The Media Show

A group of news outlets from countries around the world have banded together to expose the alleged use of a phone hacking tool to spy on leading journalists, politicians and human rights activists. How do you pull off a series of global scoops like this? Also in the programme, the role professional fact checkers now play in journalism.Guests: Laurent Richard, Founder of Forbidden Stories, Paul Lewis, Head of Investigations at The Guardian, Claire Milne, Acting Editor of Full Fact, and Ian Birrell, Contributing Editor of The Mail on Sunday

Footballers are being racially abused on social media. Why can't social media companies stop this from happening? An investigation by two New York Times journalists says Facebook's approach to moderation reflects a culture within the company. But social media also gives footballers a platform for campaigning - and even lets them shape their own public image.Guests: Henry Winter, Chief Football Writer at The Times; Joey D'Urso, Investigations Writer at The Athletic; Mayowa Quadri, freelance football writer and broadcaster; Sheera Frenkel and Cecilia Kang, New York Times journalists and authors of The Ugly Truth: Inside Facebook's Battle For Domination.Studio engineer: Giles AspenProducer: Hannah SanderPresenter: Andrea Catherwood

TikTok had a fantastic pandemic, stacking up over 800 million users. Hollywood studios are casting TikTok stars. Record labels are snapping up TikTok singers. Facebook and YouTube have both launched rival services. But the Chinese app is facing the same issues with disinformation and moderation as the Silicon Valley giants - and has become embroiled in geopolitics. What's next for this upstart?Guests: Richard Waterworth, TikTok's General Manager, UK and Europe; Rhiannon Williams, Tech Correspondent at The i Paper; Liza Lin, China Tech Reporter at the Wall Street Journal.Studio engineer: Tim HefferProducer: Hannah SanderPresenter: Datshiane Navanayagam

A scoop in The Sun forced health secretary Matt Hancock to resign. But how did The Sun come to have this explosive story, and what did they do with it once it landed on their desk? The pandemic has helped the British press regain its influence. Tabloids have launched charities and campaigned for people to get jabbed. So what role does the press play in public life - and do papers still have the power they once did?Guests: Victoria Newton, Editor-in-Chief of The Sun and Sun on Sunday; Tobyn Andreae, Deputy Editor of The Daily Mail; Emily Sheffield, Editor of The Evening Standard.Studio engineer: Duncan HannantProducer: Hannah SanderPresenter: Clive Myrie

The government has launched a consultation on the future of Channel 4 and privatisation is being considered. But what could that mean in practice? Would the channel see an influx of private cash, helping it compete with the streaming giants? Or would British TV suffer, with documentaries edged out by mass market gameshows? Also in the programme, the world of entertainment TV has been shaken up with the arrival of The Masked Singer. Are "guessing shows" here to stay?Guests: Alex Mahon, Chief Executive of Channel 4; Derek McLean, Managing Director of Bandicoot TV; Danielle Lux, Managing Director of CPL Productions; and Chris Curtis, Editor-in-Chief of Broadcast.Studio engineer: John BolandProducer: Hannah SanderPresenter: Olly Mann

The world’s biggest leaders have been face-to-face in a series of meetings. But as always, nobody from the press was allowed in the room. So how easy is it for journalists to sort the fact from the spin? And do the politicians even want them there – unless it’s to snap them posing grandly on the beach?Guests: Patrick Wintour, Diplomatic Editor at The Guardian; Steven Erlanger, Chief Diplomatic Correspondent at The New York Times; Rym Momtaz, Senior France Correspondent at Politico; Naomi O'Leary, Europe Correspondent at The Irish Times; Tom Wainwright, Media Editor at The Economist.Studio engineer: Emma HarthProducer: Hannah SanderPresenter: Datshiane Navanayagam

One of the UK’s commercial radio groups is launching ad-free versions of their stations for a monthly fee. Is this radio’s secret weapon to defeat Spotify and the streaming services? Or should more presenters follow Iain Lee's lead and swap network radio for digital platforms? Plus, an Ofcom report shows the new dominance of TikTok and the music streaming platforms.Guests: Paul Keenan, President of Audio at Bauer; Iain Lee and Katherine Boyle, presenters of The Late Night Alternative; Yih-Choung Teh, Strategy and Research Director at Ofcom; Madhumita Murgia, European Tech Correspondent at the Financial Times.Studio engineer: Giles AspenProducer: Hannah Sander Presenter: Datshiane Navanayagam

The role of foreign reporter is one of the most glamourous in journalism. But with international correspondents stuck at home during the pandemic, and editors looking to save money, foreign reporting now faces an existential crisis. What would we lose if our perspective on the world didn't come from our own correspondent? Guests: John Simpson, BBC World Affairs Editor; Sebastian Walker, Vice News Washington DC Bureau Chief; Christina Lamb, Sunday Times Chief Foreign Correspondent; Arwa Damon, CNN Senior International Correspondent.Studio engineer: Duncan HannantProducer: Hannah SanderPresenter: Datshiane Navanayagam

The BBC is facing intense scrutiny. Last week’s Dyson Report revealed multiple lies and deception by Martin Bashir - to secure his famous interview with Diana, Princess of Wales in 1995. Now, questions are being asked about the BBC’s entire governance. So what could actually be done? Are we about to see fundamental change at the BBC? And will this scandal bring about a reckoning for the whole industry? Guests: Richard Tait, professor of journalism at Cardiff University and former editor of ITN; Dorothy Byrne, former Head of News and Current Affairs at Channel 4; David Yelland, former editor of The Sun and founder of Kitchen Table Partners; John Ware, investigative reporter; Jane Martinson, professor of journalism at City.Studio engineer: Emma HarthProducer: Hannah SanderPresenter: Mobeen Azhar

The Israel-Gaza conflict is a local clash playing out on the global stage, with social media a weapon of war for both sides. But how did TikTok tutorials, Instagram infographics and Twitter posts become influential news sources for millions? Also in the programme, The Week Junior is one of the UK's fastest growing magazines. Are children much more how interested in the news than we expect?Guests: Gabriel Weimann, Professor of Communication at Haifa University; Rayhan Uddin, journalist at Middle East Eye; Sara Hirschhorn, Visiting Assistant Professor of Israel Studies at Northwestern University; Chris Stokel-Walker, journalist; Anna Bassi, Editorial Director at The Week Junior.Producer: Hannah SanderPresenter: Mobeen Azhar