The Media Show

Columnists Julie Burchill and Toby Young discuss the backlash over a controversial column about transgender individuals. The podcast explores the role of columnists, free speech, and the challenges faced by editors in handling instant reactions on social media. The debate also touches on press self-regulation and the need for a new regulatory body in the industry.

Legal expert Hugh Tomlinson QC and Information Commissioner Christopher Graham discuss the Leveson story, highlighting the potential impacts on investigative journalism. The podcast also delves into Channel 4's advertising challenges, a case of age discrimination in racing media, and the delicate balance between press freedom and data protection.

Veteran war photographer Don McCullin and cricket commentator Christopher Martin-Jenkins are discussed. Topics include Christmas TV ratings, pressing issues for the BBC's new DG, the role of photojournalists, the art of sports commentary, and reflections on cricket broadcasting and Christmas TV ratings.

Former ITV Programmes director and BBC Trustee, David Liddiment, delves into the dark arts of festive TV scheduling. They discuss fooling rivals with program titles, finding the perfect Christmas sitcom, and the battle of the soaps. Sir David Jason shares insights on Only Fools and Horses Christmas editions and the inspiration for Del Boy Trotter.

Analysis and reaction to the Pollard Review in to the management of the Newsnight investigation into Jimmy Savile and the subsequent Editor's Blog. Steve Hewlett is joined by; JOHN LLOYD Director of Journalism at Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism and contributing Editor of the Financial Times. TIM SUTER Founding Managing Director at Perspective Associates provide regulatory and policy advice to some of the leading media and telecommunications clients in the UK and abroad and former Partner at Ofcom (Office of Communications), SIAN KEVILL Former Editor of Newsnight and Director of Make World LIS HOWELLS Director of Broadcasting, Department of Journalism, City University and Alan Yentob the BBC's Creative Director.Producer Beverley Purcell.

In today's programme with Steve Hewlett: The BBC's Robert Peston and Roy Greenslade of The Guardian on James Harding's resignation from The Times; Adam Smith of Group M media buyers on sharp declines in print circulation and falling advertising revenue; Carla Buzasi of Huffington Post UK and Emily Bell of Columbia University on regulating the internet, the big issue avoided in the Leveson report; and Prof John Horgan, Ireland's press ombudsman, on the direction the Leveson process is now taking. The producer is Simon Tillotson.

In today's programme with Steve Hewlett:Professor Brian Cathcart of Hacked Off argues for implementing the Leveson recommendations in full - an argument backed by the group's online petition that now has more than 140,000 signatures. What does he make of the industry and government response so far? Independent editor Chris Blackhurst reports from the latest meeting of editors, convened this morning to discuss the industry's progress on plans for self-regulation. Have they agreed on something that the government could back?Sarah Ellison, contributing editor of Vanity Fair and Douglas McCable, head of print media at Enders Analysis, look at the planned changes in News Corp. With the publishing business, including the UK newspapers, to be put into a new company separate from the much more substantial entertainment side, what is the future for The Sun and the Times newspapers? The producer is Simon Tillotson.

First, last year, David Cameron called on Lord Justice Leveson to recommend a new regulatory system for the press. Then, yesterday, after he'd made his recommendations, Leveson LJ passed responsibility for the next steps back to the government - they, he said, must decide "who guards the guards". Where does that leave the industry, whose own plans for self-regulation were rejected by the inquiry? How much of the Leveson scheme can they accept and what can or should they now offer to meet the calls for independent self-regulation? To explore the behind-the-scenes negotiations, Steve Hewlett talks to a range of editors tasked with finding a solution: Peter Wright, former editor of the Mail on Sunday, Chris Blackhurst, editor of The Independent, John Witherow, editor of the Sunday Times, Trevor Kavanagh, associate editor of The Sun and Anne Pickles, associate editor of The Cumberland News and the News and Star which are part of the Cumbrian Newspaper Group. Producer Beverley Purcell.

John Whittingdale MP and Jurgen Kronig discuss lobbying against statutory regulation ahead of the Leveson report publication. Key topics include the debate on press regulation, international perspectives on Leveson, negotiations between newspapers, and the arguments for and against statutory support of regulation.

As we prepare for the publication of the Leveson Inquiry into Culture, Practice and Ethics of the Press Lord Black the Executive Director of the Telegraph Media Group talks to Steve Hewlett about why he thinks his plan for self regulation of the press is the best way forward. But what do victim representatives and those connected to the tabloids think of it? Ann McElvoy, public policy editor at the Economist and Evening Standard columnist, newspaper veteran Professor Roy Greenslade and media lawyer Mark Thomson, media lawyer who represented Sienna Miller in her privacy case. Presenter Steve Hewlett Producer Beverley Purcell.