Making Common Ground

In episode fourteen, Catherine Neilan returns to the Making Common Ground focus group to discuss WallpaperGate, sleaze and whether people trust either Boris Johnson or Dominic Cummings - or neither!

 In episode thirteen of Making Common Ground, Alfred Landecker fellow Catherine Neilan speaks to science journalist Tom Chivers about  why it pays people to express views they don't necessarily hold, and how mainstream media interacts with social media.

In episode twelve, Catherine Neilan returns to the Making Common Ground focus group to discuss flags, pride over the UK's Covid vaccine programme, the fall-out from Meghan and Harry's Oprah interview and whether people consider themselves "British" or "English". 

In episode 11 of Making Common Ground, Alfred Landecker fellow Catherine Neilan speaks to China Research Group's Julia Pamilih about Beijing's steps towards disinformation, how it compares to Russia, and why the UK's relationship with China is proving surprisingly resilient to tensions over Hong Kong and Uighur abuses. 

In episode 10 of Making Common Ground, Alfred Landecker fellow Cat Neilan talks to Cardiff University's Thomas Prosser about how Brexit has shifted the UK's political tribes, and why self-interest might hold the solution to polarisation. 

In episode nine of Making Common Ground, Alfred Landecker fellow Cat Neilan talks to journalist and author Phoenix Andrews  about fandom, how it plays out on social media and how it is feeding populism, as well as its part in increasing polarisation.

 In episode eight of Making Common Ground, political journalist Catherine Neilan talks with people from around the UK about politics, the 2019 election and why they may have voted differently, tribalism and whether Keir Starmer is making any difference.

In episode seven of Making Common Ground, Alfred Landecker fellow Cat Neilan talks to human rights lawyer Susie Alegre about the risks that social media pose to our freedom of thought - and how late night doom scrolling can be used to manipulate whether you vote 

In episode six of Making Common Ground, journalist Catherine Neilan talks to Polly Mackenzie, chief executive of Demos and former director of policy to Nick Clegg.  They discuss polarisation, the role and responsibilities of social media, as well as politicians, and the best ways to navigate difficult conversations to find common ground. 

In episode five of Making Common Ground, Cat Neilan talks to Conservative MP and chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee Tom Tugendhat about polarisation in British politics, why he thinks people should get involved in the democratic process well before elections and why social media platforms should be recognised as publishers.