Seasoned media journalists Nicholas Jones and Dorothy Byrne give an inside look at how the news is made.
A former BBC correspondent, Nicholas Jones reflects on the dangers of being overwhelmed by a tsunami of propaganda orchestrated by the UK’s mass media. Looking back on a 50-year career reporting on the home front, Jones describes the impact of the coverage fuelled by the British press, from the 1982 Falklands War to the 1984 miners’ strike and the Brexit referendum of 2016. All too often the BBC, like other mainstream news outlets, got swept along by the campaigning prowess of the national newspapers. Despite collapsing circulations, the danger remains ever present due to the diversification of the media owners and their continuing ability to command the news agenda.
Bringing us into the present, former head of Channel 4 News Dorothy Byrne looks at the problem of self-censorship in the media. Today’s journalists have become worried about how they talk about the news. From Trump to Gaza to talking about trans issues, journalists are increasingly careful about the wording they use. Are they right to be afraid? Could they find themselves cancelled? And how concerned should we all be about this self-censorship?
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