Media Masters

Julian Lloyd-Evans, Managing Director at Dennis Publishing, and consultant Jimmy Leach, formerly Head of Digital Comms at 10 Downing Street, join Paul Blanchard to discuss the latest media headlines. This edition: how can broadcasters report offensive views responsibly? Will the increase in digital ad spending keep newspapers in business? And is CNN's withdrawal from Russia the start of a worrying trend?

Media correspondent at the BBC for over 20 years, Torin Douglas has reported on some of the industry's most explosive stories, including the Hutton Report and Jimmy Savile affair. Now a visiting media professor and columnist, he explains how he got started in the industry, talks about becoming one of the UK's first dedicated media reporters, and gives us an insider's view on the BBC's most famous crises.

Kenny Campbell, former editor of Metro, and John Godfrey, Group Communications Director at Legal & General, join Paul Blanchard to discuss the latest media headlines. This edition: Do automated news 'aggregator' websites need a human editor? How should traditional broadcasters respond to competition from online streaming giants? And are corporate PR 'newspapers' a threat to independent press scrutiny?

Matthew Eltringham, Editor of the BBC College of Journalism, and Adam Dustagheer, Digital Communications Manager at the CBI, join Paul Blanchard to discuss the latest media stories. This edition: Should the police be able to access journalists' phone logs without a warrant? Should Nigel Farage take part in the TV election debates? And is the news bad for our health?

Launch Editor of Smash Hits and Empire magazine, and launch executive of FHM, Heat and Zoo, Barry McIlheney started some of the world's most-read and beloved magazines. Now Chief Executive of the Professional Publishers Association, in this in-depth one-to-one interview, he shares his adventures behind-the-scenes; gives his tips for people starting out in the industry, and offers practical lessons learned in the Editor's chair.

Michael Hill, Managing Director of Radioplayer, and Evening Standard journalism apprentice Mollie Goodfellow join Paul Blanchard to discuss the latest media stories. This edition: was the Brooks Newmark sting in the public interest? Should media employers actively hire more state-educated journalists? And have the public been told enough about the FM switchover?

In this in-depth one-to-one interview, producer David Puttnam shares a few behind-the-scenes moments on set, offers practical advice to those starting out in the film industry, and reveals the difficulties of balancing family life with a hugely demanding career. One of the UK’s most respected film producers, over a thirty year career he produced many iconic movies including Chariots of Fire, Midnight Express and Bugsy Malone. Awarded a CBE, a knighthood, and appointed to the House of Lords in 1997, his films have won 25 BAFTAs, 10 Oscars, and the Palme d'Or.

Broadcaster Helen Zaltzman and BBC radio producer Tim Johns join Paul Blanchard to discuss the latest media stories. On this podcast: was there a press bias against Scottish independence, and did it affect the outcome? Will podcasts ever go mainstream? Are shows like LBC's 'Call Clegg' and 'Ask Boris' the new way of connecting people with Westminster, and which politician will be next to get their own show?

Clothilde Redfern, Director of One World Media, and consultant Tom Whitwell, former Head of Digital at The Times, join Paul Blanchard to discuss the latest media stories. Press chiefs have confessed that they're "terrified" of sending their journalists to Iraq. How can we prepare correspondents to report from these dangerous areas? IPSO, the new press regulator, has already been subject to a lot of criticism with The Guardian announcing it would join some other papers in a boycott. Now the dust has settled on Leveson, are we any better off? An organisation has launched a crowdfunding campaign to buy The Times and The Sunday Times, to highlight the fact that 80 percent of UK national newspapers are owned by five families. Is there too much media power concentrated in the hands of the few?

Indra Adnan, founder of the Soft Power Network, and media technologist Tony Churnside, Technical Director at The New Radiophonic Workshop, join Paul Blanchard to discuss the latest media stories. The Guardian has been criticised for publishing an advert that compared Hamas to “child killers”. The advert had been turned down by The Times - which paper was right? With the Scottish independence referendum just around the corner, have TV channels in England, Wales and Northern Ireland given the issue enough coverage? BBC3 has just broadcast its first interactive drama, giving viewers the power to make decisions for the main characters and change the direction of the programme. Is this the future of television?