The Media Show Viral videos shaping reporting in Minnesota, Radio 1’s Christmas Presenter Takeover, Algorithm Transparency and Skyscraper Live
Jan 28, 2026
James Ball, tech journalist and author who explains social media algorithms. Aled Haydn Jones, Radio 1 controller shaping young-audience programming and the Christmas Presenter Takeover. Meg Anderson, NPR Minneapolis reporter covering bystander videos and on-the-ground verification. They discuss algorithm transparency, how viral footage shapes reporting, Radio 1’s presenter experiment, and the ethics of live spectacle.
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Reporting Amid Minneapolis Protests
- Meg Anderson described arriving at the scene after the January 7th shooting and how the city was
Verify Bystander Footage Quickly
- Verify by finding and interviewing people who recorded bystander video rather than relying solely on online posts.
- Combine digital footage with on-the-ground reporting to confirm events before broadcasting.
Fear Drives Source Anonymity Requests
- Many Minneapolis residents wanted anonymity due to fear of retaliation, not hostility toward journalists.
- That fear drove a surge in requests for anonymity and first-name-only sources.
