Media Confidential
Alan Rusbridger and Lionel Barber—two of the world’s greatest editors—dive into the hugely important world of media. What—and who—drives it? What do they get right... And what do they get wrong? Lionel, former editor of the Financial Times, and Alan, editor of Prospect and former editor of the Guardian, will bring you revealing, high profile interviews and in-depth discussion. Media Confidential is produced by Prospect Magazine. Subscribe to Prospect and enjoy our rigorously fact-checked, truly independent analysis and perspectives. No commitment—you can cancel at any time. Currently you can SAVE up to 50% on a digital subscription: https://subscription.prospectmagazine.co.uk/JN5025/prospect-magazine/JN5025G Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Episodes
This week, Alan and Lionel are joined by Tom McTague, former Unherd political editor and recently appointed editor-in-chief at the New Statesman.
Tom explains his vision, both for the magazine and for the UK. He also spills the beans on his interview with Keir Starmer, and shares what he talked about over a drink with Spectator editor and former Tory cabinet minister Michael Gove.
The hosts also discuss the two...
In this week’s Q&A episode, Alan and Lionel react to a petition signed by hundreds of media industry figures and BBC journalists, which criticises the broadcaster’s coverage of the war in Gaza and calls for the resignation of Robbie Gibb.
The editors also discuss non-disclosure agreements—what can you do when a potential whistleblower has signed one?
Plus, one listener asks about the relationship between relationship betw...
In the age of TikTok, how can newsrooms earn attention?
Alan and Lionel are joined by Sophia Smith Galer, digital journalist, author and founder of Viralect. Sophia shares why TikTok shouldn’t be underestimated as a form of journalism, the resistance she’s faced, and why she decided to leave the BBC.
She also demonstrates her new AI-powered app ‘Sophiana’ which helps journalists make vertical videos. But why choose to develop...
In this week’s Q&A, the hosts weigh in on the BBC bringing in paid services for across the pond.
They also discuss Anna Wintour stepping down from Vogue...or is she?
Plus, after a court found that the BBC defamed former Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams, one listener asks Alan and Lionel for their reactions.
If you have a question for Alan and Lionel, send it to mediaconfidential@prospectmagazine.co.uk and we...
This week on Media Confidential, Alan and Lionel are 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 discusses 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.
Line also talks...
This week, Alan and Lionel discuss every editor’s nightmare: what do you do if news breaks just as the papers have gone to print?
They also explain “pyjama injunctions”, and are asked about whether the BBC’s Russia editor, Steve Rosenberg, is still safe while reporting from Moscow.
Plus, Lionel responds to a listener asking about his Substack.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy...
This week’s guest on Media Confidential is Anthony Scaramucci, financier and former communications director at the White House. He now co-hosts The Rest is Politics US podcast.
Anthony argues that the media needs to stop overreacting to Donald Trump. He explains how the president is undermining the credibility of the press, while using it to his advantage.
Alan and Lionel also discuss Rupert Murdoch’s summ...
In this week’s Q&A, Alan and Lionel are asked where they go for analysis of the situation in the Middle East, including the Israel-Iran war.
They also discuss diversity in journalism and how cuts have made it a harder industry to break into.
The hosts also are asked about a foreign scheme where young people can access a two year free subscription to news sites…could it work here?
If you have a question for Alan a...
This week on Media Confidential, Alan and Lionel are joined by Hamish McKenzie, co-founder of Substack.
The platform, which now has over five million paid subscriptions, allows writers to self-publish their newsletters and make money directly from readers.
Since launching in 2017, it has gained huge popularity with journalists and the public.
Alan, Lionel and Hamish discuss what makes it fundamentally different to oth...
In this week’s Q&A, Alan and Lionel discuss a media screw up: who’s to blame for the Telegraph publishing a fake story about the fictional “Al Moy” and his family?
They break down how editors should deal with stories that seem too good to be true.
The hosts also discuss award ceremonies for journalists...do they matter? Plus, Alan and Lionel answer a question sent in by listener Tony which asks “How ca...
In this week's episode of Media Confidential, Alan and Lionel are joined by Karen Hao, journalist and author of Empire of AI.
Karen talks about being banned from returning to OpenAI, after being embedded there to write a profile of the company in its early days.
She charts the rise of AI companies and the three discuss why journalists and newsrooms should be wary of making deals with “a company or industry that...
In this week’s Q&A, Alan and Lionel look back over their journalistic careers and recall their toughest decisions.
The former editors also discuss why they left the Guardian and the FT when they did, and what they read in their free time.
Plus, as the New York Times signs an AI deal with Amazon, what will it mean for readers?
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In this week’s episode of Media Confidential, Alan and Lionel talk to Vox editor-in-chief Swati Sharma.
They discuss why Vox’s change in style is working for a younger audience, the ways in which the company is responding to new digital challenges—and how AI is pushing them towards more innovative journalism.
The hosts also discuss Business Insider axing a fifth of its staff. And after chairing t...
In this week’s Q&A episode, Alan and Lionel are asked if they would ever pay for an interview—and if there are any interviewees who would be off limits.
They discuss whether media studies should be added to the UK curriculum for 11-16 year olds to combat misinformation.
Plus, will news organisations suffer financially when Donald Trump is no longer president?
Send your questions in to us mediaconfidential@prospec...
This week, Alan and Lionel are joined by historian Fara Dabhoiwala to discuss his new book What is Free Speech?They discuss how the concept of “free speech” came about—and how the notion has always been weaponised.
They also analyse the role of media and social media companies and answer: are broadcasters responsible for everything shared on their platforms?
And after being called out in a speech, Alan responds to right...
In this week’s Q&A, Alan and Lionel discuss the sale of the Telegraph and what comes next for the newspaper.
They also talk about whether anything can be done to revive the print newspaper and are asked about what's happening with the sale of Paramount in the US.
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This week on Media Confidential, Alan and Lionel are joined by Joseph Kahn, executive editor of the New York Times. Alan, Lionel and Joe discuss editing in the time of Trump, why US media organisations are bending to the president, and whether publications owned by corporations are really equipped to resist the government.
Plus, the hosts talk about Gary Lineker’s departure from the BBC—and a new book which explores what jo...
In this week’s Q&A episode, Alan and Lionel discuss their most difficult interviews.
They also discuss why journalists are no longer sent out to cover council meetings and whether that has an impact on democracy.
Plus, the hosts answer an email about the BBC’s dominance over online news in the UK.
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At the Truth Tellers summit in London, Alan and Lionel sit down with Mark Thompson, the CEO of American media giant CNN.Mark is asked if he has sat down with Trump since he started in office.
Does he feel a slide towards state-owned media, monitored by the White House? And why does CNN continue to give the president airtime?
“If the rule was [that] we didn't have politicians on the air who might lie", he says, "we'...
In this week’s Q&A session, Alan and Lionel are asked whether there’s still a market for the London Standard and what they would do if its owner Evgeny Lebedev came asking for advice.
They also discuss undercover reporting: after interviewing Harry Shukman who spent a year infiltrating far right groups in the UK, the editors discuss how to prepare a reporter for covert investigations.
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