Media Confidential

Why are Britain’s politicians so weak on freedom of speech? 01.06.2026 44min

Who do media organisations go to when they get sued? In today’s Media Confidential, Alan and Lionel talk to Gavin Millar KC, an expert in media law. The three talk about SLAPPs, strategic lawsuits increasingly used by the powerful to silence journalists and stop crucial reporting. They discuss why the fight against SLAPPs is vital for democracy: after suggestions that a Labour government would reform the law, why has progress been so slow? They also compare existing UK libel laws with those in the US and Canada and reflect on a few of the most high-profile cases of their careers.Plus, Gavin weighs in on the case between Donald Trump and the BBC. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Peter Geoghegan on getting SLAPP’d: ‘It had a huge chilling effect’ 28.05.2026 40min

On this week’s Media Confidential Alan and Lionel talk to Peter Geoghegan, journalist, broadcaster and founder of Democracy for Sale.The three discuss the problem of SLAPPs, lawsuits used by the wealthy to silence and intimidate critics. They talk about the chilling effect these lawsuits can have have on democracy, and how they discourage journalists from pursuing stories in the public interest. Why has the government made such slow progress in tackling them?They’ll discuss what it is like as a small media outlet or single journalist to receive the financial and emotional weight of a SLAPP and the lobbying actions of media lawyers.The three will also discuss Democracy for Sale’s investigation into Labour Together and ask about the thinktank's impact on UK politics. Read the investigation here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hiring on the cheap: Are news organisations exploiting young journalists? 21.05.2026 27min

In this week’s Media Confidential, Alan and Lionel discuss the changing winds at Ofcom, after its prospective new chair was scrutinised by a select committee. How much was Ian Cheshire briefed beforehand? And will he do anything to tackle GB News?The pair also talk about Trump's latest attack on the BBC—as well as Fran Unsworth’s departure from the broadcaster, after the former news boss claimed that she was driven out by trans activism in an interview with the Telegraph.They answer a listener’s ethical question, as the Economist draws controversy for its hiring practices. And they discuss a Panorama investigation into disturbing allegations around Channel 4’s reality TV show Married At First Sight. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Investigative journalist Gabriel Pogrund: ‘Go after big targets because they deserve to be pursued, not because you want to take them down’ 18.05.2026 39min

In this episode of Media Confidential, Alan and Lionel talk to Gabriel Pogrund, newly appointed editor of Insight, the Sunday Times investigative team. After Gabriel exposed £730,000 in undeclared donations to Labour Together, he and other journalists became victims of a smear campaign. He discusses why the thinktank commissioned an investigation into him—and how he was falsely accused of having Russian ties.As the co-author of Get In: The Inside Story of Labour Under Starmer, Gabriel also discusses the prime minister’s leadership.Plus, in an age of weaponised libel laws and abusive SLAPP lawsuits, the trio discuss the challenges facing investigative journalists. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Will Ofcom finally sanction GB News? 14.05.2026 28min

In this week’s Media Confidential, Alan and Lionel discuss Ofcom finally investigating GB News over their second airing of a controversial interview with Donald Trump. Did it fail the impartiality test?After Nigel Farage was confronted about an undeclared £5m donation from a crypto billionaire, the pair discuss how to deal with evasive politicians. They also talk about the Evening Standard running a full wraparound of Reform UK adverts on the day of the local elections.Plus, how is Matt Brittin preparing for the role of incoming director-general of the BBC? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Liam Byrne: What happens when populists win? 11.05.2026 32min

In this episode of Media Confidential Alan and Lionel talk to Liam Byrne, Labour MP for for Birmingham Hodge hill and Solihull and author of Why Populists are winning; and how to beat them.The three discuss the rise of populism and what happens to the media and democracy when they win—including how foreign influence and money can corrupt the UK media landscape.They’ll talk about GB News, with Alan asking why Ofcom isn’t dealing with the channel’s biased coverage and what the government could be doing to make the regulator act.The three discuss the media’s role in shaping public opinion and will talk about what needs to be done to protect the BBC and institutions like it before it is too late. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Slapped: Why can’t we talk about Nigel Farage’s crypto donations? 07.05.2026 35min

In today’s Media Confidential Alan and Lionel discuss Reform UK leader Nigel Farage. With recent revelations that he received £5m in personal donations before becoming an MP they’ll talk about stark differences in how the story was covered in the Guardian and the Telegraph.Our hosts also risk the wrath of legal firm Addleshaw Goddard, which has sent letters warning against discussing how one of the Reform UK's cryptocurrency billionaire backers, has a criminal past.Alan and Lionel also talk about the winners of the Pulitzer Prize, Julie K Brown’s stance against AI taking a role in journalism and a number of new hires at the Nerve. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Killing with impunity: the death of Amal Khalil in Lebanon 04.05.2026 33min

In this week’s Media Confidential, Alan and Lionel talk to Yara Hawari, co-director of Al-Shabaka, the Palestinian policy network, about the dangers journalists face in the Middle East.Amal Khalil, a Lebanese journalist and reporter for the daily newspaper Al-Akhbar, was killed by the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) in an airstrike on 22nd April. On the podcast, the three discuss the risks Amal faced as a long-term war correspondent and threats against her life which she had previously talked openly about.They also talk about the targeting of journalists by the Israeli government, and how it appears to act with impunity. They reflect on the IDF’s justifications for its attacks, which is says targets those linked to Hamas or Hezbollah. In 2025, Israel killed at least 84 media workers and journalists, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists.Alan, Lionel and Yara also discuss the risks of being a journalist in Lebanon or Gaza and the fact that foreign journalists are still having their entry barred. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Trump: AI accusations and assassination attempts 30.04.2026 28min

In this episode Alan and Lionel discuss the White House correspondents’ dinner and the alarm at how a lone shooter was able to break through levels of security.They also talk about Donald Trump’s interview with 60 minutes, in which the president claims the BBC used AI to manipulate what he was saying. Our hosts also talk about the chummy relationship between Paramount Skydance CEO David Ellison and the president.Alan and Lionel also talk once more about the Telegraph after the Guardian broke a story saying that Axel Springer hadn’t done its due diligence ahead of buying the rightwing broadsheet. And they discuss the interviews of Winston Marshall on Fox News and of Russell Brand by Piers Morgan. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Press Gazette and the end of ‘Barbara Santini’ 27.04.2026 31min

On today’s Media Confidential, Alan and Lionel are joined by Press Gazette editor Dominic Ponsford to discuss the magazine’s investigative work into the floods of fake experts being quoted in the media. Where do they come from—and who is behind this?The editors discuss journalist Rob Waugh, who helped uncover the truth behind fake or AI-generated experts including “Barbara Santini” and “Esme Gelder”. And they examine cases that made it all the way to the papers, without anyone blinking an eye. Is this the inevitable future of “churnalism”, or can we protect against it?Plus, the editors discuss the sinister practices of some PR companies. What’s an “SEO vampire”, anyway? Find out on Media Confidential. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mandygate: The megaton bomb that shook Westminster 23.04.2026 28min

This week on Media Confidential, Alan and Lionel discuss the top story of the week—Peter Mandelson’s failed security vetting before he was appointed as ambassador to the United States.As Keir Starmer goes toe-to-toe with the Foreign Office, the hosts discuss the excellent coverage of Guardian journalists Pippa Crerar, Paul Lewis and Henry Dyer.They also speculate on King Charles’s upcoming state visit to the US and an inevitably fraught White House correspondents’ dinner, where the president will be making an appearance.Plus, Alan and Lionel discuss the Atlantic, which faces a $250m defamation suit from the head of the FBI, Kash Patel. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sidney Blumenthal: ‘There’s about to be a real, severe change in American politics’ 20.04.2026 35min

This week on Media Confidential, Alan and Lionel are joined by Sidney Blumenthal, journalist and former adviser to the Clintons.As a judge throws out a $10bn claim from the president against the Wall Street Journal, the trio discuss Trump’s legal battles with the media, including the BBC. Is there hope for the British broadcaster?They also address the president’s mental state and how coverage compares to that of Joe Biden, while he was running for a second term. Is the American media biased towards Trump? And, if Sidney were an editor, how would he advise journalists to report?Plus, they examine what prompted Melania’s unexpected statement on convicted child sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How the media brought down Viktor Orbán 16.04.2026 23min

In this episode of Media Confidential, Alan and Lionel reflect on the results of election in Hungary, and how the media coverage of Viktor Orbán’s foreign dealings and corruption allegations may have contributed to his downfall.They'll also discuss why British investor and alleged sexual predator Crispin Odey abandoned his £79m libel claim against the Financial Times—across the pond—whether the legal feud between Melania Trump and journalist Michael Wolff will have its day in court.Alan and Lionel also bet on whether the Telegraph sale will go through.Plus, a very serious discussion on whether Gail’s will stock the Observer alongside its baked goods. A win for currant affairs? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Democracy at risk: The big banks censoring free speech 13.04.2026 26min

In this week’s episode of Media Confidential, Alan and Lionel are joined by Rainey Reitman, writer and civil liberties advocate. She is the co-founder and president of the board of Freedom of the Press Foundation and is the author of Transaction Denied: Big Finance’s Power to Punish Speech.The three explore financial censorship: how companies like Visa, PayPal, and Mastercard have cut off support for journalists, activists and small media outlets and use their power to silence dissenting voices. What effect does this have on democracy?They discuss a number of cases, including the historic banking blockade that crippled WikiLeaks. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The madness of King Trump (continued) 09.04.2026 27min

In this episode of Media Confidential, Alan and Lionel discuss the reporting on the “madness of ‘King Trump’”, the war in Iran and the developments since the last episode, in which journalist Susan Glasser described the president as “the big, fat, naked emperor in the room”.As a surprising pick is announced as the new Ofcom chair, the editors spill the beans on what they know about him and their hopes for his tenure.They also talk about Sam Altman and the furore surrounding his departure from (and subsequent rehiring by) OpenAI, following a lengthy New Yorker article discussing the many faces of the tech titan.And they answer a listener’s question on why US police are releasing videos on social media from the arrests of public figures like Justin Timberlake and Tiger Woods—would it happen in the UK? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Susan Glasser on Trump: ‘The big, fat, naked emperor in the room’ 06.04.2026 32min

On this week’s Media Confidential interview, New Yorker columnist Susan Glasser joins Alan and Lionel to discuss how reporters should deal with President Trump.The three discuss how to hold power to account when the president’s communications are so vast, from phone interviews to social media posts. They also talk about the risks of US media “sanewashing” Trump and normalising a distorted new reality.In this wide-ranging discussion, Susan, Alan and Lionel muse on the dangers of a president wielding largely unchecked power—and consider how his next decisions will affect the world. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Why the US treasury secretary thinks the FT has become ‘tabloid trash’ 02.04.2026 26min

Alan and Lionel discuss the Observer after investigative journalist Carole Cadwalladr, the paper’s former features writer, suggests that some of its new funders may not be who they seem.And as Scott Bessent, US secretary to the Treasury, takes aim at the Financial Times—claiming that a story about him was “manufactured”—former FT editor Lionel gives a considered reply.The editors also examine the selection process for the new head of Ofcom. What’s taking so long?And they discuss the BBC’s sacking of Scott Mills, following new information about abuse allegations. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Does the Washington Post have a future? 30.03.2026 39min

In this week’s Media Confidential, Alan and Lionel are joined by former Washington Post media reporter Paul Farhi.The three discuss the Post’s editor-in-chief Will Lewis, following his resignation in February. They discuss how Lewis got the role, his tenure and his abrupt exit, days after overseeing mass layoffs.They also talk about key decisions made by Post owner Jeff Bezos and how they led to the loss of more than 250,000 subscribers. Is there any hope for the publication? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Breaking news: the BBC’s new director-general 26.03.2026 26min

In this episode of Media Confidential, Alan and Lionel react to the news that Matt Brittin has been confirmed as the new director-general of the BBC. They discuss his suitability for the role and make their predictions. What will his first moves be?Following Alan’s recent investigation into GB News, the duo ask if the electoral commission should be paying attention to the channel for its coverage of Reform UK.Alan also shares what he learned from speaking to Ben Habib and Rupert Lowe, who confirm that their guest invitations to GB News dried up after defecting from Nigel Farage’s party.Plus, a year Observer’s sale to Tortoise Media, the hosts also discuss the paper’s offer of voluntary redundancy to its entire workforce.To read Alan’s column on GB News and Ofcom, click here or head to prospectmagazine.co.uk.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Why isn’t Ofcom investigating GB News? 23.03.2026 37min

In today’s episode of Media Confidential Alan and Lionel are joined by Chris Banatvala. Chris was Ofcom’s founding director of standards and executive member of the content board.The three discuss Ofcom’s approach to GB News after Alan headed an investigation into the broadcaster and ask if the regulator is turning a blind eye to the channel’s content.They also discuss the evolution of Ofcom’s investigation and complaint handling over recent years and question if there is a two-tier impartiality system for public broadcasters like the BBC and commercial channels like GB News. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.