
The Media Show
Social media, anti-social media, breaking news, faking news: this is the programme about a revolution in media.
Latest episodes

Jul 16, 2025 • 43min
Afghan data breach superinjunction, Future of the BBC, Tour de France
This week a super-injunction was lifted that allowed the press to report on a story it’s known about for some time – the Ministry of Defence’s leaking of personal details of almost 19,000 Afghan people who had applied to move to the UK. The Times’s Larisa Brown tells us how she, alongside other journalists, fought the super-injunction.The BBC’s Annual Report has contained some good news for the organisation, but has been overshadowed by recent controversies. We assess its future with the BBC’s former Editorial Director, Roger Mosey, and The Financial Times’s Daniel Thomas.As new TV show Shark! Celebrity Infested Waters begins on ITV, we hear from creative director of Plimsoll Productions Andrea Jackson about what it takes to develop a new format blending entertainment and natural history.This is the last year that the Tour de France will be on free-to-air TV in the UK. Rachel Jary, staff writer at Rouleur, and Chris Boardman, Active Travel Commissioner and former racing cyclist, discuss how the media covers the race.Producer: Lucy Wai
Assistant Producers: Emily Channon and Martha Owen

Jul 9, 2025 • 43min
Gregg Wallace, The Salt Path, Oasis reunion tour, migrant small boats media coverage
Katie Razzall and Ros Atkins discuss some of the main media stories in the news this week including the latest allegations about TV presenter Gregg Wallace with Max Goldbart, International TV Editor at Deadline.
French police have been filmed getting tough with migrants getting into dinghies to cross the Channel this week, but was it just for the cameras as some claim? Andrew Harding BBC Paris Correspondent talks about his report which made headlines this week and Catherine Norris Trent, senior correspondent at France 24 reflects on how the French media cover the issue.
Heloise Wood, Deputy News Editor, at Bookseller talks about fact checking in the publishing industry after claims the hit book The Salt Path which was made into a film isn’t really a truthful biography and as Oasis performs live for the first time since 2009, we consider who owns the iconic images of their reunion concert? Andrew Moger, Chief Executive of the News Media Coalition and Danni Scott, Music and entertainment reporter at the Metro discuss. Producer: Lisa Jenkinson
Assistant Producer: Lucy Wai

Jul 2, 2025 • 43min
Broadcasting Gaza: Doctors Under Attack, Tim Franks, F1’s media strategy
Tim Franks, a BBC presenter and Middle East expert, discusses his new book exploring identity in journalism. He reflects on the BBC's controversial decision not to air a Gaza documentary, contrasting it with Channel 4’s choice. Chris Banatvala offers insights on media regulations and the challenges of impartiality in sensitive reporting. The conversation also touches on the impact of social media on news coverage and the evolving media strategy of Formula One to engage younger audiences.

Jun 25, 2025 • 43min
Jimmy Lai - media tycoon and political prisoner, the new Wargame podcast, Tattle Life gossip website
Katie Razzall on some of this week's biggest media stories including an interview with Sebastien Lai, the son of the the political prisoner and media tycoon Jimmy Lai.
We talk to Minal Modha Head of Sport Media Rights at Ampere Analysis about why the streaming giant Netflix is embracing some traditional linear TV channels.
After one couple win libel damages against the gossip website Tattle Life media lawyer Persephone Bridgman Baker talks about the wider implications of the ruling.
Deborah Haynes Sky News Security and Defence Editor on her new podcast The WarGame and reporting on the NATO summit in the Netherland and Behrang Tajdin a Correspondent with the BBC Persian News Service talks about the intimdation many staff and their families are facing because of their work.Producer: Lisa Jenkinson
Assistant Producer: Lucy Wei

Jun 18, 2025 • 43min
Reporting on the Israel Iran conflict, influencers on the radio, Reddit at 20, Grenfell Uncovered documentary
Katie Razzall and Ros Atkins on some of the week's biggest media stories: How are journalists reporting on the Israel Iran conflict in the UK and around the world? We talk to Shaina Oppenheimer from BBC Monitoring and Shashank Joshi Defence Editor at the Economist. The traditional pipeline of journalists moving into radio and television presentation is increasingly being replaced by the new social media influencers. Caroline Frost Columnist at the Radio Times and Sarah Carson Chief Culture Writer and Contributing Editor at the i paper discuss the trend and Laura Nestler from Reddit on how the platform, which celebrates its twentieth anniversary this year, has become the fastest growing social media outlet in the UK.Producer: Lisa Jenkinson
Assistant Producer: Lucy Wai

Jun 11, 2025 • 43min
Sir Martin Sorrell on AI & Advertising, Dan Snow History Hit, the ethics of working with a convicted criminal to tell a story
Katie Razzall and Ros Atkins with some of the biggest media stories of the week including Sir Martin Sorrell's take on the growth of Artificial Intelligence in the advertising world and how the industry is managing the change with Alex Dalman from the Advertising Association.
Dan Snow talks about his History Hit podcast which is about to celebrate its tenth anniversary. Michael Bristow Asia/Pacific editor for the BBC World Service has the latest on cuts to Radio Free Asia's services and BBC investigative journalist Annabel Deas talks about her new podcast series exploring the world of people smuggling. What are the ethics of working with a convicted criminal to tell a story?Producer: Lisa Jenkinson
Assistant Producer: Lucy Wai.

Jun 4, 2025 • 43min
Reporting from the Hajj at Mecca, Katherine Maher from National Public Radio in America takes on President Trump's funding cuts
Ros Atkins with some of the week's biggest media stories:
Katherine Maher the CEO of National Public Radio in America on the attempts by President Trump to cut federal funding for the network.
How does the global media cover the Hajj at Mecca, we talk to ITV reporter Shehab Khan who has visited as a journalist and a pilgirm.
The journalist Patrick McGee talks about his new book "Apple in China: The capture of the World's Greatest Company."
And what does the future hold for voice over artists in the AI era? We hear from Gayanne Potter who believes her voice has been used to train an AI generated voice and also to the General Secretary of Equity Paul Fleming.Producer: Lisa Jenkinson
Assistant Producer: Lucy Wai.

May 29, 2025 • 43min
Daytime TV crisis? Police media strategy shift after car ploughs into crowd at Liverpool FC parade, Simon Reeve
Katie Razzall presents some of the big stories in the media this week, including how the police in Merseyside changed their media strategy after a car ploughed into crowds attending a football victory parade in Liverpool. Rebecca Camber, who is security and crime editor at the Daily Mail and chair of the Crime Reporters Association, explains what is behind the shift.Travel presenter Simon Reeve joins YouTube influencer Alfie Watt, who won Race Across the World last year, to discuss the different media platforms selling the excitement of exploration to a range of audiences.And with news that ITV is to radically trim the air time of two of its long-running shows, Loose Women and Lorraine, presenter Kirstie Allsopp and media analyst Bella Monkcom from Enders Analysis discuss if there is a crisis in Britain's daytime TV sector.Producer: Lisa Jenkinson
Assistant Producer: Lucy Wai

May 21, 2025 • 42min
Gary Lineker fallout
Katie Razzall and Ros Atkins on some of this week's big media stories.
As Gary Lineker leaves the BBC we talk to the former Grandstand presenter Steve Rider, and current sports commentator Henry Winter.
The Sunday Times Media Editor Ros Urwin discusses her scoop on Huw Edwards as well as the persistance needed in investigative journalism with BBC correspondent Sanchia Berg who has been reporting on Baby Elsa, one of three infants abandoned by the same mum.
We'll also be talking to the journalist who has just won Private Eye's Paul Foot Award which was announced last night.Producer: Lisa Jenkinson and Lucy Wai
Assistant producer: Emily Channon

May 14, 2025 • 43min
The weather influencers taking social media by storm, Sir Peter Bazalgette, reporting the mushroom murder trial in Australia
Ros Atkins and Katie Razzall on the week's big media stories from around the world.
What next for presenter Jo Coburn who leaves Politics Live next week after nearly thirty years with the BBC? She's covered the tumultuous years of the Scottish and EU referendums, Brexit, the pandemic, lockdown and shifting political landscape. We hear about her highs, lows, and plans for the future.
Who to trust for news in the India/Pakistan conflict as disinfomation spreads across the media from all sides? Shayan Sardarizadeh a senior journalist at BBC Verify has been monitoring the situation.
Nino Bucci the justice and courts reporter at Guardian Australia tells us about the mushroom murder trial which has gripped the interest of the global media.
As the BBC's Director General Tim Davie delivers a speech about the unique role the corporation can play in the future, the media executive Sir Peter Bazalgette considers the long term future for all public service broadcasters in the UK.
And the weather influencers taking social media by storm. Are they as reliable as traditional forecasters? We hear from Max Velocity, a YouTube weatherman based in the United States and ITV's Laura Tobin.Producer: Lisa Jenkinson
Assistant Producer: Lucy Wai