Rephonic
Artwork for Media Confidential

Media Confidential

Prospect Magazine
Donald Trump
BBC
Journalism
Gaza
Social Media
Elon Musk
Washington Post
Media Coverage
Artificial Intelligence
Financial Times
GB News
Prospect Magazine
Rupert Murdoch
Phone Hacking Scandal
Democracy
Press Freedom
Ofcom
Investigative Journalism
Jeff Bezos
Israel

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 weeklyEpisodes214Founded3 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
PoliticsNews

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for Media Confidential

Latest Episodes

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 und... more

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 ... more

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 Gua... more

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 n... 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

Yara Hawari
Co-director of Al-Shabaka, the Palestinian Policy Network
Al-Shabaka
Episode: Killing with impunity: the death of Amal Khalil in Lebanon
Dominic Ponsford
Veteran editor of Press Gazette
Press Gazette
Episode: Press Gazette and the end of ‘Barbara Santini’
Sidney Blumenthal
Author, intellectual, advisor to the Clintons over many years
Consultant/Writer
Episode: Sidney Blumenthal: ‘There’s about to be a real, severe change in American politics’
Rainey Reitman
Writer and civil liberties advocate focused on digital rights and free expression; co-founder and chair of the board of the Freedom of the Press Foundation
Freedom of the Press Foundation
Episode: Democracy at risk: The big banks censoring free speech
Susan Glasser
Journalist, author, New Yorker contributor
The New Yorker
Episode: Susan Glasser on Trump: ‘The big, fat, naked emperor in the room’
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

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 208 ratings
  • Independent thinking journalism

    Great to hear people with principles talking about real facts

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    nrthnrth
    United Kingdom2 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 Kingdom2 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 Kingdom2 months 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 Kingdom7 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 Kingdom8 months 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
#89
United Kingdom/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#191
United Kingdom/News
Apple Podcasts
#160
Singapore/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#181
Hong Kong/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#189
Netherlands/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#236
Finland/News/Politics

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Killing with impunity: the death of Amal Khalil in Lebanon
Q: What can the international community do to support journalists under threat and against state narratives?
Support colleagues in the field, amplify their voices, push back against biased coverage, and demand accountability from states and media organizations to counter systemic impunity.
Killing with impunity: the death of Amal Khalil in Lebanon
Q: Why is it so difficult to determine who is a journalist in conflict zones, and how does that affect accountability?
The definition of who counts as a journalist can be contested, which allows states to downplay responsibility by claiming those killed were not journalists; however, international bodies generally recognize journalists as protected persons under international law, though enforcement remains weak.
Killing with impunity: the death of Amal Khalil in Lebanon
Q: Can you tell us the manner in which Amal Khalil died and whether there is any doubt she was targeted?
Amal was in a convoy in southern Lebanon; after an initial strike on the lead vehicle, she and a colleague took shelter in a building which was then hit, and Amal was killed. There is substantial evidence and testimony suggesting it was targeted, including prior threats she received.
Press Gazette and the end of ‘Barbara Santini’
Q: Dominic, tell us what these three people have in common.
They are all quick to provide quotes to journalists when required, but lack corporeal substance and real-world existence, raising questions about the authenticity of expert sourcing in media.
Sidney Blumenthal: ‘There’s about to be a real, severe change in American politics’
Q: How has the media's approach to Trump changed with the Iran War and evolving political dynamics?
Mainstream outlets must abandon outdated templates of objectivity and instead describe the object of investigation with precision, recognizing there is no traditional policy process under Trump and focusing on the real power structures at play.

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. The Politics Show
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 214 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. Yara Hawari
2. Dominic Ponsford
3. Sidney Blumenthal
4. Rainey Reitman
5. Susan Glasser
6. Paul Farhi
7. Matt Brittin
8. Chris Banatvala

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