Afleveringen
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In this episode Alan and Lionel talk to journalist and author Michael Wolff, who has chronicled the rise and fall and rise again of Donald Trump across his âFire and Furyâ book series.
The latest instalment, âAll or Nothingâ was published just after Trump re-entered the White House in January.The trio discuss the future of media under Donald Trump, how he has taken control of news cycles and what happens when corporate interests infringe on the business of journalism.
Wolff suggests that the media caved in to government pressure about his book. âA lot of television was set up, as happens in the pre-publication of a book, [and] as soon as the White House started to attack me all of my appearances were canceledâ.
âThe executives who we confronted on this were pretty straightforward, they said, âlook we are in a new climateâ and then they would blame the higher ups, the corporate overlords and super structure who has weighed in on this.â
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How will artificial intelligence change how people consume media?
Alan and Lionel discuss more listeners' questions on this week's Q&A.The editors also chew over how best to tackle conspiracy theories, and how media outlets can avoid being part of the problem.
If you have a question for Alan and Lionel send them to [email protected].uk
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Zijn er afleveringen die ontbreken?
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This week, Alan and Lionel are joined by former MI6 chief Sir John Sawers to discuss the new world order...or should that be disorder?
They share their views on the threat posed by the second Trump presidency and whether the world has reverted to âmight is rightâ. John raises concerns over the future of the Five Eyes intelligence allianceâwhich consists of the UK, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the US. Could this mean the end of intelligence sharing with America?
Plus, Alan and Lionel discuss the unexpected outcome of Ofcomâs cases against GB News.
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Alan and Lionel respond to more listenersâ questions on this weekâs Q&A.
In this episode they are asked if the amount of low quality journalism available has an impact on public trust in journalism and they discuss the concept of 'flooding the zone' and what can be done by newsrooms to reclaim the narrative.
Plus whether or not journalists play a role in promoting and investigating fraudulent influencers.
If you have a question for Alan and Lionel send them to [email protected].uk
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Journalist and political commentator Ash Sarkar joins Alan and Lionel to talk about her debut book Minority rule, adventures in the culture war, which tackles free speech and how so-called culture wars have been manufactured to stoke division and influence politics. How have cultural battles eclipsed economic struggle in public debate?
Ash examines the mediaâs role in fuelling the culture wars, the impact of social media algorithms on political discourse, and how class interests shape coverage of figures like Jeremy Corbyn and Nigel Farage. She also reflects on the future of Novara Media, whether the UK is following a global shift toward right-wing politics, and the challenges of building sustainable left-wing media. Can there ever be a left-wing Joe Rogan?
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Alan and Lionel respond to more listenersâ questions on this weekâs Q&A.
In a world where the news never sleeps, the editors are asked whether news coverage is proactive or reactive.
They also discuss the importance of fact-checking, and whether or not young people are equipped with the tools to pick up on political bias across news platforms.
Plus, Alan explains what a âdead catâ is journalistic jargon for, and how listeners can identify one.
If you have a question for Alan and Lionel send them to [email protected].uk
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Gen Z aren't switching on the TV for the 10 oâclock news. They aren't picking up newspapers, and they're less likely to trust the big media names in the same way their parents did.
But they are consuming vast amounts of news...Alex Mahon is the CEO of Channel 4.
She joins Alan and Lionel at Prospect HQ to talk about how journalists can capture the attention and, more importantly, the trust of a generation.
The editors also respond to the BBC pulling a documentary on young people in Gaza, and the White House meeting that everybody is talking about.
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In this second special episode, Alan and Lionel are joined by aspiring journalists from Oxford Brookes University to tackle their tough questions about the industryâs future.
Alan and Lionel discuss optimism: when journalism is suffering a crisis of trust, what can we do to be hopeful?
Plus, the editors are asked what sources they trust when it comes to keeping informed.
Send us your questions via email at [email protected].uk
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One of the world's biggest media dynasties is in crisis. Last December, in a Nevada court, the Murdoch family battled to decide who would take control of its media empire.
Alan and Lionel are joined by Jim Rutenberg, writer-at-large for the New York Times, who was one of two journalists who obtained copies of sealed court documents and published details of the case.
He shares the story of reporting on Murdochâs secret trialâand uncovers the Succession-style drama behind it all.
Jim, Alan and Lionel also discuss the effects of the Trump administration cherry-picking its press pool.
To listen to more on the Murdoch trial from Media Confidential, click here.
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In a rapidly changing world, can journalists still cut through the noise? In this special episode, Alan and Lionel are joined by aspiring journalists from Oxford Brookes University to tackle their tough questions about the industryâs future.
They explore why gen Z seems increasingly sceptical of democratic processes, whether Prince Harryâs recent trial signals the need for another Leveson Inquiry, and what it truly means to âknow your patchâ as a young journalist.
Plus, in the midst of another chaotic Trump presidency, with endless sources of information at our fingertips, how should journalists pursue the truth?
Send us your questions via email at [email protected].uk
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If someone wanted to take over British institutions like Trump's government has done in the USA, what would their first steps beâand how could we guard against them?
Joining Alan and Lionel in the Prospect studios is a panel of expert guests: Jean Seaton is Professor of Media History and the Official Historian of the BBC, Peter York and Patrick Barwise are co-authors of the book The War against the BBC: How an Unprecedented Combination of Hostile Forces Is Destroying Britain's Greatest Cultural Institution... And Why You Should Care.
Alan and Lionel discuss Boris Johnsonâs latest column and how the New York Times got hold of thousands of pages of court documents relating to the Murdoch dynastyâs bitter court fight over custody of the media empire.
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Which actor would you want to be played by? Though that question isnât hypothetical for Alan (shoutout Toby Jones), Lionel shares his own thoughts in this weekâs Media Confidential Q&A.
And with the recent arrival of digital newspaper The Londoner, what impact has it had on the capitalâs local media landscape? The editors give their verdict on Joshi Hermannâs latest endeavour.
Alan and Lionel are asked what measures they have put in place to protect journalists in dangerous situations, including war zones. Plus, in an age of digital surveillance, how can reporters keep themselves safe?
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This week, Alan and Lionel are joined by Prospect columnist Sam Freedman, a senior fellow at the Institute for Government.
Sam reveals the inner workings of the Westminster press lobbyâcommonly known as âthe lobbyâ. Thatâs the group of political journalists, usually representing major newspapers and broadcasters, with privileged access to official briefings and the Prime Ministerâs spokesperson.
In this monthâs issue of Prospect, Sam argued that the pressures of 24-hour news cycles and reduced resources have led lobby journalists to prioritise sensationalism over true policy analysis. He thinks this lack of specialist expertise means the lobby prefers to nose around and cause trouble and, at worst, even âhallucinatesâ stories.
But what impact is this having on the media? And how does it end up shaping government policy itself?
To read Samâs piece, head to https://www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/issues/march-2025
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This week, we get up close and personal with Alan and Lionel as they discuss dream guests, hobbies and personal media habits.
How does a high-flying editor and news junkie switch off, even for a short time? From piano to cold water swimming, Alan and Lionel share some of their favourite ways to unwind.
With media outlets under attack in the US, what will viewers be left with once the axes have stopped falling? And who should the power to determine how media impartiality is defined?
Finally, how should one prepare for meeting and interviewing a head of state? What may appear daunting can be bolstered by the application of one basic skillâlisten to this episode to discover what the secret is.
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Alan and Lionel are joined by American editor and media executive Norman Pearlstine. They reflect on Trumpâs second term so far, and how news outlets have reported on some of his astonishing executive orders.
Norm argues that while billionaire media moguls were once lauded as saviours, they have proved to be âpoor stewardsâ, more concerned about their own interests rather than the freedom of the press.
Will this Trump era will be ânormalisedâ by a press fearful of being hit with lawsuits or punished by the president? How should journalists deal with a leader who calls the media an âenemy of the peopleâ while avidly consuming their coverage?
To watch this discussion on how to report the truth in tumultuous times, head to our YouTube channel, where Media Confidential is published every Friday.
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Alan and Lionel return to answer listenersâ questions on todayâs hot topics.
With Lionel currently in New York, attention turns to American news coverage. Has US media gone far enough in its coverage of Trumpâs first week back in power? Should journalists in the US be afraid of his second presidency?
Alan and Lionel also discuss how teenagers relying on TikTok might be introduced to longer form analysis, and debate whether newspapers are too expensive.
And with the news that Jake Wallis Simons is finally resigning as editor of the Jewish Chronicle, questions are raised over who really owns the paper and who is doing the hiring and firingâŠ
To read Alanâs column âWho really funds the Jewish Chronicle?â, head to https://www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/ideas/media/65839/who-really-funds-the-jewish-chronicle-why-its-troubling-that-we-dont-know
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On 18th June 1994, Catholic pubgoers in Loughinisland, County Down, were watching a World Cup match when a loyalist paramilitary group burst in and murdered six civilians, wounding five others. To this day, no-one has been charged for the crime.
Produced by journalists Trevor Birney and Barry McCaffrey, No Stone Unturned (2017) told the story of the massacre, revealing how the police had colluded in protecting the gunmen.
When the film disclosed anonymous documents identifying the murder suspects, the Northern Irish police service (PSNI) arrested Trevor and Barryâand both of their homes were raided by armed policeâto discover the source of the leak.
Last December, a tribunal found that the PSNI and Met police also unlawfully spied on both journalists, long before the film was even produced.
They join Alan and Lionel to tell their extraordinary story, and ask: could other journalists in the UK be under surveillance by the authorities?
To read more about Northern Irelandâs police spying scandal, head to www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/ideas/law/crime-and-justice/68906/northern-irelands-police-spying-scandal
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Alan and Lionel are joined by Saad Mohseni, the tycoon who reshaped Afghanistan's media landscape.
In 2001, Saad was forging a career in international banking. But after the invasion of Afghanistan, and the subsequent fall of the Taliban government, he decided to move to Kabul.
There, he co-founded the Moby Group, the countryâs largest media company, where he is chairman and executive officer. He also started a radio station, soon spawning a TV station which broadcast the now-banned hit talent show, Afghan Star.
Saad discusses his book Radio Free Afghanistan and what it is like to operate a media empire after the Talibanâs return.
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Rupert Murdoch's News Group Newspapers (NGN) has finally admitted that unlawful behaviour was carried out by private investigators working for the Sun and the News Of The World.
They've offered "a full and unequivocal apology" to Prince Harry for illegally obtaining private information about himâand have agreed to a staggering eight-figure settlement.
So, is that the end of the matter, or is there still more to come? Has Murdoch's company got off lightly? Alan and Lionel chew over the case.
Meanwhile the fate of the Daily Telegraph is still in limbo, as the paper awaits a buyer.
Former editor of the Telegraph and Thatcher biographer Charles Moore joins Alan and Lionel to discuss who the next owner could be.
To read "The Spy Papers", our exclusive investigation into the phone hacking scandal, go to https://www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/ideas/media/phone-hacking/65918/the-murdoch-spy-papers
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The BBC, a broken tape recorder and a fake Meryl Streep. Thatâs right, it can only mean a new edition of Media Confidentialâs Q&A show.
Alan is joined by Janine Gibson, in Lionelâs absence, to tackle questions about their first days as editors, their favourite headlines and the future of the BBC.
One listener asks: do the editors remember a time when they badly messed things up?
From an interview with a massive guest going awry, to retribution in the form of one well-known actress, Alan and Janine share some of the finest stories theyâve gathered in their time as journalists and editors.
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