The BBC has come under fire for the way it has reported on the war between Israel and Hamas—but is it the only organisation to have made mistakes? 

Lionel Barber and Alan Rusbridger analyse the way that the massacre of 7th October and subsequent war have been covered, including explosion at Al-Ahli hospital, which some media outlets initially blamed on Israeli strikes. Jake Wallis Simons, editor of the Jewish Chronicle explains how damaging it is to the British Jewish population when errors are made, and former BBC editor and Radio 4 controller Mark Damazer defends the role of the war reporters on the ground.

Today you can get an annual Prospect subscription for as little as £49, and *while stocks last* you’ll get a free signed copy of Breaking News, Alan's excellent book about the remaking of journalism and why it matters, which is worth £10.99. 

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As the Israel-Gaza war boosts concerns about disinformation and misinformation on X, Alan and Lionel speak to Joanna Geary, who used to be Twitter’s Senior Director of Curation. What important checks and filters did Elon Musk strip away when he took over? Plus, author Jane Martinson discusses her new book about the Barclay brothers, two of the most significant UK media owners of recent decades, as the Barclay family seems keen to buy back the Telegraph Media Group. 

Today you can get an annual Prospect subscription for as little as £49, and *while stocks last* you’ll get a free signed copy of Breaking News, Alan's excellent book about the remaking of journalism and why it matters, which is worth £10.99. 

Sign up now at: https://subscribe.prospectmagazine.co.uk/mediaconfidential

We'd love your feedback! Tell us more at: https://f9ce3vpjrw3.typeform.com/to/bxJBPxN2 

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Alan and Lionel discuss how the awful violence in Israel and Gaza is being reported by media there (and elsewhere), and the extent to which local news organisations are able to give a balanced and nuanced account of what is happening.

They are joined by Esther Solomon, editor-in-chief of Haaretz English and Sarah Helm, former diplomatic editor and Middle East correspondent of The Independent, who is currently writing a book about the Gaza Strip.

Prospect brings rigorously fact-checked analysis, ideas and perspectives to the big topics the world is grappling with. 

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Alan and Lionel talk to Marty Baron, perhaps the most distinguished and garlanded editor in America since Watergate.

Collision of Power is Baron’s book about his time at the Washington Post, which won 10 Pulitzer Prizes under his leadership. He discusses standing up to then-President Donald Trump and the transformative impact of the Post’s new owner Jeff Bezos, while Marty and Alan compare notes about publishing the Edward Snowden story under high pressure from governments and intelligence services.

Media Confidential also considers the chaos at GB News, after Laurence Fox’s on-air comments about Ava Evans, and whether Ofcom can reel it in.

Follow us on X (Twitter): @MediaConfPod

Prospect brings rigorously fact-checked analysis, ideas and perspectives to the big topics the world is grappling with. 

Special offer: Buy a digital subscription – only £3 for three months' access (then £49 annually).

Click HERE to subscribe

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Alan and Lionel discuss the Murdoch family ‘succession’, after Rupert Murdoch handed control of Fox and News Corp to his eldest son, Lachlan.

They analyse the potential implications for media and politics, helped by Malcolm Turnbull, former prime minster of Australia, who tells them that Murdoch Sr has done “enormous damage" to democracy in the US, the UK and his own country.

There’s insight too from American journalist Michael Wolff, whose new book is The Fall: The End of Fox News and the Murdoch Dynasty.

Alan and Lionel also consider the media angles around the allegations facing Russell Brand.

Follow us on X (Twitter!): @MediaConfPod.

Media Confidential is a podcast from Prospect Magazine.

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Welcome to Media Confidential.

Who are Alan and Lionel, and what will they be discussing in this brand new show from Prospect Magazine?

Our hosts give an overview of their new podcast, why it's important, and their thoughts on the media landscape as they see it today.

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