Media Confidential

What is allowed to be a joking matter? And where does one draw the line?This week, Alan and Lionel discuss the pitfalls of being a satirist in 2025. They talk to political cartoonist Steve Bell, who worked for the Guardian for over 40 years before being unceremoniously dismissed after an image of Benjamin Netanyahu drew ire.They’re also joined by former Spectator editor Fraser Nelson, who leapt to Steve’s defence, despite being on opposite ends of the political aisle. Fraser also shares how he put his job on the line whilst at the helm of the magazine. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Alan and Lionel are asked about Tortoise's imminent takeover of the Observer. The hosts discuss a surprisingly timely encounter, and share some breaking news about Prospect.They also discuss blasting off into space and whether they’d rather put their lives in the hands of Jeff Bezos or Elon Musk. Plus, has the press regulator IPSO lost its teeth? Has it ever had any? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Does it matter who funds and owns the media?This week, Alan and Lionel are joined by Rodney Benson, professor and author of How Media Ownership Matters, who compares the ways in which newspapers are funded around the world—and how this fundamentally shapes democracy.Plus, Alan shares stories from his recent trip to Perugia, which holds the annual International Journalism festival. He discusses his mood after the festival, and what columnists are debating (is Donald Trump bonkers? We’ll never know!) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this week’s Q&A, Alan and Lionel are asked what makes a good story—and which big ones they’ve missed.They reminisce over the hedonistic days of Vanity Fair magazine, following the release of former editor Graydon Carter’s swashbuckling new memoir. And they remember the legacies, lives and careers of two former colleagues: Gwen Robinson, former foreign correspondent for the Financial Times and Tim Radford, the Guardian science editor known for penning the 25 commandments for journalists. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Anya Schiffrin, Director of the Technology, Media and Communications Programme at Columbia University, dives into the complexities of Trump’s tariffs and their media coverage. She discusses the critical obligation of journalists to tackle these pivotal economic changes and examines where they fall short. Schiffrin also sheds light on the pressure universities face under the current administration, emphasizing the necessity of resisting authoritarianism and advocating for media accountability in turbulent times.

What would you do if you realised your work was putting you in danger?This week, Alan and Lionel are asked if they’ve ever been unsafe because of their journalism.They talk about Tom McTague moving jobs across the political spectrum, from UnHerd's political editor, to editor at the New Statesman.And as Jim Mullen announces his departure from the media company Reach, the hosts discuss his tenure.If you have a question for Alan and Lionel, send them to mediaconfidential@prospectmagazine.co.uk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, Alan and Lionel discuss alarming threats to global press freedom with guests Jodie Ginsberg and former war correspondent Peter Greste.As an award-winning journalist with Al Jazeera, Peter was reporting on the Arab Spring when he was arrested under charges of terrorism. He shares his story of being wrongfully imprisoned in Egypt for 400 days (later dramatised in the film The Correspondent).Jodie, director of the Committee to Protect Journalists, an American nonprofit organisation, also highlights the increasing dangers facing journalists in the US, including attacks on public broadcasting and legal threats.In the face of mounting pressures, how can young reporters find hope? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What would you do if you got added to a messaging group that was discussing top-level classified information? This week, Alan and Lionel are asked about the Atlantic’s stunning report that some of the highest level figures in American defence discussed war plans in a Signal group containing its editor, Jeff Goldberg. How have new communication technologies changed journalism—and the search for a scoop?Alan and Lionel answer more listeners' questions on the smash Netflix series Adolescence, social media and how Michael Gove’s tenure as Spectator editor is progressing.If you have a question for Alan and Lionel send them to mediaconfidential@prospectmagazine.co.uk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 “Fire and Fury” book series. The latest instalment, “All or Nothing” 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. “A 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 canceled”. “The executives who we confronted on this were pretty straightforward, they said, ‘look we are in a new climate’ and then they would blame the higher ups, the corporate overlords and super structure who has weighed in on this.” Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 mediaconfidential@prospectmagazine.co.uk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.