Media Confidential

Prospect Magazine
  • 4.3 (16)
  • BUSINESS
  • UPDATED WEEKLY
Media Confidential

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 30% on a subscription: https://subscription.prospectmagazine.co.uk/ABC25/prospect-magazine?ABC25G Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  1. 3 DAYS AGO

    Can you ‘bomb-proof’ the BBC?

    If someone wanted to take over British institutions like Trump's government has done in the USA, what would their first steps be—and how could we guard against them? Joining Alan and Lionel in the Prospect studios is a panel of expert guests: Jean Seaton is Professor of Media History and the Official Historian of the BBC, Peter York and Patrick Barwise are co-authors of the book The War against the BBC: How an Unprecedented Combination of Hostile Forces Is Destroying Britain's Greatest Cultural Institution... And Why You Should Care. Alan and Lionel discuss Boris Johnson’s latest column and how the New York Times got hold of thousands of pages of court documents relating to the Murdoch dynasty’s bitter court fight over custody of the media empire. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    46 min

  2. 6 DAYS AGO

    Q&A: How to stay safe in a war zone

    Which actor would you want to be played by? Though that question isn’t hypothetical for Alan (shoutout Toby Jones), Lionel shares his own thoughts in this week’s Media Confidential Q&A. And with the recent arrival of digital newspaper The Londoner, what impact has it had on the capital’s local media landscape? The editors give their verdict on Joshi Hermann’s latest endeavour. Alan and Lionel are asked what measures they have put in place to protect journalists in dangerous situations, including war zones. Plus, in an age of digital surveillance, how can reporters keep themselves safe? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    23 min

  3. FEB 13

    Sam Freedman: “The press lobby’s gone feral!”

    This week, Alan and Lionel are joined by Prospect columnist Sam Freedman, a senior fellow at the Institute for Government.   Sam reveals the inner workings of the Westminster press lobby—commonly known as “the lobby”. That’s the group of political journalists, usually representing major newspapers and broadcasters, with privileged access to official briefings and the Prime Minister’s spokesperson.   In this month’s issue of Prospect, Sam argued that the pressures of 24-hour news cycles and reduced resources have led lobby journalists to prioritise sensationalism over true policy analysis. He thinks this lack of specialist expertise means the lobby prefers to nose around and cause trouble and, at worst, even “hallucinates” stories.   But what impact is this having on the media? And how does it end up shaping government policy itself?   To read Sam’s piece, head to https://www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/issues/march-2025 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    38 min

  4. FEB 10

    Q&A: How to interview a president

    This week, we get up close and personal with Alan and Lionel as they discuss dream guests, hobbies and personal media habits.   How does a high-flying editor and news junkie switch off, even for a short time? From piano to cold water swimming, Alan and Lionel share some of their favourite ways to unwind.   With media outlets under attack in the US, what will viewers be left with once the axes have stopped falling? And who should the power to determine how media impartiality is defined?   Finally, how should one prepare for meeting and interviewing a head of state? What may appear daunting can be bolstered by the application of one basic skill—listen to this episode to discover what the secret is. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    19 min

  5. FEB 6

    Norm Pearlstine: “Media is Trump’s cocaine”

    Alan and Lionel are joined by American editor and media executive Norman Pearlstine. They reflect on Trump’s second term so far, and how news outlets have reported on some of his astonishing executive orders.   Norm argues that while billionaire media moguls were once lauded as saviours, they have proved to be “poor stewards”, more concerned about their own interests rather than the freedom of the press.   Will this Trump era will be “normalised” by a press fearful of being hit with lawsuits or punished by the president? How should journalists deal with a leader who calls the media an “enemy of the people” while avidly consuming their coverage?   To watch this discussion on how to report the truth in tumultuous times, head to our YouTube channel, where Media Confidential is published every Friday.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    32 min

  6. FEB 3

    Q&A: Reporting as an act of resistance

    Alan and Lionel return to answer listeners’ questions on today’s hot topics.   With Lionel currently in New York, attention turns to American news coverage. Has US media gone far enough in its coverage of Trump’s first week back in power? Should journalists in the US be afraid of his second presidency?   Alan and Lionel also discuss how teenagers relying on TikTok might be introduced to longer form analysis, and debate whether newspapers are too expensive.   And with the news that Jake Wallis Simons is finally resigning as editor of the Jewish Chronicle, questions are raised over who really owns the paper and who is doing the hiring and firing…   To read Alan’s column “Who really funds the Jewish Chronicle?”, head to https://www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/ideas/media/65839/who-really-funds-the-jewish-chronicle-why-its-troubling-that-we-dont-know Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    24 min

  7. JAN 30

    Are UK journalists under state surveillance?

    On 18th June 1994, Catholic pubgoers in Loughinisland, County Down, were watching a World Cup match when a loyalist paramilitary group burst in and murdered six civilians, wounding five others. To this day, no-one has been charged for the crime.   Produced by journalists Trevor Birney and Barry McCaffrey, No Stone Unturned (2017) told the story of the massacre, revealing how the police had colluded in protecting the gunmen.   When the film disclosed anonymous documents identifying the murder suspects, the Northern Irish police service (PSNI) arrested Trevor and Barry—and both of their homes were raided by armed police—to discover the source of the leak.   Last December, a tribunal found that the PSNI and Met police also unlawfully spied on both journalists, long before the film was even produced.   They join Alan and Lionel to tell their extraordinary story, and ask: could other journalists in the UK be under surveillance by the authorities? To read more about Northern Ireland’s police spying scandal, head to www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/ideas/law/crime-and-justice/68906/northern-irelands-police-spying-scandal Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    44 min

  8. JAN 27

    Saad Mohseni: The tycoon and the Taliban

    Alan and Lionel are joined by Saad Mohseni, the tycoon who reshaped Afghanistan's media landscape. In 2001, Saad was forging a career in international banking. But after the invasion of Afghanistan, and the subsequent fall of the Taliban government, he decided to move to Kabul. There, he co-founded the Moby Group, the country’s largest media company, where he is chairman and executive officer. He also started a radio station, soon spawning a TV station which broadcast the now-banned hit talent show, Afghan Star. Saad discusses his book Radio Free Afghanistan and what it is like to operate a media empire after the Taliban’s return. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    22 min
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4.3
out of 5
16 Ratings

About

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 30% on a subscription: https://subscription.prospectmagazine.co.uk/ABC25/prospect-magazine?ABC25G Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Information

  • Creator
    Prospect Magazine
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2025
  • Episodes
    92
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Prospect Magazine
  • Show Website
    Media Confidential

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