The Media Show - podcast cover

The Media Show

BBC Radio 4www.bbc.co.uk

Social media, anti-social media, breaking news, faking news: this is the programme about a revolution in media.

Episodes

Daytime TV crisis? Police media strategy shift after car ploughs into crowd at Liverpool FC parade, Simon Reeve

Katie Razzall presents some of the big stories in the media this week, including how the police in Merseyside changed their media strategy after a car ploughed into crowds attending a football victory parade in Liverpool. Rebecca Camber, who is security and crime editor at the Daily Mail and chair of the Crime Reporters Association, explains what is behind the shift. Travel presenter Simon Reeve joins YouTube influencer Alfie Watt, who won Race Across the World last year, to discuss the differen...

May 29, 202543 min

Gary Lineker fallout

Katie Razzall and Ros Atkins on some of this week's big media stories. As Gary Lineker leaves the BBC we talk to the former Grandstand presenter Steve Rider, and current sports commentator Henry Winter. The Sunday Times Media Editor Ros Urwin discusses her scoop on Huw Edwards as well as the persistance needed in investigative journalism with BBC correspondent Sanchia Berg who has been reporting on Baby Elsa, one of three infants abandoned by the same mum. We'll also be talking to the journalist...

May 21, 202542 min

The weather influencers taking social media by storm, Sir Peter Bazalgette, reporting the mushroom murder trial in Australia

Ros Atkins and Katie Razzall on the week's big media stories from around the world. What next for presenter Jo Coburn who leaves Politics Live next week after nearly thirty years with the BBC? She's covered the tumultuous years of the Scottish and EU referendums, Brexit, the pandemic, lockdown and shifting political landscape. We hear about her highs, lows, and plans for the future. Who to trust for news in the India/Pakistan conflict as disinfomation spreads across the media from all sides? Sha...

May 14, 202543 min

Self-professed media diva Tina Brown and Chris Best, cofounder of the publishing platform Substack

Ros Atkins & Katie Razzall talk to the self professed Media Diva Tina Brown. The former editor in chief of Tatler, Vanity Fair, The New Yorker, and the founding editor in chief of The Daily Beast talks about the changing media landscape and her recent move onto the online publishing platform Substack with her Fresh Hell diary. She's joined by Chris Best cofounder of Substack. Allegations that Viktor Orban is subsidising supportive media outlets with the BBC's Central European Correspondent N...

May 07, 202543 min

Piers Morgan, the impact of the Supreme Court ruling on sex and gender for the media

Katie Razzall and Ros Atkins talk to Piers Morgan about his new Youtube venture Uncensored. What are the implications for the Media of the UK Supreme Court's ruling that the legal definition of a woman should be based on biological sex? Rosamund Urwin Media Editor at The Times and the New Statesman Associate Editor Hannah Barnes and author of Time to Think: The Inside Story of the Collapse of the Tavistock’s Gender Service for Children”, jane fae from the charity Trans Media Watch and Dominic Ca...

Apr 30, 202543 min

Pentagon leaks, reporting on the death of the Pope, Genius Game

Katie Razzall and Ros Atkins discuss some of the biggest media stories this week including: The latest on the Pentagon leaks in America from David Smith Washington Bureau Chief for the Guardian newspaper. Political commentator Isabel Oakeshott and Peter Cardwell author of "The Secret Life of Special Advisers" consider the relationship between politicians and the media in the UK. As the TV show Genius Game begins on ITV, we hear from its executive producer Tamara Gilder. The series is based on a ...

Apr 23, 202543 min

Reporting on the British Steel crisis, should we 'ditch' intellectual property law? and Saturday Night Live for Britain?

Katie Razzall talks to Katy Balls, Political Editor of the Spectator as she heads off for her new posting as Washington Editor for the Times and Sunday Times. What's it like reporting on the industrial crisis which led to the recall of parliament at the weekend? Sky's Economics Editor Ed Conway describes his difficulties gaining access to the Chinese owned British Steel factory in Scunthorpe, BBC North reporter Jo Makel has followed the story for years and former BBC political correspondent Nick...

Apr 16, 202558 min

IPL cricket , the end of The Lady magazine, Tech bro profile Nvidia boss Jensen Huang, impact of tariffs on TV and the streamers

Katie Razzall and guests discuss some of the biggest media stories this week: As the cricket season gets going Tim Wigmore cricket commentator at The Telegraph focuses on the Indian Premier League which has become one of the most valuable sports media events ever. Former Editor of The Lady magazine Rachel Johnson and current editor Helen Budworth discuss the closure of the UK's oldest women's magazine and the BBC's deputy economic editor Dharshini David and Max Goldbart the International TV edit...

Apr 09, 202557 min

Impact of Adolescence drama, Nintendo Switch 2 launch, The Young Turks

We explore the impact of the hit Netflix drama, Adolescence, which has sparked national debate over boys' media consumption and online misogyny. Katie talks to Cenk Uygur, founder of US progressive network The Young Turks and, on the afternoon it's released, we get the lowdown on Nintendo's long-awaited Switch 2 console. Guests: Claire Holubowskyj, Senior Research Analyst, Enders Analysis; Dr Marcus Gilroy-Ware, Lecturer in Creative Digital Media SOAS, University of London; Oli Dugmore, Editor, ...

Apr 02, 202557 min

Peter Kosminsky, AI and publishing, Media crackdown in Turkey

The director of Wolf Hall, Peter Kosminsky, and CEO of Bad Wolf, Jane Tranter, discuss a TV industry in crisis. As the editor of the Atlantic magazine reveals he was added to a White House group chat on Signal, we profile the founder of the messaging app. Also on the programme, how authors and publishers are responding to their works allegedly being used to train AI models. And as protests continue in Turkey, we speak to a reporter about the detention of journalists covering the events. Guests: ...

Mar 26, 202557 min

Welfare reform coverage, Michael Jackson documentary, cuts to US-backed overseas media

Ros, Katie and guests assess Labour's media strategy amid its £5bn welfare cuts and weigh up the impact of Donald Trump’s defunding of US state-backed broadcasters. We've another in our series of 'tech bro' profiles, this week of Chinese AI entrepreneur Liang Wenfeng, whose Deepseek chatbot is challenging the US tech giants. Plus we talk to Dan Reed about Leaving Neverland 2, his latest documentary on the fallout from allegations against Michael Jackson. Guests: Kate McCann, Breakfast Presenter,...

Mar 20, 202557 min

New Facebook memoir, TV show Chess Masters, books to films at London Book Fair

An exclusive interview with Sarah Wynn-Williams, a former Facebook executive publishing a revealing new book, Careless People, about her time at the company. Having held a top global public policy role, she shares her views on the tech giant’s values and policies. Also in the programme, literary agent Jonny Geller live from the London Book Fair, we profile AI leader Demis Hassabis and get the inside track on a new reality TV show all about chess, Chess Masters. Guests: Sarah Wynn Williams, forme...

Mar 12, 202557 min

White House press access, Kursk documentary, Jeff Bezos's new rules for the Washington Post

As the Trump administration takes control of the 100 year-old media pool system, Eugene Daniels, President of the White House Correspondents' Association shares concerns about government transparency and who now gets access to the President. Max Tani, Media Editor at Semafor explains the Washington Post's controversial new opinions policy and former Managing Editor Cameron Barr tells us why he resigned in protest. A new documentary, Kursk: 10 Days That Shaped Putin, sheds light on the early days...

Mar 06, 202557 min

Mehdi Hasan, BBC Gaza doc controversy, Peter Thiel profile

Social media bosses from Meta, X, TikTok and Google were grilled by the House of Commons Science, Innovation and Technology Committee yesterday. We speak to Labour Chair of the committee, Chi Onwurah, for her reaction. Also on the programme, a career interview with the British-American broadcaster Mehdi Hasan. He discusses his new media business Zeteo, his departure from MSNBC and the importance of opinion journalism. As the BBC faces criticism about its Gaza documentary – it’s emerged that the ...

Feb 26, 202557 min

Media diplomacy, The New Yorker at 100, Sam Altman profile

As international talks continue about the war in Ukraine, former NATO spokesperson Oana Lungescu and Times defence editor Larisa Brown compare notes. David Remnick, editor of The New Yorker, joins us to discuss his editorial process and business strategy as the magazine turns 100. Also on the programme, Mike Isaac from The New York Times profiles the CEO of OpenAI. Plus, how can the media adapt to the needs of Gen Z? We discuss with the FT’s Stephanie Stacey and Hilary Xherimeja, CEO of the medi...

Feb 19, 202557 min

In the room with Trump and Musk, BBC Media Action answers its critics, what makes tech bros tick?

What happened at Elon Musk’s unexpected White House press conference alongside President Trump? Reuters’ Jeff Mason was there. Semafor’s Max Tani and First Amendment expert Katie Fallow discuss Trump’s $20 million lawsuit against CBS News. We also examine the impact of US AID cuts on global media, with BBC Media Action’s Simon Bishop addressing claims of foreign influence. Wired’s Lauren Goode profiles venture capitalist Marc Andreessen in a new series on Silicon Valley elites and MSNBC’s Chris ...

Feb 12, 202558 min

Future-proofing media

Katie and Ros are joined by some of the biggest names in media to dissect the shifting landscape of news, business models, and audience trust. Channel 4 CEO Alex Mahon discusses the network’s latest research on Gen Z’s relationship with truth and news consumption, while Sky News Group Executive Chair David Rhodes lays out his vision for the future of Sky’s journalism in a digital-first world. Lorna Woods from The University of Essex weighs up how some of the proposals we've heard to regulate onl...

Feb 05, 202557 min

China's AI win, transparency in family courts, refugee life close up

From TikTok to AI, concerns are growing around the world about the influence of Chinese technology. Kathrin Hille, FT Greater China correspondent, tells us how TikTok might be influencing the political views of young people in Taiwan but former Head of Cybersecurity at GCHQ Ciaran Martin says the threat may not be as it seems. What will new reporting rules mean for the way the press covers the family court? We get two perspectvies. Katie and Ros meet the producer of a controversial new Channel 4...

Jan 29, 202557 min

Prince Harry settles, Gaza ceasefire coverage, Children’s TV

The long-running legal battle between Prince Harry and the British tabloids has come to a dramatic end. As the owner of the Sun newspaper offers him a full apology and substantial damages, we unpick the significance of the settlement. Prince Harry and his wife Meghan have also made headlines as subjects of a new cover story in Vanity Fair - we speak to its author. Also on the programme, we look at how news outlets have reported the release of Israeli hostages in Gaza. Plus the BBC’s Director of ...

Jan 22, 202556 min

Reporting the LA Fires, AI Michael Parkinson, US TikTok ban approaches

We talk to reporters in Los Angeles about the challenges of covering the fires there. As the government prepares to begin the charter renewal process which will decide the future of the BBC, one option being discussed is mutualisation. We explore what that could look like. A new podcast features celebrities interviewed by a reincarnated AI Michael Parkinson. We meet the team behind it. We get an update on the possibility of Tiktok being banned in the US, plus sift the TV industry’s viewing data ...

Jan 15, 202557 min

Uncovering the grooming gangs, Meta ditches fact checkers, Grand Theft Auto 6

We talk to Andrew Norfolk, one of the first journalists to report on the grooming gangs story, an issue now in headlines around the world because of the interventions of Elon Musk. Nazir Afzal, former prosecutor explains how journalists helped advise the Crown Prosecution Service about the case. Meta’s decision to scrap US fact-checkers in favor of user-led "community notes," has proved controversial. We find out why. We ask what journalists in the so-called legacy media can learn from news infl...

Jan 08, 202557 min

PR v journalism, Post Office drama one year on, predictions for 2025

A New Years Day programme where we look forward and back. The Media Show teams up with Radio 4's crisis communications podcast, When it Hits the Fan, to discuss what the big stories of the year tell us about how journalists and PR professionals interact. It’s a year since the hugely influential ITV drama Mr Bates vs The Post Office brought the plight of hundreds of sub-postmasters and mistresses wrongly accused of fraud into our living rooms. We hear how those affected have approached their rela...

Jan 01, 202557 min

CNN Syria Report, Health Misinformation, Time Person of the Year

We discuss why CNN is under pressure after a viral news report from Syria turned out not to be all it claimed to be. As ABC News settles a defamation lawsuit with Donald Trump for $15m, we look at what it means for journalism. Also on the programme, a BBC World Service investigation has found that Steven Bartlett’s Diary of A CEO is amplifying harmful health misinformation with little or no challenge. We hear why health and wellness content has proven so popular on podcasts and social media. One...

Dec 18, 202457 min

Media in the new Syria, how to be an online investigator, can you copyright a vibe?

Kholoud Helmi, co-founder of independent Syrian newspaper Enab Baladi and reporter Edmund Bower discuss the fall of the Assad regime. We hear about claims of misconduct at one of the world’s largest LGBT media platforms. Mia Sato from The Verge and influencer Michael McWhorter examine how online communities responded to the murder of UnitedHealthcare’s CEO and we discuss a controversial lawsuit about the ownership of social media aesthetics. Plus Benjamin Strick, an expert in open-source intelli...

Dec 11, 202457 min

How to interview Anna Wintour, welfare on TV sets, where to start with Reddit

Vogue Editor-in-Chief Anna Wintour talks to Katie about her career and the new exhibition, VOGUE: Inventing the Runway. As more allegations emerge about the conduct of Master Chef host Gregg Wallace, we hear about the on-set rules supposed to protect participants in reality TV. The civil war in Syria has a sophisticated social media front. We get a briefing now the conflict is back in the headlines. Plus we've a guide to getting started on Reddit, the fastest-growing social media platform in the...

Dec 04, 202457 min

The end-of-life influencer, Christmas adverts, Mishal Husain leaves the BBC

We talk to journalists and influencers about how they discuss assisted dying. As staff at The Observer vote to go on strike over the plans, its outgoing editor explains why he's against a proposed sale of the Sunday newspaper to Toirtoise media. We ask if department store Christmas adverts still retain their iconic status in 2024 and we consider what presenter Mishal Husain's departure means for BBC flagship news show, Today. Plus we get the latest on the feud between Drake and Kendrick Lamar, w...

Nov 27, 202457 min

Investigating abuse in the Church of England, Tyson vs Paul, NYT Games, Leaving X for Bluesky

The resignation of the Archbishop of Canterbury has sparked renewed discussion about accountability in the Church of England. Cathy Newman, Presenter and Investigations Editor, Channel 4 News, reflects on her investigation which triggered it. Mark Stibbe, one of Cathy's original sources, discusses the impact of coming forward with his story. Colin Campbell, Investigative Journalist, BBC News, shares his experience of reporting on cover-ups and systemic failures in the Church’s handling of abuse ...

Nov 20, 202458 min

How to cover Trump now, Taskmaster creator Alex Horne and who will replace Gary Lineker?

When Donald Trump won in 2016, it boosted cable news and newspaper subscriptions, with some outlets taking an avowedly anti-Trump stance; some even called this the ‘resistance’. What’s going to happen now? We talk to journalists with different approaches. As popular Channel 4 gameshow Taskmaster celebrates its tenth anniversary, creator Alex Horne shares the secrets of its success. And we assess the choices facing BBC Sport after it was announced Gary Lineker will be standing down from Match of ...

Nov 13, 202458 min

Trump's winning media strategy, Observer sale, royal journalism

Donald Trump has pledged to send reporters to jail and strip major television networks of their broadcast licenses. We discuss how the Presidential campaign was covered and what happens next. James Harding of Tortoise Media discusses his plans to buy The Observer, and as a new investigation into the business interests of the Royals is released, we discuss the story, its coverage and the life of the royal journalist. Guests: James Harding, Editor and Founder, Tortoise Media; Claire Atkinson, Medi...

Nov 06, 202457 min

Ballots, bias and big tech

This week, The Media Show broadcasts from Washington DC, and asks what the election tells us about the media's role in modern America. The Washington Post finds itself at the heart of a debate on media impartiality after a reported loss of thousands of subscribers following its decision not to endorse a candidate. NPR's media correspondent, David Folkenflik, joins us to unpack the unfolding crisis. With tech billionaires wielding significant influence, this election has seen figures like Elon Mu...

Oct 30, 202458 min
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