In this discussion, Mehdi Hasan, a British-American broadcaster and CEO of Zeteo, shares insights on his career in opinion journalism and the launch of his new media venture. Chi Onwurah, Labour MP, reacts to a parliamentary inquiry into social media's accountability following misinformation issues. Dorothy Byrne critiques the BBC's controversial Gaza documentary, emphasizing transparency in journalism. Meanwhile, Peter Thiel's significant influence on tech and his complex biography are explored, revealing the tensions between innovation and ethical practices.
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volunteer_activism ADVICE
Combative Political Journalism
Ask tough questions and follow up in political interviews.
Don't treat interviews with powerful figures as casual chats.
question_answer ANECDOTE
Impartiality's Impact
Mehdi Hasan believes that "due impartiality" rules helped his journalistic growth. - Working on shows like Dispatches at Channel 4 taught him rigor, debate, and fact-checking.
insights INSIGHT
Bias in Journalism
Mehdi Hasan argues that all journalists have biases, even those claiming neutrality. - He values the honesty of opinion journalism, as it acknowledges these inherent biases.
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In 'The Contrarian,' Max Chafkin provides a meticulous biography of Peter Thiel, one of Silicon Valley's most influential and controversial figures. The book explores Thiel's singular life and worldview, from his conservative roots at Stanford to his founding of PayPal and Palantir, and his early investments in Facebook and SpaceX. Chafkin also delves into Thiel's political activities, including his support for Donald Trump and his role in the lawsuit that destroyed the blog Gawker. The biography is both a portrait of Thiel and an examination of the broader tech industry, highlighting its explosive growth, power, and the controversies surrounding it.
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 boy who narrates the film is the son of a Hamas official – we discuss the controversy with former Head of News & Current Affairs at Channel 4, Dorothy Byrne, and TV executive Leo Pearlman. Plus, Max Chafkin, Bloomberg reporter and author of The Contrarian, profiles Paypal co-founder Peter Thiel.
Guests: Chi Onwurah, MP, Labour; Mehdi Hasan, broadcaster and CEO, Zeteo; Dorothy Byrne, former Head of News and Current Affairs, Channel Four; Leo Pearlman, Co-CEO, Fulwell Entertainment; Max Chafkin, tech reporter and author, Bloomberg
Presenters: Ros Atkins and Katie Razzall
Producer: Simon Richardson
Assistant Producer: Lucy Wai
The Media Show 
