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Media Confidential

Prospect Magazine
Donald Trump
BBC
Journalism
Elon Musk
Washington Post
Social Media
Artificial Intelligence
Financial Times
Prospect Magazine
Press Freedom
Democracy
Media Coverage
Jeff Bezos
GB News
Trump Administration
Misinformation
Ofcom
Gaza
Brexit
Rupert Murdoch

Alan Rusbridger and Lionel Barber—two of the world’s greatest editors—dive into the hugely important world of media. What—and who—drives it? What do they get right... And what do they get wrong?

Lionel, former editor of the Financial Times, and Alan, editor of Prospect and former editor of the Guardian, will bring you revealing, high profile interviews and in-depth discussion.

Media Confidential i... more

PublishesTwice weeklyEpisodes243Founded3 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
PoliticsNews

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Artwork for Media Confidential

Latest Episodes

In Prospect’s last episode of Media Confidential, Alan Rusbridger and Lionel Barber look back on three years of the podcast.

They discuss revelations throughout the show about power, press freedom, and the changing media landscape: from powerful int... more

Billionaires, millionaires and biohackers are plying themselves with supplements and consulting AI to extend their lives indefinitely. But would you want to live forever? This week, Ellen and Alona are joined by journalist and author Katherine Stewar... more

In today’s Media Confidential, Alan and Lionel discuss the death of Professor Jason Arday, the Cambridge academic who took his own life last week after weeks of media scrutiny.

The former editors analyse how a story about plagiarism turned into a Fl... more

In this week’s Media Confidential, Alan and Lionel are joined by Jonathan Shainin, founding editor of Equator, a new longform publication with ambitions to challenge inherited assumptions about journalism—and the world it describes.

The three discus... more

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Recent Guests

Katherine Stewart
Journalist and author; contributor to Prospect Magazine; focused on longevity movement and its social implications.
Prospect Magazine
Episode: Eternal youth and billionaire biohacking: The politics of longevity
Daphna Aties
Co-founder and co-artistic director of Dante or Die, immersive theatre creator
Dante or Die
Episode: The death of Jason Arday: A modern media morality play
Terry O'Donovan
Co-founder and co-artistic director of Dante or Die, immersive theatre creator
Dante or Die
Episode: The death of Jason Arday: A modern media morality play
Jonathan Shainin
Editor of Equator, longtime journalist and editor
Equator
Episode: Jonathan Shainin: Legacy media no longer explains the world
Tom Clark
Contributing editor at Prospect, analyst on Labour politics
Prospect Magazine
Episode: How long will the ‘Burnham bounce’ last?
Patrick Radden Keefe
Staff writer at The New Yorker; author
The New Yorker
Episode: Patrick Radden Keefe: ‘I’m not your therapist. I’m not your PR person. I’m a journalist’
Mehdi Hasan
Founder, CEO and editor-in-chief of Zeteo
Zeteo
Episode: Mehdi Hasan: Why US media shies away from talking about genocide
Maggie Haberman
White House correspondent for the New York Times, author
New York Times
Episode: Corruption, convictions and vengeance: Maggie Haberman on the inside story of the second Trump presidency
Iain Dale
Radio broadcaster, journalist, commentator on LBC
LBC
Episode: Iain Dale: I'm a Conservative but I don't do propaganda (unlike GB News)

Hosts

Alan Rusbridger
Editor at Prospect Magazine; former Editor of The Guardian; long-form interview experience and deep media insight.
Lionel Barber
Former editor of the Financial Times; co-host with decades of newsroom leadership and industry perspective.

Reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars from 225 ratings
  • Too good to stop

    Excellent podcast, great chemistry between the two of you.

    Your pod has become a key voice in the media landscape. I really hope you can put together a deal to enable you to continue.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    noe200
    United Kingdoma month ago
  • Really enjoy these - good luck for future home!

    Podcast Addict
    5
    PaulS
    a month ago
  • Independent thinking journalism

    Great to hear people with principles talking about real facts

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    nrthnrth
    United Kingdom6 months ago
  • Excellent but too short

    Very interesting podcast, but once the adverts are priced in, it’s far too short to be fully engaging.

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    TIEITM
    United Kingdom6 months ago
  • Another Statler and Waldorf Show

    In a world of too many podcasts you would have thought that someone could set the mic levels better, encourage them not to mumble and balance the intro sting music properly. That and the inexplicable number of adverts make it an ordeal even when the guests are interesting.

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    Badmariner
    United Kingdom7 months ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Insightful, principled journalism with strong guest selection.
Excellent interviews; deep industry context from seasoned editors.
Thoughtful analysis; could improve on production consistency.
Polarizing opinions at times, but content remains provocative and worthwhile.
High-quality discourse that challenges mainstream media narratives.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#180
Ireland/News/Politics

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Eternal youth and billionaire biohacking: The politics of longevity
Q: Can you tell us a little bit about how that started you off and what you saw there?
Katherine describes being invited to a very exclusive longevity gathering in a posh London apartment, where nutrient-dense mocktails were served and the setting highlighted how wealth and style are used to market longevity concepts to attendees who already feel ahead in the game. She explains this as the spark that drew her to dig deeper into the movement and its social implications.
Jonathan Shainin: Legacy media no longer explains the world
Q: Does the magazine have a point of view?
Jonathan explains that Equator has a distinct philosophy or ideology, focused on a non-West-centered framing and a willingness to present journalism in a way that challenges post-Cold War assumptions, rather than simply representing diverse voices for the sake of representation.
Patrick Radden Keefe: ‘I’m not your therapist. I’m not your PR person. I’m a journalist’
Q: But Patrick, let's just start with the journalistic challenge. Here you are. You've got this mysterious death of this young man. You're coming out to this fresh. How did you go about the investigation?
Keefe explains he started with the family, gathered off-the-record context, then radiated outward to build a case file, balancing access with verification while using multiple sources and records to reconstruct events.
Mehdi Hasan: Why US media shies away from talking about genocide
Q: How do you balance objectivity and subjectivity in reporting?
Hasan argues for clarity about bias and beliefs, advocating objective facts where possible but acknowledging the necessity of airing strong opinions in a climate where neutrality can obscure truth, especially on urgent issues like war and democracy.
Mehdi Hasan: Why US media shies away from talking about genocide
Q: Why did you leave MSNB C/MS Now and how has that history shaped Zeteo's ethos?
Hasan explains a desire for independence after being benched; he emphasizes learning from mainstream journalism while pushing back against self-censorship, using clear, outspoken language to hold power to account.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About Media Confidential

What is Media Confidential about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Two veteran editors probe the inner workings of the media, exploring power, credibility, and the economics shaping journalism today. Episodes mix high-profile interviews with sharp analyses of media coverage, policy, and technology, often weighing bias, access, and accountability in a rapidly changing landscape. Noteworthy is the duo's willingness to challenge entrenched outlets and industry norms, offering candid reflections from decades at major publications along with guests who illuminate independent reporting, tech policy, and press freedom. Potential listeners will likely find rigorous, thought-provoking discourse that blends insider experience with contemporary media debates, useful for staying ahead of trends in journalism, media bu... more

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Which podcasts are similar to Media Confidential?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Media Confidential:

1. The Media Show
2. The News Agents
3. The Two Matts
4. Page 94: The Private Eye Podcast
5. Rock & Roll Politics with Steve Richards

How many episodes of Media Confidential are there?

Media Confidential launched 3 years ago and published 243 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on Media Confidential?

Recent guests on Media Confidential include:

1. Katherine Stewart
2. Daphna Aties
3. Terry O'Donovan
4. Jonathan Shainin
5. Tom Clark
6. Patrick Radden Keefe
7. Mehdi Hasan
8. Maggie Haberman

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