Rephonic
Artwork for Media Confidential

Media Confidential

Prospect Magazine
Gaza Conflict
Right-Wing Media
Israel-Palestine
The New York Times
Data Journalism
Conservative Party
GB News
Election Dynamics
Gaza
Pulitzer Prize
Phone Hacking Scandal
Hamas
Rishi Sunak
Israel
Ofcom
Media Coverage
Corporate Espionage
BBC Funding
War
Local Journalism

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 weeklyEpisodes202Founded3 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
PoliticsNews

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for Media Confidential

Latest Episodes

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 ... more

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, h... more

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? more

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 in... more

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
Accepts Sponsors
Contact Information
Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

Similar Podcasts

People also subscribe to these shows.

Recent Guests

Paul Farhi
Washington Post media reporter
The Washington Post
Episode: Does the Washington Post have a future?
Matt Brittin
BBC Director General-designate
BBC
Episode: Breaking news: the BBC’s new director-general
Chris Banatvala
Former Ofcom Director of Standards; wrote broadcasting code
Ofcom
Episode: Why isn’t Ofcom investigating GB News?
Margaret Sullivan
Media commentator, former public editor at The New York Times
The Washington Post, The New York Times, Guardian US
Episode: What gets lost when war hits the headlines
Gabriel Sherman
Journalist and author of Bonfire of the Murdochs
Author, Bonfire of the Murdochs
Episode: The Murdochs: Autopsy of a family’s slow death
George Parker
Political editor of the Financial Times
Financial Times
Episode: Is the Westminster lobby a victim of groupthink?
Ailbhe Rea
Political editor of the New Statesman
New Statesman
Episode: Is the Westminster lobby a victim of groupthink?
Marty Baron
Former executive editor of the Washington Post
Washington Post
Episode: Marty Baron on the Washington Post’s ‘death spiral’
Eliot Higgins
Founder of Bellingcat, open-source investigative journalist
Bellingcat
Episode: Bellingcat founder: ‘Playing whack-a-mole with disinformation is always going to fail’

Hosts

Alan Rusbridger
Host and former editor of Prospect and the Guardian, Alan Rusbridger brings extensive journalistic experience and insight into media practices and ethics.
Lionel Barber
Co-host and former editor of the Financial Times, Lionel Barber focuses on the intersections of media, politics, and public perception.

Reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars from 205 ratings
  • 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 Kingdom20 days 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 Kingdoma month ago
  • Succumbs to Israeli propaganda

    Excellent episode with Peter Verne. Very disappointed in Lionel who without any evidence whatsoever immediately defames Oborne as a conspiracy nutjob. This is exactly the Israeli line - he just stopped short of calling Oborne anti semitic. Shame on you Lionel. Read the book look at the evidence- if the real life reporting of the tens of thousand of deaths which are not properly reported in the mainstream media including the BBC is not obvious enough evidence for you.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Dangerous EE
    United Kingdom5 months ago
  • Succumbs to Israeli propaganda

    Israelis are now trying to spread a narrative that they did not know what was being done in Gaza. This is absolutely untrue and I am so disappointed that Media Confidential joins this effort. Israelis have the same access to social media as everyone else and furthermore have absolutely and totally supported the Govt. They are going to pivot after they have slaughtered the Palestinians and stolen their land, to “oh we did not know”. Utter lies. Do not join them in their cover up.

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    Dangerous EE
    United Kingdom7 months ago
  • Fantastic pod

    A highly enjoyable and illuminating podcast from two masters of journalism - an excellent listen and now on my don’t miss list

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Csel1234
    United Kingdoma year ago

Listeners Say

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

The discussions are often seen as thoughtful and thought-provoking, addressing key issues in media and politics.
Overall, the podcast is regarded as an essential resource for understanding the nuances of today's media landscape.
Some critiques highlight a perceived bias in coverage or the hosts' viewpoints that may not resonate with all audiences.
Listeners appreciate the high-level journalism and insights shared by experienced editors.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#71
United Kingdom/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#153
United Kingdom/News
Apple Podcasts
#147
Italy/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#222
Australia/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#91
South Africa/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#96
Switzerland/News/Politics

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Breaking news: the BBC’s new director-general
Q: What makes Matt Brittin a suitable choice for BBC Director General?
His track record as a leader with a digital background, proven teamwork, and a belief in leveraging technology to distribute content across public service platforms, though questions remain about his experience in traditional journalism and creative leadership.
Bellingcat founder: ‘Playing whack-a-mole with disinformation is always going to fail’
Q: What about personal safety and funding for the work? How do you sustain an operation with volunteers and growing scrutiny?
Safety protocols are essential given state and non-state threats; funding increasingly relies on workshops, foundations, and careful policy choices to avoid government funds; partnerships help scale impact without compromising independence.
Bellingcat founder: ‘Playing whack-a-mole with disinformation is always going to fail’
Q: Eliot, you've talked very interestingly about sources and methods. As a journalist, what techniques can you use to show the reader that the information that you're distributing and the interpretation of the video is trustworthy?
Use triangulation across multiple data streams (video from different angles, satellite imagery, street view, shadows, timing) and verify details with a disciplined process, not relying on a single source or fragment; publish verifiable specifics so others can check the work.
What gets lost when war hits the headlines
Q: What about the public editor role, and why did it decline?
The role provided a crucial bridge between readers and the newsroom, but concerns about concentration of editorial power and effectiveness in practice led to its decline, with examples from The Times, Guardian, and NPR discussed.
What gets lost when war hits the headlines
Q: What was the critique of the New York Times piece on the Iran situation?
The critique centered on the omission of linking the piece to Trump's political pressures and polling dynamics, recommending a nod to how the president's popularity may affect framing while acknowledging the reporter's focus on national security details.

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?

The discussions center around critical media analysis, journalism ethics, and the evolution of major news outlets, often featuring high-profile interviews with influential figures in the media landscape. Topics touched upon include the challenges facing newspapers in the digital age, the integrity of media practices under corporate pressures, and the implications of misinformation in reporting. Noteworthy discussions have ranged from the controversies surrounding public figures to the responsibility of media in shaping democratic discourse, providing listeners with an informed perspective on current events and the forces that influence them. The hosts bring a wealth of experience from their backgrounds as leading editors, enhancing the dept... more

Where can I find podcast stats for Media Confidential?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for Media Confidential. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to Media Confidential and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does Media Confidential get?

Rephonic provides a full set of podcast information for three million podcasts, including the number of listeners. View further listenership figures for Media Confidential, including podcast download numbers and subscriber numbers, so you can make better decisions about which podcasts to sponsor or be a guest on. You will need to upgrade your account to access this premium data.

What are the audience demographics for Media Confidential?

Rephonic provides comprehensive predictive audience data for Media Confidential, including gender skew, age, country, political leaning, income, professions, education level, and interests. You can access these listener demographics by upgrading your account.

How many subscribers and views does Media Confidential have?

To see how many followers or subscribers Media Confidential has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to Media Confidential?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Media Confidential:

1. The Media Show
2. Daily Politics from the New Statesman
3. The News Agents
4. Rock & Roll Politics with Steve Richards
5. The Rest Is Politics

How many episodes of Media Confidential are there?

Media Confidential launched 3 years ago and published 202 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact Media Confidential?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for Media Confidential?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for Media Confidential from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

View all the reviews in one place instead of visiting each platform individually and use this information to decide if a show is worth pitching or not.

How do I access podcast episode transcripts for Media Confidential?

Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of Media Confidential. Search within each transcript for your keywords, whether they be topics, brands or people, and figure out if it's worth pitching as a guest or sponsor. You can even set-up alerts to get notified when your keywords are mentioned.

What guests have appeared on Media Confidential?

Recent guests on Media Confidential include:

1. Paul Farhi
2. Matt Brittin
3. Chris Banatvala
4. Margaret Sullivan
5. Gabriel Sherman
6. George Parker
7. Ailbhe Rea
8. Marty Baron

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

Find and pitch the right podcasts

We help savvy brands, marketers and PR professionals to find the right podcasts for any topic or niche. Get the data and contacts you need to pitch podcasts at scale and turn listeners into customers.
Try it free for 7 days