Media Confidential

In Prospect ’s last episode of Media Confidential , Alan Rusbridger and Lionel Barber look back on three years of the podcast. They discuss revelations throughout the show about power, press freedom, and the changing media landscape: from powerful interviews on Trump’s attacks on press freedoms and the Murdoch empire, to the journalists killed in Gaza and future of the BBC. From veteran journalist...

Billionaires, millionaires and biohackers are plying themselves with supplements and consulting AI to extend their lives indefinitely. But would you want to live forever? This week, Ellen and Alona are joined by journalist and author Katherine Stewart, who investigates the politics of the longevity movement. Katherine shares her experiences undercover at exclusive longevity conferences, trying sup...

In today’s Media Confidential , Alan and Lionel discuss the death of Professor Jason Arday , the Cambridge academic who took his own life last week after weeks of media scrutiny. The former editors analyse how a story about plagiarism turned into a Fleet Street crusade against diversity, equity and inclusion. They also discuss the ethics involved when a vulnerable person is at the centre of public...

In this week’s Media Confidential , Alan and Lionel are joined by Jonathan Shainin, founding editor of Equator , a new longform publication with ambitions to challenge inherited assumptions about journalism—and the world it describes. The three discuss Jonathan’s journey through more “mainstream” media and why, after years in the industry, he feels independent media is the future. They look at the...

As Andy Burnham marks his first two weeks in Downing Street, the polls are registering a bump in support for Labour. This week, Ellen Halliday and Imaan Irfan are joined by Prospect ’s contributing editor Tom Clark to assess the prime minister’s first steps in office. Tom discusses surprising policy pledges, “sugar-rush politics” and how Burnham’s thinking has changed, from devolution to drastic s...

This week, Alan and Lionel are joined by Patrick Radden Keefe, journalist and bestselling author. Patrick discusses the real-life story behind his book London Falling , which explored the mysterious death of a teenage boy in London. He explains the process behind investigative non-fiction, navigating ethical and legal obstacles, and how he gained the trust of his sources—including two grieving par...

In this week’s Media Confidential , Alan and Lionel discuss the contentious legacy of Rod Liddle, Spectator columnist and Times radio presenter, who died earlier this week. A divisive figure in British journalism, the hosts examine his style and career as a writer and provocateur. They also delve into reporting around climate change, as ideological fractures emerge in the Daily Telegraph . Should...

In this week's Media Confidential, Alan and Lionel are joined by Mehdi Hasan, founder and CEO of Zeteo. The three discuss Mehdi’s trajectory from political editor in the UK to hosting a show across the pond—to launching his own independent media organisation in Zeteo. Mehdi opens up about why his MSNBC show was cancelled and how he felt compelled to leave the news channel. They also discuss the ri...

In this week’s Media Confidential , Alan and Lionel talk about media publisher Reach ’s change in direction. After years of striving for…well…reach, the publisher now says they’ll focus on long form reported stories. After a federal judge savaged the US Department of Justice for issuing subpoenas against New York Times journalists, Alan and Lionel also discuss what they call a “fantastically stupi...

Alan and Lionel are joined by journalist Maggie Haberman to discuss her and Jonathan Swan’s explosive new book covering the first year of Trump’s second presidency. Having conducted hundreds of interviews, Maggie shares the astonishing amount of access that the two journalists had in the inner circles of the Trump administration. The three unpick Trump’s close relationships with Rupert Murdoch and...

As Andy Burnham becomes prime minister, Alan Rusbridger and Lionel Barber discuss the new cabinet on Media Confidential. When it comes to new appointments, how did the media get it so wrong? As Lisa Nandy keeps her role as culture secretary, the pair discuss the BBC charter renewal and the broadcaster’s advert during the football World Cup which asked “what has the BBC ever done for me?” They also...

In this episode of Media Confidential , Clothilde Redfern and Martin Bright join Alan Rusbridger and Lionel Barber to discuss how national security laws are increasingly being used to restrict journalism around the world. Clothilde is the director of the UK branch of Reporters Without Borders (RSF) and Martin Bright is a journalist and contributing editor of a new report by the charity which...

Alan and Lionel discuss the suspected murder of MP Ann Widdecombe. They discuss contempt of court laws and how they differ from those in the United States, as well as the impact of public scrutiny on police communication. Is it wise to have a running commentary on all investigations? They also unpick the Trump administration’s latest attack on the journalism, as the Department of Justice serves su...

In this week’s episode of Media Confidential, Alan and Lionel are joined by presenter and commentator Iain Dale. As he releases a new memoir, the three discuss his life in broadcasting and a brief stint of political ambition, as well as his ideological leanings.  Iain discusses how he tries to keep his LBC show unbiased and the behind-the-scenes work that goes into creating lively debate with...

In today’s Media Confidential , Alan Rusbridger and Lionel Barber discuss Nigel Farage’s resignation in Clacton, triggering a by-election in which he will stand. They discuss Farage’s attacks on the press, including on a Sky News reporter. Did reporting around undeclared donations really cross the line? They also analyse the judgment in Prince Harry’s case against the Daily Mail , which alleged un...

In today’s episode Lachlan Cartwright, the founder of Breaker Media, joins Alan and Lionel to discuss why he went solo and launched the outlet after two decades in journalism. They ask how he treads the line between privacy and public interest when searching for scoops. The Breaker founder also discusses his tumultuous time at the National Enquirer , the US tabloid’s backing of Trump, and his role...

In today’s Media Confidential , Alan and Lionel discuss Donald Trump’s court case against the BBC. As the broadcaster requests the president’s phone records from January 6th, some commentators think it should settle with the president. Do our hosts agree? The Telegraph ’s takeover by major media company Axel Springer is finally complete, and the paper’s new owner Matthias Döpfner has appointed a G...

In this week’s Media Confidential , Alan Rusbridger talks to Andrew Dodd and Matthew Ricketson, authors of Getting Murdoched: How Murdoch’s Media Wields Power and Punishment. The three discuss the structure of Rupert Murdoch’s media empire, as well as infamous cases of “Murdoching”—described by the authors as “using media power to bully, manipulate and spread false narratives”. They also talk abou...

In this week’s episode, Alan and Lionel chew over Keir Starmer's resignation. How does a modern politician feed the media—and avoid being eaten? If Andy Burnham becomes prime minister, will he be better at communicating with the media? They also discuss the government’s green paper on public service media and the role of BBC, ITV, YouTube, and Facebook. As presenters Jon Snow and Jeremy Clarkson r...

This week on Media Confidential, Alan and Lionel speak to crossbench peer and activist Beeban Kidron about the Online Safety Act. Beeban has spent years advocating for children's rights in the digital world and has played a role in establishing standards for online safety and privacy across the world. She debunks the misconceptions around the issue—and explains why a social media ban won’t work on...

This week on Media Confidential, Alan and Lionel discuss the Murdoch family’s biggest ever deal, as Lachlan Murdoch’s Fox TV buys streaming service Roku. What does it suggest about the company’s direction under its new CEO? And why isn’t Alan a fan of Roku? They discuss an AI-generated video of Nigel Farage fist-fighting Bank of England governor Andrew Bailey in a Question Time Studio—and how the...

In this Monday’s episode of Media Confidential Alan and Lionel are talking to NPR’s media correspondent David Folkenflik about what is actually happening at American broadcaster CBS. They discuss the popularity of CBS’s flagship show 60 Minutes and how a new leadership is trying to make changes at the programme. They’ll talk about how Bari Weiss, editor-in-chief of CBS News, is getting along in he...

In this episode of Media Confidential, Alan questions the quality of reporting around the Henry Nowak case, and questions why so many in the media are focusing on the cost of DEI training in the police and neglecting to mention the recent Louise Casey report into racism in the police force. They also discuss how the media is amplifying the messages of politicians such as Nigel Farage when Nowak’s...

In this week’s Media Confidential Alan and Lionel are joined by Joshi Hermann, founder of The Mill.   The three discuss how The Mill has expanded out from Manchester to seven cities in just three years and it’s plans to revitalise and redefine local reporting.  They also discuss The Mill’s funding model and why Joshi believes the method is sustainable, and how he is ensuring that essenti...

Should a politician be allowed to present the BBC’s Today Programme? Former Ofcom chair Michael Grade thinks so. This week on Media Confidential , Alan and Lionel pick apart Grade’s recent interview, where he claimed that mainstream broadcasters are afraid of GB News. They discuss the logic behind the rules of impartiality—and what Grade’s opinions reveal about Ofcom’s controversial decisions unde...