Hacks & Flaks

Hacks & Flaks
  • 4.0 (4)
  • POLITICS
  • UPDATED WEEKLY
Hacks & Flaks Podcast

Welcome to Hacks and Flaks, the only series where you'll get the inside scoop on how journalist hacks and the flaks of government work behind the scenes to decide which stories, you'll be reading with your morning coffee and perhaps more importantly, how they keep certain headlines off the front pages.  What happens if a public figure is the subject of a salacious story? When does a scandal make or break a career? And how do you really know what is or isn't fake news? All these subjects and a whole lot more will be explored by host Petrie Hosken and a regular panel of hacks and flaks, ready to spill the beans, and tell us how the sausage gets made. email: hackflakpod@gmail.com Host: Petrie Hosken Panel: Giles Kenningham, Andrew MacDougall and Michael Booker. Produced by Amanda Redman Brought to you by Trafalgar Strategy

  1. 2023-06-08

    Photojournalism & The Paparazzi

    n the final episode of this series of Hacks and Flaks, host Petrie and regular panellist Giles, welcomes two guests to the show, each with very different perspectives on how photographs are used to illustrate the news. In the studio is renowned photojournalist, Stefan Rousseau, who shares some amazing stories from his career with the Press Association, photographing world leaders, and what it's like to be in a room alone with Vladimir Putin. We also welcome EastEnders actor Lucy Benjamin back to the series, sharing some shocking truths of what it was like to be relentlessly pursued by the paparazzi pack, who even went as far as following her on her honeymoon. The team also look back at some notorious pap shots which have possibly broken brands and saved lives, although perhaps the subjects of the photographs may not agree. Thank you for joining us for the second series of Hacks and Flaks, if you enjoy the show, tell your friends and we'll see you next time - Goodbye for now!

    50 min

  2. 2023-06-01

    Hold the Back Page, with Nizaar Kinsella

    How has the world of sports journalism changed and adapted to the new realm of online news? Why are there fewer stories about the personal lives of sports personalities in the press? And what does the future hold for the world of sport and how it's reported? Sports reporter for the London Evening Standard, Nizaar Kinsella, joins Petrie, Andrew, and Giles, to talk about all of this and a whole lot more in today's episode of Hacks and Flaks, and we also find out what is going on behind the scenes in a world tightly controlled by sponsors, PR and international diplomacy.

    47 min

  3. 2023-05-25

    Political Satire with Matt Forde

    This week's Hacks and Flaks welcomes a cast of thousands to the studio. Not only is our host Petrie, joined by regular panellists Andrew MacDougall, and Giles Kenningham, but we also have at least two ex-Prime Ministers, two wannabe PMs AND 45th President of the United States, Donald Trump....plus, comedian, and impressionist Matt Forde, who just so happens to have Trump, Johnson, Cameron, Corbyn and Starmer in his repertoire.  As well as hearing about the new incarnation of TV political puppet show, Spitting Image, the team also discusses why there will always be a need and desire for such comedy, and we are also given some real-life moments from Giles and Andrew's careers which are beyond satire!

    44 min

  4. 2023-05-18

    Celebrity PR Disasters

    Why does a celebrity need someone managing their public relations? Can't they manage that themselves? Well, it would appear that's getting increasingly difficult in these days of trial by social media and a single tweet can ruin a carefully crafted reputation, potentially destroying a career. What can a PR do to stop the damage seeping in further? Can they keep a story out of the press? And why would a journalist do PR's bidding if they happen to be sitting on a solid gold scoop about their client? PR to the stars, Richard Dawes dropped into the studio, to tell us how he would deal with certain awkward situations and gives us an insight into what it's like to manage some of the biggest names in the music biz. As always, our host Petrie is on hand to ask the burning questions, and regular panellists Andrew and Mick share some occasions when the PR machine didn't quite roll in their favour.

    45 min

  5. 2023-05-11

    Monkey Postmen? It MUST be The Sunday Sport

    Something tells me we're not in Kansas anymore Toto, as the team are frogmarched down the yellow brick road by this week's guest, editor of The Sunday Sport (yes, THAT Sunday Sport), Nick Appleyard. Where else can you hear the plight of a wronged monkey postman, get the inside scoop on a missing plane found on the moon, and read all about the sticky end of the overzealous hide and seek champ? Well, obviously – and quite rightly - nowhere else. In today’s show, Nick pulls back the curtain and allows us inside the secretive and frankly, baffling world of this great British institution.  Our host Petrie wears the ruby slippers, as we and regular panellists, Andrew, Giles, and Mick are all friends of Dorothy in this tornado of an episode.

    38 min

  6. 2023-05-04

    When Political Speeches Go Wrong

    Today's Hacks and Flaks is an education, education, education, as we find out what goes on behind the scenes to produce a political speech.  Whether it's supposed to be a rallying cry, resignation, or to talk pork markets, there are a myriad of purposes for them and reasons why they might be remembered. And who better to hear from than the man with the fastest PM acceptance and resignation turnaround in recent history, Asa Bennett, who was speech writer for former British PM, Liz Truss. As always, our host Petrie gets to the nub of the matter and finds out what a writer might do if the person giving the speech isn't blessed with natural charisma, or perhaps a penchant to bluster off-piste. Regular panellist Andrew MacDougall is also on hand to provide some anecdotes from his own career, and the team also look at the winners and losers of political speeches of times gone by.

    51 min

  7. 2023-04-27

    Killer Statements

    In today's episode, the team pick away at some old war wounds as they recount incidents when they've had to rely on composing a 'killer statement' to avert trouble…but are there times when spin just isn't enough?  And, what happens if, like regular panellist and resident 'hack', Mick Booker, you're at the receiving end of a statement in a bid to stop a story you KNOW to be true?  As always, our host Petrie, wrangles some fantastic revelations from the panel about what happens behind closed doors between the politicians and the press. And we also find out which Hollywood A-Listers were hacked-off enough to write to Mick, who perhaps has a clairvoyant gift for spotting rifts in showbiz couples, after all, they certainly aren't saying 'I'll be there for you' now!

    44 min

  8. 2023-04-20

    What Happens on Tour - with Chris Hope.

    In today's episode of Hacks and Flaks, what happens on tour doesn't stay on tour, as host Petrie welcomes journalist and presenter of 'Choppers Politics Podcast', Chris Hope to the show to talk about what really happens on political press trips. Chris and regular panellists, Giles and Andrew, all share stories of times they have accompanied Prime Ministers to foreign shores - and not all of those shores are friendly ones - as Andrew can attest, after having his BlackBerry hacked in China and needing to think of an escape plan, should he find himself stuck in Democratic Republic of the Congo. Giles recounts some awkward times when calming down an angry Prime Minister on a plane full of story-hungry journalists and the importance of being vigilant to the ever-present honey trap, and Chris talks about when he almost caused an international incident after some candid questioning of a foreign leader. But it's not all having to take afternoon tea with despots and looking for hidden cameras in your hotel room, sometimes you get to sneak off to a panda sanctuary or drink the plane dry on the way home ....

    44 min
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Trailer

Ratings & Reviews

4
out of 5
4 Ratings

About

Welcome to Hacks and Flaks, the only series where you'll get the inside scoop on how journalist hacks and the flaks of government work behind the scenes to decide which stories, you'll be reading with your morning coffee and perhaps more importantly, how they keep certain headlines off the front pages.  What happens if a public figure is the subject of a salacious story? When does a scandal make or break a career? And how do you really know what is or isn't fake news? All these subjects and a whole lot more will be explored by host Petrie Hosken and a regular panel of hacks and flaks, ready to spill the beans, and tell us how the sausage gets made. email: hackflakpod@gmail.com Host: Petrie Hosken Panel: Giles Kenningham, Andrew MacDougall and Michael Booker. Produced by Amanda Redman Brought to you by Trafalgar Strategy

Information

  • Creator
    Hacks & Flaks
  • Years Active
    2022 - 2023
  • Episodes
    22
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Trafalgar Strategy
  • Show Website
    Hacks & Flaks

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