Media Confidential

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.The hosts also discuss the two BBC reports out this week about the corporation’s handling of the documentary Gaza: How to survive in a warzone, as well as an independent review into “inappropriate behaviour” by former MasterChef judge Gregg Wallace.

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 relationship between relationship between press lobby journalists and government special advisors or “spads”.Send us your media questions! Mediaconfidential@prospectmagazine.co.uk

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 videos. But why choose to develop it now, when the use of AI in journalism is met with suspicion?Plus, after an Observer exposé about Raynor Winn’s bestselling memoir The Salt Path, Alan and Lionel discuss the role publishers should play in seeking truth. And Alan reveals he asked the BBC for documents related to its reporting on Israel-Gaza, and suggests that they aren’t being as transparent as they claim to be...Send us your questions about the media at mediaconfidential@prospectmagazine.co.uk

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@prospectmagazine.co.uk and we’ll answer it on the show.

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 their last breaths.Line also talks about how she fiercely debated her editor on whether she could be in the room as a patient took a lethal cocktail of drugs.Plus, the hosts discuss the BBC under fire after Glastonbury—and whether Sir Robbie Gibb had a hand in axing the documentary Gaza: Doctors Under Attack, now picked up by Channel 4. Is there a conflict of interest?To read Alan’s latest column on this topic, head to prospectmagazine.co.uk 

This week, Alan and Lionel discuss every editor’s nightmare: what do you do if news breaks just as the papers have gone to print?They also explain “pyjama injunctions”, and are asked about whether the BBC’s Russia editor, Steve Rosenberg, is still safe while reporting from Moscow.Plus, Lionel responds to a listener asking about his Substack.

This week’s guest on Media Confidential is Anthony Scaramucci, financier and former communications director at the White House. He now co-hosts The Rest is Politics US podcast.Anthony argues that the media needs to stop overreacting to Donald Trump. He explains how the president is undermining the credibility of the press, while using it to his advantage.Alan and Lionel also discuss Rupert Murdoch’s summer party (despite mysteriously not receiving invitations)—as well as an ongoing controversy at the BBC, following its dropping of a documentary called Gaza: Doctors Under Attack.Plus, this week’s episode comes with an explicit content warning, as Alan tells the story of how the Sun’s business page was founded...

In this week’s Q&A, Alan and Lionel are asked where they go for analysis of the situation in the Middle East, including the Israel-Iran war. They also discuss diversity in journalism and how cuts have made it a harder industry to break into.The hosts also are asked about a foreign scheme where young people can access a two year free subscription to news sites…could it work here?If you have a question for Alan and Lionel, send it to mediaconfidential@prospectmagazine.co.uk and we’ll answer it on the show.

This week on Media Confidential, Alan and Lionel are joined by Hamish McKenzie, co-founder of Substack.The platform, which now has over five million paid subscriptions, allows writers to self-publish their newsletters and make money directly from readers.Since launching in 2017, it has gained huge popularity with journalists and the public.Alan, Lionel and Hamish discuss what makes it fundamentally different to other social media sites, including the platform's surprising approach to content moderation. Hamish also shares how Elon Musk offered to buy Substack, and why he was turned down.Plus, Lionel makes a faux pas...