure is even working. Is the role too much for one person? As the post-budget scrutiny rumbles on, they also talk about which publications are producing the best analysis—and whose is best avoided... Plus, the hosts discuss 40 years of the Independent after learning of the death of one of its founders, Andreas Whittam Smith, and reminisce about the life and legacy of the late Tom Stoppard. Today’s episode is brought to you by ENERGISE AFRICA – the innovative UK-based investment site that helps bring vital solar energy access to people across sub-Saharan Africa. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Alan and Lionel are joined by documentary maker Ben Zand, founder of documentary company Zandland and co-host of the new current affairs podcast Untangled. He talks about the era of podcasts, how to reach younger audiences and what being “authentic” means in practice. Ben also shares his journey from self-shooting to the BBC, to starting his own company. He gives advice for early career journalists, including how to cope with rejection, and discusses the democratisation of media. What opportunities have opened up? Plus, the trio discuss the challenges facing the BBC, its strengths and how it must adapt to survive. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

After this month’s media chaos, Alan shares his experience of Monday’s select committee hearing, where BBC board members were brought before MPs. But why did no-one address the elephant in the room? As Lionel returns from his overseas travels, the reunited hosts discuss the media bombshells that dropped in his absence. They also examine claims by historian Rutger Bregman that the BBC censored his speech at its annual lecture to remove negative mentions of Donald Trump. Finally, after the OBR accidentally published its budget forecast before the chancellor’s speech, the pair answer a question about reporting on leaks. You can read Alan’s BBC analysis here: https://www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/ideas/media/71655/firestorm-has-ripped-through-bbc-no-one-will-say-why Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Media Confidential team got up early to talk through the options in advance of BBC heads facing the cross-party Culture, Media and Sport select committee. Alan and Janine discussed what might happen next, as MPs prepare to question organisation chiefs over a leaked memo accusing the BBC of bias and systemic problems. And who might be helicoptered in to sort the chaos at the broadcaster? The hosts also discuss the Financial Times’ scoop on the potential sale of the Telegraph to the Mail and what it might mean for the broadsheet—and the strength of right-wing media in Britain. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In an era of punitive lawsuits, how can we protect journalistic freedoms? This week, Alan and Janine talk to David McCraw, the lead newsroom lawyer for the New York Times. With Donald Trump’s record of launching libel cases against major media outlets on both sides of the pond, the three discuss how big lawsuits are used to capture headlines and apply pressure. They talk about the significance of the 1964 landmark case New York Times v Sullivan, the weaknesses of UK legislation, and the need for reform. Plus, David gives his expert advice to the BBC. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Alan and Janine discuss the potential candidates for the top job in British media—and there’s no shortage of suspects. The pair break down the candidates’ CVs and even ring up one Lionel Barber on holiday to get his thoughts... Plus, one listener asks who signs off on decisions like the one to edit the Trump speech that got BBC’s Panorama programme into such hot water. Where does an editor’s responsibility end? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The BBC is under attack. Alan and Janine go to heart of the biggest media story of the week, and reveal what really happened at the disastrous board meeting that toppled BBC leadership. Under fire from powerful enemies at home and abroad, does the broadcasting service have a future?  They're joined by Pat Younge, chair of the British Broadcasting Challenge, which promotes public discussion about UK public service broadcasting, and former chief creative officer of BBC Television. The three discuss how to best tackle the legal threats from Donald Trump over an edited Panorama episode—and the challenges that lie ahead for British media.  Plus, Alan and Janine pick apart the resignations of its director general Tim Davie and head of news Deborah Turness, and unpack the shadowy influence of Robbie Gibb. What role did Gibb play in the drama that unfolded?  And, with some coaxing, Pat shares who he’s betting on for top job. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Do you have the nerve? Carole Cadwalladr and Sarah Donaldson join Alan and Janine to discuss their new independent media platform the Nerve which focuses on culture, politics and tech—and share why they felt there was no room for their work at the Observer under new management. The four discuss the all-female founding team, the driving mission behind the project and how they are already ahead of subscriber targets. But will they be able to cope if Carole’s latest story gets them into legal trouble? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Alan is joined by Janine Gibson, editor of the Weekend FT and this week’s guest host on Media Confidential. The pair discuss the media response to a train stabbing incident in Huntingdon. They also weigh in on the Telegraph’s attacks on the BBC, amid reports that a Panorama documentary misled viewers by selectively editing a Donald Trump speech during the storming of the Capitol. Should heads roll? Alan and Janine discuss scrutiny on BBC Arabic, and whether bias goes to the top of the British institution, especially in the form of Robbie Gibb, who sits on the corporation's editorial standards committee. Plus, the pair talk The Celebrity Traitors. Water-cooler TV chats may not be a thing of the past, but Alan’s TV watching habits certainly are. Tune in to find out why. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this week’s Media Confidential, the co-founder of podcasting giant Goalhanger, Tony Pastor, reveals the drama behind The Rest is Politics and the secrets to the podcast’s success. He, Alan and Lionel chat about the podcast revolution and how the Covid-19 pandemic transformed the audio landscape in the UK.   Plus, Tony explains how each host gets ‘chemistry tested’ before a new series, which podcasts aren't worth listening to—and how the video renaissance is changing everything. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.