The Media Show

BBC Radio 4
The Media Show

Social media, anti-social media, breaking news, faking news: this is the programme about a revolution in media.

  1. 20 NOV

    Investigating abuse in the Church of England, Tyson vs Paul, NYT Games, Leaving X for Bluesky

    The resignation of the Archbishop of Canterbury has sparked renewed discussion about accountability in the Church of England. Cathy Newman, Presenter and Investigations Editor, Channel 4 News, reflects on her investigation which triggered it. Mark Stibbe, one of Cathy's original sources, discusses the impact of coming forward with his story. Colin Campbell, Investigative Journalist, BBC News, shares his experience of reporting on cover-ups and systemic failures in the Church’s handling of abuse cases. Friday’s Netflix boxing match between Jake Paul and Mike Tyson was more than a fight; it was a media moment. Evan Shapiro, Media Commentator and ‘Media Cartographer,’ sees it as evidence of influencer dominance over traditional media. Oliver Brown, Chief Sports Writer, Daily Telegraph, discusses whether such events mark a shift from genuine sport to spectacle. Games are more than leisure activities; they are now central to media business models. Zoe Bell, Executive Producer of Games, The New York Times, explains how puzzles like Wordle and its new game Zorse contribute to subscription growth. John Halpern, crossword setter, shares insights into his process for crafting puzzles and the timeless appeal of crosswords. Katie Martin, Columnist, Financial Times, discusses her move from X to Bluesky. She reflects on the challenges of platform migration, the persistence of echo chambers, and the broader implications for media spaces. Presenters: Katie Razzall and Ros Atkins Producer: Simon Richardson Assistant Producer: Lucy Wai

    58 min
  2. 30 OCT

    Ballots, bias and big tech

    This week, The Media Show broadcasts from Washington DC, and asks what the election tells us about the media's role in modern America. The Washington Post finds itself at the heart of a debate on media impartiality after a reported loss of thousands of subscribers following its decision not to endorse a candidate. NPR's media correspondent, David Folkenflik, joins us to unpack the unfolding crisis. With tech billionaires wielding significant influence, this election has seen figures like Elon Musk openly backing Donald Trump. Critics argue that big tech’s sway over public discourse has become too potent. Jennifer Huddleston, a senior fellow in technology policy at the Cato Institute, and Marietje Schaake, a former MEP now with Stanford’s Cyber Policy Center, debate the issues. For over 170 years, the Associated Press has been at the forefront of election coverage, calling winners across the nation. Anna Johnson, AP’s Washington bureau chief, explains how it does what might be "the single largest act of journalism in the world". Also on the show, Lauren Egan, White House reporter for Politico, talks Ros through her job and what access she gets to the President. And David A Kaplan, former Newsweek legal affairs expert, reflects on the 2000 election—a time when the relationship between the media, the candidates and the public looked very different. Presented by: Ros Atkins Produced by: Simon Richardson Assistant Producer: Lucy Wai Sound: Ben Martin

    58 min

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4.6
out of 5
421 Ratings

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Social media, anti-social media, breaking news, faking news: this is the programme about a revolution in media.

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