Media Confidential

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 o...

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...

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 ...

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 Fin...

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&...

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?

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 broadcasti...

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...

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 ...

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 ...

As American firm RedBird continues its bid to take over the Telegraph, Alan and Lionel discuss concerns about foreign influence and what it means for media ownership in Britain.

They weigh in on Ofcom updating its guidance on politicians being news presenters. Does it open the doors to a Fox News equivalent in the UK?

Plus, Alan and Lionel talk about Michael Wolff counter-suing Melania Trump, after she threaten...

Is the British media complicit in the Gaza genocide?

This week, things heat up as Alan and Lionel are joined by Peter Oborne, former Telegraph chief political commentator, whose most recent book is Complicit: Britain’s role in the destruction of Gaza.

Peter discusses the influence of pro-Israel lobbyists on British politics, his own political evolution, and the challenges of reporting fairly. He asks why the BBC never reporte...

In this week’s special episode, Alan and Lionel are grilled by Sheffield University’s third-year Broadcast Journalism students.

The pair are asked about using artificial intelligence in newsrooms, how to cover Gaza with fairness, and whether they think China is being underreported on.

They also discuss imposter syndrome in the media world, and how to report stories that people don’t want to hear (but also get them to pay for ...

More journalists have been killed in Gaza than in any other conflict in history.

This week, the editor-in-chief at Reuters, Alessandra Galloni, joins Alan and Lionel to reflect on the last two years of covering the war on Gaza.

She discusses the Israeli Defence Force’s killing of journalists in both Gaza and Lebanon, amid ongoing calls for accountability, and reveals why the news agency stopped giving the coordinates of their...

In this week’s Media Confidential, Alan has returned from a trip to Israel that coincided with a ceasefire brokered in Gaza. The hosts discuss his visit to the West Bank with Gideon Levy of Haaretz and how Israeli news outlets have covered the war.

Alan and Lionel also talk about the Pope being an unexpected voice against clickbait and review “The Nerve”, a new publication launched by ex-Observer journalists.

Some news outlets insist that London is a city in crisis—but who profits from that message?

On the first anniversary of the launch of London Centric, its founder and owner Jim Waterson joins Alan and Lionel to talk about the new London-focused publication.

Within four months of launching the newsletter, the news outlet hit its three-year targets. Jim unpacks this wild success, what makes his approach different, and ...

How do you turn one of the biggest media scandals into gripping television—and what unfinished business still lingers off-screen?

Media Confidential hosted a live episode at Prospect HQ, with Toby Jones, Patrick Spence and Jack Thorne, about the real story behind the ITV drama The Hack. In this episode, the panel takes audience questions on press freedom, and whether it’s time for a long-delayed Leveson 2 to investigate criminal...

He’s officially next in line to the Murdoch empire, but what is Lachlan Murdoch’s story?

Alan and Lionel are joined by Paddy Manning, investigative reporter and author of The Successor: The high-stakes life of Lachlan Murdoch. 

With Lachlan set to take the helm, the trio discuss the machinations at the heart of the Murdoch media empire and the origin of the family rift. They also discuss who his fictional counterpar...

Do you always have to offer the people you’re reporting on a chance to give their side of the story? In this episode of Media Confidential, Alan and Lionel share when giving the right of reply has backfired on them.

They also discuss Fox News, after one listener asks a tongue-in-cheek question. 

And the hosts talk about whether media reports about Donald Trump’s mental state are responsible, as well as the sale of the conse...