The Media Show

Infobox Radio Show
show_name = The Media Show


imagesize = 170px
caption = Logo used in "The Media Show" podcast.
other_names =
format = Current affairs, Media
runtime = 30 mins
country = United Kingdom
language = English
home_station = BBC Radio 4
syndicates =
television =
starring = Steve Hewlett
creator =
writer =
producer = Sally Spuring
executive_producer =
narrated =
record_location = Broadcasting House
first_aired = 1 October 2008
last_aired = Present
num_series = 1
num_episodes = 2
audio_format =
opentheme =
endtheme =
website = [http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/factual/mediashow/ BBC Radio 4]
podcast = [http://downloads.bbc.co.uk/podcasts/radio4/media/rss.xml The Media Show podcast]

"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.cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/pressreleases/stories/2008/07_july/07/media.shtml|title=The Media Show: new weekly programme on Radio 4 presented by Steve Hewlett|publisher=BBC Press Office|date=2008-07-07|accessdate=2008-10-02] It is presented by Steve Hewlett, a columnist for "The Guardian" newspaper and visiting Professor of Journalism and Broadcast policy at the University of Salford. [cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/factual/mediashow/mediashow_20081001.shtml|title=1 October 2008|publisher=BBC|accessdate=2008-10-02] The series is seen by some as a replacement of "The Message", a previous BBC Radio 4 series covering the media hosted by Jenni Murray, that was axed earlier in 2008. [cite news|last=Plunkett|first=John|url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2008/may/08/bbc.radio|title=Radio 4 silences The Message|publisher="The Guardian"|date=2008-05-08|accessdate=2008-10-02]

tructure

"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."

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." [cite news|last=Mahoney|first=Elisabeth|url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/culture/2008/oct/02/radio|title=Radio Review - The Media Show|publisher="The Guardian"|date=2008-10-02|accessdate=2008-10-02]

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." [cite news|url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/arts/main.jhtml?xml=/arts/2008/09/27/nosplit/bvtvgillian27.xml|title=Here is the Radio 4 news – about the BBC|publisher="Daily Telegraph"|date=2008-09-27|accessdate=2008-10-02]

References