Media Confidential

How do you turn one of the biggest media scandals into gripping television—and what unfinished business still lingers off-screen? Media Confidential hosted a live episode at Prospect HQ, with Toby Jones, Patrick Spence and Jack Thorne, about the real story behind the ITV drama The Hack. In this episode, the panel takes audience questions on press freedom, and whether it’s time for a long-delayed L...

He’s officially next in line to the Murdoch empire, but what is Lachlan Murdoch’s story? Alan and Lionel are joined by Paddy Manning, investigative reporter and author of  The Successor: The high-stakes life of Lachlan Murdoch.  With Lachlan set to take the helm, the trio discuss the machinations at the heart of the Murdoch media empire and the origin of the family rift. They also discus...

Do you always have to offer the people you’re reporting on a chance to give their side of the story? In this episode of  Media Confidential , Alan and Lionel share when giving the right of reply has backfired on them. They also discuss Fox News, after one listener asks a tongue-in-cheek question.  And the hosts talk about whether media reports about Donald Trump’s mental state are respon...

This week’s special episode of  Media Confidential  coincides with ITV’s new drama  The Hack , about the phone-hacking scandal which led to the closure of the  News of the World , the Leveson Inquiry, and a national reckoning on press ethics. This week,  Prospect ’s Alan Rusbridger is joined by actor Toby Jones—who  plays him in the series —along with Emmy award-winni...

Alan and Lionel are joined by special guest Lisa Nandy, secretary of state for Culture, Media and Sport. Lisa responds to Elon Musk’s allegations that free speech is being muzzled in Britain. The editors also challenge her on the government refusing to sanction GB News, despite its political motivations. They also discuss the future of the BBC, trust in the media, and the UK’s decision to regulate...

How have Trump’s defamation lawsuits affected press freedom? Alan and Lionel discuss Donald Trump’s $15bn lawsuit against the  New York Times  with NPR’s media correspondent, David Folkenflik. David shares an insight into NPR’s future amid funding cuts, and talks about the importance of local journalism and publicly-owned media. Plus, the trio discuss the shooting of right-wing influence...

As Donald Trump visits the UK, Alan and Lionel consider: if you were given one question to ask at Thursday’s press conference, what would it be? The editors are asked about the media coverage of Saturday’s far right march, led by Tommy Robinson. And following new revelations of Peter Mandelson’s relationship with Jeffrey Epstein—and his subsequent removal as US ambassador—what part did the media p...

This week, Alan and Lionel are joined by journalist and researcher Ayala Panievsky to talk about her most recent book The New Censorship: How the War on Media is Taking Us Down. Ayala, whose research focuses on populism and democratic backsliding, explains the biggest threats to journalism today—and how reporters are fighting censorship all across the world.  She explores media censorship in...

After a gruelling few years and a bitter legal battle, Rupert Murdoch’s heir has been chosen. This week, Alan and Lionel discuss the conclusion to the real-life  Succession , as Lachlan Murdoch looks set to take control of his father’s media empire. What will it mean for the political direction of the business? The hosts also discuss AI company Anthropic’s $1.5bn payout to authors and publish...

Does the First Amendment have a future? This week on Media Confidential, Alan and Lionel talk to Greg Lukianoff, the lawyer, best-selling author and president of the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE). They discuss the Trump administration’s effect on free speech in the United States, and how censorship on university campuses has come from both sides of the political spectrum....

Media Confidential is back for Season 3! Alan Rusbridger and Lionel Barber take a dive into the world of media. What—and who—drives it? What do they get right... And what do they get wrong? This week, as right-wing protests continue outside hotels housing asylum seekers, the hosts discuss the media’s role in pushing the “Broken Britain” narrative. Has the British press has been caught up in the wh...

You’ve been listening to the  Prospect Podcast , Media  Confidential ’s sister podcast. To subscribe on Spotify, click  HERE.    For Apple podcasts, click  HERE .  Has Trump's America become an autocracy? While Media Confidential is on a short break, we’re bringing you the best of our sister podcast, the Prospect Podcast. Back in April, Ellen and Alona were...

To subscribe to the Prospect Podcast on Spotify, click HERE.    For Apple podcasts, click HERE .   Will AI achieve superintelligence—and, if so, when?    While Media Confidential is on a short break, we’re bringing you the best of our sister podcast, the Prospect Podcast.    In June, Prospect’s tech columnist Ethan Zuckerman joined Ellen and Alona to talk ab...

You’ve been listening to the Prospect Podcast , Media Confidential ’s sister podcast. To subscribe on Spotify, click HERE.    For Apple podcasts, click HERE .  Has mainstream media failed?     While Media Confidential is on a short break, we’re bringing you the best of the Prospect Podcast.    Back in February, broadcaster and author Mehdi Hasan visited Pros...

You’ve been listening to the Prospect Podcast, Media Confidential’s sister podcast. To subscribe on Spotify, click HERE.    For Apple podcasts, click HERE .  Does the Left need its own Trump?    While Media Confidential takes a short break, we’re bringing you the best of our sister podcast, the Prospect Podcast.    In April, Prospect’s Ellen Halliday and Alona Fe...

Has the media contributed to “tinderbox Britain”? Alan and Lionel discuss in this week’s Q&A episode, in light of protests outside a hotel housing asylum seekers in Epping, as authorities anticipate a summer of unrest. The hosts also explore whether journalistic freedoms are under threat, and the responsibility of the press when reporting—or speculating on—medical diagnoses. Do we need a UK eq...

What turns a loyal devotee into a whistleblower seeking revenge? And what would you do if an anonymous source handed over reams of sensitive information on one of the biggest companies in the world? This week, Alan and Lionel are joined by the co-author of  The Tesla Files , Sönke Iwersen, an investigative journalist at Germany’s top business newspaper  Handelsblatt . Sönke reveals exact...

In this week’s Q&A episode, Alan and Lionel are asked how much an editor’s personal opinions and politics affect their judgements. They also discuss Mehdi Hasan’s viral debate against far right Republicans on the latest edition of Jubilee’s ‘Surrounded’. Plus, which place captures the national mood of the UK? And which publications are doing the most exciting work at the moment? Hosted on Acas...

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 bigg...

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 A...

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...

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 relations...

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 vide...

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@prosp...

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 th...