The Media Show

The Media Show is a British current affairs radio programme and podcast on BBC Radio 4 which examines the current state of the media. The first episode was broadcast at 13:30 on 1 October 2008, with episodes broadcast weekly.^[1] It is usually presented by Steve Hewlett, a columnist for The Guardian newspaper and visiting Professor of Journalism and Broadcast policy at the University of Salford,^[2] although it has also been presented by Emma Barnett.

At times when Hewlett has not been present, Edward Stourton has acted as guest host.^[3][4] The series is seen by some as a replacement of The Message, a previous BBC Radio 4 series covering the media that was hosted by Jenni Murray and was axed earlier in 2008.^[1][5]

Structure

The Media Show looks at various different kinds of media, including print, television, radio, online and telecommunications. It also features discussions into various media areas such as creativity, culture, censorship, business and ethics. Hewlett said of the programme that: "I hope the programme will be able to lift the lid on many of the current stories within the media, offering genuine insight and intelligence, making this show a must-listen for both those within the industry – but always accessible to a wider audience of those interested in a subject that affects all our lives."^[1]

Reception

Reviews of The Media Show have been mixed. Elisabeth Mahoney in The Guardian said that she was pleased that the show covered, "a pleasing range of stories" and that it was better than The Message because, "It's better to have a BBC outsider hosting [compared to insider Murray], and to place the show right in the middle of the week, allowing some looking back, but also some consideration of the unfolding media stories that will dominate the rest of the week."^[6] However, Mahoney criticised the way it dealt with the Russell Brand Show prank telephone calls row saying that, "you'd hope for in-depth analysis and insight. Instead, they left the story until last, and zipped through it."^[7]

The Daily Telegraph was cautious about the series before it was broadcast, in particular in relation to Hewlett, saying: "Can he voice on a BBC show such astringent comment on the Corporation's flaws as he does in print? His sources at Ofcom are enviable; will they dry up now he is inside the BBC? Ask me a year from now."^[8]

Special edition

On 14 November 2012 the programme broadcast a one-hour-long session. This was due to the controversy that the BBC was undergoing at the time, partly highlighted by the resignation of George Entwistle from his job as Director-General of the BBC.

References