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The Media Show
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Listen to the latest editionHomepage of The Media Show, Radio4's weekly look at the media.  Wednesday 1.30pm.

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Send us your comments and reactions to issues raised by the latest edition.

21 January 2009
Listen to this programme in full
PSB, the return of Jonathan Ross, news coverage and BBC iPlayer
Steve Hewlett discusses Ofcom's Public Service Broadcasting Review recommendations and examines the findings of a major new report into the current state of British journalism. He asks what pitfalls might lie ahead for Jonathan Ross as he returns to the airwaves and the implications of a landmark ruling forcing newspapers in Northern Ireland to pixelate photographs of criminals.

The Return of Jonathan Ross
Jonathan RossFollowing Jonathan Ross’s three month suspension for “Sachsgate”, which saw 42,000 complaints flood in to the BBC, is it going to be a problematic for him to return to the TV and the airwaves? Steve is joined by Kenton Allen, former Creative Head of BBC Comedy, now Chief Executive of Big Talk Productions, who was persuaded by Jonathan Ross to leave BBC Radio 4 to produce his Channel 4 chat show in the early 1990's.

What's happening to our news?
British NewsA major new report into the current state of British journalism by the Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism will be launched tomorrow at the Oxford Media Convention. To discuss its findings, Steve is joined by John Lloyd, Director of Journalism at the Reuters Institute and Contributing Editor of the Financial Times, who initiated the investigation.

Pixelating Criminals
Belfast TelegraphA convicted murderer and rapist has won a landmark ruling against Independent News Media, publishers of the Belfast Telegraph and Sunday Life, permanently preventing them from publishing an unpixelated image of him. A lifetime ban has so far only applied in a handful of cases but should the desire to protect the public, by publishing a photograph, outweigh the dangers of media exposure? Steve talks to Martin Breen, the executive editor of Sunday Life.

OFCOM PSB Review
ITV, BBC and Channel 4Today Ofcom announced the outcome of its Public Service Broadcasting review. Steve discusses their recommendations with Tim Suter, media consultant and former Ofcom regulator and broadcaster and Tony Hall, Channel 4 board member and former head of BBC News.

BBC iPlayer
BBC iPlayerWe had a large response to last week's item about the iPlayer. But many of you wanted the answer to a specific question. Can you record and watch TV without a licence? Wilf White, the BBC’s Head of External Policy clarifies matters.
BBC iPlayer

Comments about today's programme
TV Licence complaint:
I am trying to renew a licence for my home address for which I have been paying for two years except my name is not on the licence. the 'licence holder' has left; I cannot change the licence into my name without his written consent; I cannot take out a new licence without paying double the monthly payment. surely this can't be right that to obtain a tv licence, is so impossibly difficult. PLease look into this.
Gina Backhouse. 

After your second clip the TV licence situation is now as clear as mud. I can watch non-live on my computer; I cannot record live and watch later on a television because I would be using equipment that is capable of showing live broadcasts; but, the BBC has made it so that my computer is capable of showing some programmes live, so do I need a TV licence for my computer just because the BBC has decreed that I am now able to watch some live programmes on it?
Nigel N

Public service broadcasting:
The item mentioned regional news as a vital service of PSB, but I'd be happy to see it go. Our local news these days seems to consist almost entirely of ordinary people whinging. If their NHS trust won't give them that drug they've read about on the internet, if their child doesn't get into the best school, if the gas company accidentally sends them a £20,000 bill, their first port of call is the local news. They no longer try to sort it out through the proper channels as its much more fun to have an excuse to go on the tele and have a good moan.
Anne Crocker

Gaza exclusion of journalists:
Thank you for highlighting the fact that Israel was not allowing reporters into Gaza. BBC R4 news programmes often failed to emphasize this point & just happily accepted accounts from Israeli spokespeople in Jerusalem. Thanks for drawing attention to this & giving a more balanced view.
Mary Holmes
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Previous Programmes
1 October 2008
Andy Burnham on public service broadcasting

8 October 2008
Michael Grade on ITV
 
15 October 2008
Future of DAB Radio

22 October 2008
Andy Duncan and Channel 4
 
29 October 2008
Reporting Poverty

5 November 2008
Stephen Carter

12 November 2008
Lionel Barber and the FT

19 November 2008
Dr Tanya Byron on Kids TV
 
26 November 2008
Manchester and the Media

3 December 2008
Twitter's role in Mumbai Attacks
 
10 December 2008
Shannon Matthews and media coverage
 
17 December 2008
BBC Partnerships and media access to family courts
 
24 December 2008
Bush and the press and 1968 Apollo broadcast

31 December 2008
The Moralising Media
 
7 January 2009
Jeremy Hunt, Gaza Reporting and New Talent

14 January 2009
Prince Harry, Gaza, Persian TV and iPlayer
 
21 January 2009
Ofcom's PSB Review, Ross' return and British News
 
28 January 2009
Sir Michael Lyons, Hutton Report and New Nation
 
4 February 2009
Sky, Children and Reality TV and Financial Reporting
 
11 February 2009
BBC Children's Services, Jade Goody and  Journalists' Conscience Clause

18 February 2009
Reporting Trauma, Subeditors and Teletext

25 February 2009
Dawn Airey, Disability on TV and Facebook
 
4 March 2009
Media and The Miners' Strike and ITV
 
11 March 2009
The Editors' Codebook, "Crown Jewels" of British Sport and Viviane Reding

18 March 2009
Christopher Meyer, Metro at Ten, Phorn and Impartial Drama

25 March 2009
Future of Journalism, Obama, Radio Caroline

Steve Hewlett
Steve Hewlett

Steve Hewlett is a Guardian Columnist and broadcasting consultant. He is visiting Professor of Journalism and Broadcast policy at Salford University and a fellow of the Royal Television Society.


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