

Media Confidential
Prospect Magazine
Alan Rusbridger and Lionel Barber—two of the world’s greatest editors—dive into the hugely important world of media. What—and who—drives it? What do they get right... And what do they get wrong?Lionel, former editor of the Financial Times, and Alan, editor of Prospect and former editor of the Guardian, will bring you revealing, high profile interviews and in-depth discussion.Media Confidential is produced by Prospect Magazine.Subscribe to Prospect and enjoy our rigorously fact-checked, truly independent analysis and perspectives. No commitment—you can cancel at any time. Currently you can SAVE up to 50% on a digital subscription: https://subscription.prospectmagazine.co.uk/JN5025/prospect-magazine/JN5025G Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Jul 24, 2025 • 58min
How long can Ofcom allow Nigel Farage to keep his own show?
This week, Alan and Lionel are joined by Stewart Purvis, formerly editor-in-chief of ITN and content regulator for Ofcom. Stewart talks about confronting Ofcom about their judgement on GB News. Are current impartiality rules fit for purpose?Amid mounting pressure over Tim Davie’s leadership, they also discuss the crisis at the top of the BBC—and which candidates might be next in line for the biggest job in broadcasting. Plus, Alan reveals a telling text he received from a top BBC journalist. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jul 21, 2025 • 16min
Q&A: Mamdani vs the media
In this week's Q&A episode, Alan and Lionel are asked about Zohran Mamdani, Democratic candidate for New York mayor, and whether big newspapers have made any impact on his campaign.The hosts also discuss how to capture people’s attention while reporting on climate change.Plus, as AI threatens to replace some human jobs, what can journalists do to ensure they’re ahead of the game? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jul 17, 2025 • 52min
Tom McTague: ‘This country’s problems run deeper than Starmer thinks’
This week, Alan and Lionel are joined by Tom McTague, former Unherd political editor and recently appointed editor-in-chief at the New Statesman.Tom explains his vision, both for the magazine and for the UK. He also spills the beans on his interview with Keir Starmer, and shares what he talked about over a drink with Spectator editor and former Tory cabinet minister Michael Gove.The hosts also discuss the two BBC reports out this week about the corporation’s handling of the documentary Gaza: How to survive in a warzone, as well as an independent review into “inappropriate behaviour” by former MasterChef judge Gregg Wallace. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jul 14, 2025 • 23min
Q&A: Would you ever break an NDA?
In this week’s Q&A episode, Alan and Lionel react to a petition signed by hundreds of media industry figures and BBC journalists, which criticises the broadcaster’s coverage of the war in Gaza and calls for the resignation of Robbie Gibb.The editors also discuss non-disclosure agreements—what can you do when a potential whistleblower has signed one?Plus, one listener asks about the relationship between relationship between press lobby journalists and government special advisors or “spads”.Send us your media questions! Mediaconfidential@prospectmagazine.co.uk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jul 10, 2025 • 41min
Sophia Smith Galer: How to make the truth go viral
In the age of TikTok, how can newsrooms earn attention?Alan and Lionel are joined by Sophia Smith Galer, digital journalist, author and founder of Viralect. Sophia shares why TikTok shouldn’t be underestimated as a form of journalism, the resistance she’s faced, and why she decided to leave the BBC.She also demonstrates her new AI-powered app ‘Sophiana’ which helps journalists make vertical videos. But why choose to develop it now, when the use of AI in journalism is met with suspicion?Plus, after an Observer exposé about Raynor Winn’s bestselling memoir The Salt Path, Alan and Lionel discuss the role publishers should play in seeking truth. And Alan reveals he asked the BBC for documents related to its reporting on Israel-Gaza, and suggests that they aren’t being as transparent as they claim to be...Send us your questions about the media at mediaconfidential@prospectmagazine.co.uk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jul 7, 2025 • 17min
Q&A: Should the BBC have a paywall in the USA?
In this week’s Q&A, the hosts weigh in on the BBC bringing in paid services for across the pond.They also discuss Anna Wintour stepping down from Vogue...or is she?Plus, after a court found that the BBC defamed former Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams, one listener asks Alan and Lionel for their reactions.If you have a question for Alan and Lionel, send it to mediaconfidential@prospectmagazine.co.uk and we’ll answer it on the show. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jul 3, 2025 • 43min
Only in Denmark? Meet the ‘existential editor’ covering life, death, love and everything in between
This week on Media Confidential, Alan and Lionel are joined by Line Vaaben, who is ‘existential editor’ at Danish newspaper Politiken.Line and her team write stories that explore the complexities of life, love and death. She discusses her award-winning journalism with Alan and Lionel, which included spending time embedded in a palliative care ward, notepad in hand, as people took their last breaths.Line also talks about how she fiercely debated her editor on whether she could be in the room as a patient took a lethal cocktail of drugs.Plus, the hosts discuss the BBC under fire after Glastonbury—and whether Sir Robbie Gibb had a hand in axing the documentary Gaza: Doctors Under Attack, now picked up by Channel 4. Is there a conflict of interest?To read Alan’s latest column on this topic, head to prospectmagazine.co.uk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jun 30, 2025 • 29min
Q&A: What makes a good reporter?
This week, Alan and Lionel discuss every editor’s nightmare: what do you do if news breaks just as the papers have gone to print?They also explain “pyjama injunctions”, and are asked about whether the BBC’s Russia editor, Steve Rosenberg, is still safe while reporting from Moscow.Plus, Lionel responds to a listener asking about his Substack. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jun 26, 2025 • 59min
Scaramucci on Trump: ‘He’s going to tell 10,000 lies this year as president’
This week’s guest on Media Confidential is Anthony Scaramucci, financier and former communications director at the White House. He now co-hosts The Rest is Politics US podcast.Anthony argues that the media needs to stop overreacting to Donald Trump. He explains how the president is undermining the credibility of the press, while using it to his advantage.Alan and Lionel also discuss Rupert Murdoch’s summer party (despite mysteriously not receiving invitations)—as well as an ongoing controversy at the BBC, following its dropping of a documentary called Gaza: Doctors Under Attack.Plus, this week’s episode comes with an explicit content warning, as Alan tells the story of how the Sun’s business page was founded... Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jun 23, 2025 • 24min
Q&A: Where do you get your information about the Middle East?
In this week’s Q&A, Alan and Lionel are asked where they go for analysis of the situation in the Middle East, including the Israel-Iran war. They also discuss diversity in journalism and how cuts have made it a harder industry to break into.The hosts also are asked about a foreign scheme where young people can access a two year free subscription to news sites…could it work here?If you have a question for Alan and Lionel, send it to mediaconfidential@prospectmagazine.co.uk and we’ll answer it on the show. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.