Byline Podcast

The phone hacking scandal was part of the origin story of Byline Times, prompting founding editor Peter Jukes to switch careers from playwriting to journalism.In the latest episode of the Byline Times podcast he joins Adrian Goldberg and Byline Times Chief Reporter Josiah Mortimer to reflect on Prince Harry's recent court victory against Mirror Group Newspapers. In his verdict, the judge Mr Justice Fancourt, described phone hacking across the Mirror group as "widespread and habitual". This was during a period when Piers Morgan - who has always denied phone hacking - was a senior figure in the organisation.Peter Jukes suggests that rather than holding the powerful to account, parts of the British press have run a 'protection racket', using their power to threaten politicians who don't bend to their will.Produced in Birmingham by Adrian Goldberg and Harvey White. Funded by subscriptions to the Byline Times. Made by We Bring Audio for Byline Times. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This time, a look in the Byline Times "year view mirror" as we explore the latest aspects the perennially unravelling Covid scandal. These include the belated admission by Baroness Michelle Mone that her family trust was a beneficiary of PPE Medpro, a company which provided millions of pounds worth of unusable protective equipment to the NHS.Adrian Goldberg is joined by Peter Jukes, executive editor of Byline Times, and Josiah Mortimer, chief reporter of Byline Times.Produced in Birmingham by Adrian Goldberg and Harvey White. Funded by subscriptions to the Byline Times. Made by We Bring Audio for Byline Times. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Investigative journalist Nick Wallis Shares insights from his book, The Great Post Office Scandal.Nick will be on tour in the UK during 2024, sharing his story.Produced in Birmingham by Adrian Goldberg and Harvey White. Funded by subscriptions to the Byline Times. Made by We Bring Audio for Byline Times. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This time, Adrian Goldberg hears from Kherson, on the front line of Russia's invasion of Ukraine. His guests are photo journalist Paul Conroy, and Zarina Zabrisky, an expert in the Kremlin's hybrid warfare.Produced in Birmingham by Adrian Goldberg and Harvey White. Funded by subscriptions to the Byline Times. Made by We Bring Audio for Byline Times. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The government has made a shibboleth of cutting down the numbers of people coming into the UK. As far back as 2010 the then Prime Minister David Cameron pledged to reduce net migration below 100,000 but that target has never been met - not even during the pandemic. Recently updated figures from the Office of National Statistics showed that last year net migration reached a record 745,000. The gap between rhetoric and reality could hardly be more stark.Now Home Secretary James Cleverley has declared that "enough is enough" and introduced a Five Point Plan to reduce net migration by 300,000. But will it work? Or do we need to rethink how we respond to new arrivals who want to make their home in the UK? Adrian Goldberg hears from Zoe Gardener an independent reseracher and campaigner on migrant rights. Produced in Birmingham by Adrian Goldberg and Harvey White. Funded by subscriptions to the Byline Times. Made by We Bring Audio for Byline Times.      Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What is Artificial Intelligence? And is it our our friend or foe?  Elon Musk recently claimed that AI would eliminate the need for human jobs in the future; which is great if you’re a billionaire like him, but doesn’t explain how the rest of us would earn enough to live. This poses big questions about who controls the technology – and what their plans are for the rest of us.Will AI liberate us from the drudgery of boring admin jobs – or become a tool to control us? There are even doomsday scenarios in which the robots turn on humans – their creators – and then destroy us. Could science fiction become science fact? Adrian Goldberg hears from Kyle Taylor, author of the Byline Times Little Black Book of Artificial Intelligence. Produced in Birmingham by Adrian Goldberg and Harvey White. Funded by subscriptions to the Byline Times. Made by We Bring Audio for Byline Times. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

US data firm Palantir Technologies Inc has won a £480 million contract (along with professional services firm Accenture) to handle the new Federated Data Platform for the Health Service.On the face of it this looks like a positive for patients. The new Platform is designed to facilitate information sharing among hospital trusts and other parts of the NHS, enabling them to communicate more efficiently. No more having to repeat your past medical history every time you see a doctor.But Palantir’s involvement has caused real concern. The company has worked with the CIA and other intelligence agencies and what critics describe as mass surveiilance programmes. Its Trump supporting co founder Peter Thiel has been an outspoken critic of the NHS, suggesting that British Taxpayers have fallen to ‘Stockholm syndrome’.Adrian Goldberg hears from Max Colbert, who has chronicled Palantir for Byline Times, Dr Jeni Tennision, Executive Director of Connected by Data and Hope Worsdale, a spokesperson for Just Treatment,Produced in Birmingham by Adrian Goldberg and Harvey White. Funded by subscriptions to the Byline Times. Made by We Bring Audio for Byline Times.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Unelected Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has given the plum job of Foreign Secretary to the equally unelected former PM David Cameron, who has been fast tracked into the House Of Lords after giving up his parliamentary seat.Adrian Goldberg gets reaction from Jessie Joe Jacobs, Director of the Democracy Network, a group representing 800+ organisations seeking to renew UK politics and David Wearing, a lecturer in International Relations at the University of Sussex and an expert on UK foreign relations in the Middle East.Produced in Birmingham by Adrian Goldberg.  Funded by subscriptions to the Byline Times. Made by We Bring Audio for Byline Times. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Streaming giant Spotify is coming in for flak over proposals to cut revenue for small independent artists. The idea is that Is that tracks which would otherwise account for the lowest 0.5% of royalty payments will be demonetised.Adrian Goldberg hears from Skepwax Records co-founder Amelia Fletcher who has played in a host of well loved indie bands including Talulah Gosh and Heavenly. Amelia is also an economics Professor with expertise in competition policy at UAE. Adrian also hears from one of Spotify’s satisfied cutomers, Jack Clothier co founder of indie label Alcopop Records.Produced in Birmingham by Adrian Goldberg and Harvey White. Funded by subscriptions to the Byline Times. Made by We Bring Audio for Byline Times. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As the UK government announces plans for an independent football regulator, how well governed and regulated is sport internationally? In this episode we look specifically at how Saudi Arabia is extending its global geopolitical reach through football, golf, F1 and esports, despite its well documented human rights abuses.  The repressive regime of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman - or MBS - has effectively been guaranteed the right to host the 2034 soccer World Cup after its only rival Australia dropped out. This fits with Saudi Arabia’s plan to 'sportswash' its reputation - and exercise political power, too. Adrian Goldberg is joined by Stanis Elsborg who’s been investigating the Riyadh government for Play The Game an organisation based at Danish Institute for Sports Studies.Produced in Birmingham by Adrian Goldberg and Harvey White. Funded by subscriptions to the Byline Times. Made by We Bring Audio for Byline Times. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices