Media Confidential

In this week’s Q&A, Alan and Lionel look back over their journalistic careers and recall their toughest decisions.

The former editors also discuss why they left the Guardian and the FT when they did, and what they read in their free time.

Plus, as the New York Times signs an AI deal with Amazon, what will it mean for readers?

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In this week’s episode of Media Confidential, Alan and Lionel talk to Vox editor-in-chief Swati Sharma.

They discuss why Vox’s change in style is working for a younger audience, the ways in which the company is responding to new digital challenges—and how AI is pushing them towards more innovative journalism.

The hosts also discuss Business Insider axing a fifth of its staff. And after chairing the European Press Prize judging panel for the last time, Alan reflects on his trip to Bari, Italy, and how he’s feeling about the future of journalism.

Plus, Alan shares his concerns about why he could be banned from the US.

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In this week’s Q&A episode, Alan and Lionel are asked if they would ever pay for an interview—and if there are any interviewees who would be off limits. 

They discuss whether media studies should be added to the UK curriculum for 11-16 year olds to combat misinformation.

Plus, will news organisations suffer financially when Donald Trump is no longer president?

Send your questions in to us [email protected]

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This week, Alan and Lionel are joined by historian Fara Dabhoiwala to discuss his new book What is Free Speech?They discuss how the concept of “free speech” came about—and how the notion has always been weaponised.

They also analyse the role of media and social media companies and answer: are broadcasters responsible for everything shared on their platforms?

And after being called out in a speech, Alan responds to right-wing media baron Paul Marshall, who recently lamented the problems with today’s media landscape.

Plus, the hosts reflect on the passing of presenter Alan Yentob.

Fara’s book ‘What is Free Speech? The history of a dangerous idea’ is out now

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In this week’s Q&A, Alan and Lionel discuss the sale of the Telegraph and what comes next for the newspaper.

They also talk about whether anything can be done to revive the print newspaper and are asked about what's happening with the sale of Paramount in the US.

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This week on Media Confidential, Alan and Lionel are joined by Joseph Kahn, executive editor of the New York Times. Alan, Lionel and Joe discuss editing in the time of Trump, why US media organisations are bending to the president, and whether publications owned by corporations are really equipped to resist the government.

Plus, the hosts talk about Gary Lineker’s departure from the BBC—and a new book which explores what journalists knew about former president Joe Biden’s deteriorating health but withheld from the public, for fear of losing access to the White House.

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In this week’s Q&A episode, Alan and Lionel discuss their most difficult interviews.

They also discuss why journalists are no longer sent out to cover council meetings and whether that has an impact on democracy.

Plus, the hosts answer an email about the BBC’s dominance over online news in the UK.

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At the Truth Tellers summit in London, Alan and Lionel sit down with Mark Thompson, the CEO of American media giant CNN.Mark is asked if he has sat down with Trump since he started in office.

Does he feel a slide towards state-owned media, monitored by the White House? And why does CNN continue to give the president airtime?

“If the rule was [that] we didn't have politicians on the air who might lie", he says, "we'd be struggling possibly to fill the airwaves.”

Plus, after listening to the ‘Rest is Classified’ podcast series on whistleblower Edward Snowden, Alan discusses his role in publishing the Snowden documents, and how he believes the BBC was too timid to cover the story.

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In this week’s Q&A session, Alan and Lionel are asked whether there’s still a market for the London Standard and what they would do if its owner Evgeny Lebedev came asking for advice.

They also discuss undercover reporting: after interviewing Harry Shukman who spent a year infiltrating far right groups in the UK, the editors discuss how to prepare a reporter for covert investigations.

Plus, as press freedom hits an all-time low, how can we make the world safer for journalists?

To submit your questions to Alan and Lionel, email [email protected]

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This week on Media Confidential, journalist Harry Shukman joins Alan and Lionel to discuss his year spent infiltrating the far right.

Harry’s new book Year of the Rat explores this journey. He shares why he went undercover to report on the story, why he thinks the threat from the British far right has been underestimated, and moments when he risked discovery.

Plus, the editors mull over Jon Voight’s plan to “make Hollywood great again”, and discuss the BBC choosing to shelve a new film about the destruction of Gaza’s health service.

Harry’s book ‘Year of the Rat: Undercover in the British Far Right’ is out today (May 8th)

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