The Media Club · 15 March 2024 · 33 min

Kategate, Telegraph Deal Unravels, UKTV vs AI

With Charlotte Tobitt, Rebecca Cooney

Listen at themediaclub.com →AppleSpotify

• Kategate Photo Editing Controversy
• Telegraph Media Group Sale
• AI in TV and Journalism
• Newsnight Podcast Potential
• Daily Mail Podcast Expansion
• Kids TV Funding Challenges
• Podcast Listening Trends
• London TV Screenings Trends

In this episode of The Media Club, host Matt Deegan is joined by Charlotte Tobitt (Press Gazette) and Rebecca Cooney (Broadcast) to discuss the week's major media stories. The main topics include the 'Kategate' photo editing controversy involving the Princess of Wales, the ongoing saga of the Telegraph Media Group sale and government legislation to block foreign state ownership, the impact of AI on TV production and journalism, the potential for Newsnight to become a podcast, and the latest podcast listening trends from Edison Research. The conversation also touches on the Daily Mail's podcast expansion, the London TV Screenings trends, and the challenges facing kids' TV funding.

Key takeaways

• The Princess of Wales apologised for a digitally altered photo that was issued a kill notice by AP.
• The UK government plans to legislate to prevent foreign state ownership of the Telegraph.
• PACT issued principles for TV companies working with AI, focusing on copyright, diversity, and accountability.
• The Daily Mail is expanding its podcast output with 19 shows in pre-production.
• The Joe Rogan Experience is the top podcast in the UK, while BBC's Uncanny is the highest-rated BBC podcast at number 11.

In this episode

• Intro and News Round-up0:00 · Matt introduces the show and covers top news stories including TikTok, Don Lemon, and Jamie Oliver.
• Kategate Discussion5:00 · Panel discusses the Princess of Wales photo editing controversy and its implications for media trust.
• Telegraph Deal Update15:00 · Charlotte and Rebecca discuss the latest on the Telegraph sale and government legislation.
• Newsnight Podcast Possibility20:00 · Panel debates whether Newsnight could become a podcast.
• AI in TV and Journalism25:00 · Discussion on PACT's AI principles, Microsoft's court case, and the impact of AI on jobs.
• Kids TV Funding35:00 · Rebecca explains the trend of third-party funding in kids TV.
• Media Quiz: Top of the Pods40:00 · Quiz on podcast rankings in the UK.
• Outro45:00 · Wrap-up and plugs.

Notable quotes

“His commitment to a global town square where all questions can be asked and all ideas can be shared seems not to include questions of him from people like me.”

Don Lemon · 0:00

“I can't think of another comparable company doing that number or planning that number.”

Jamie East · 0:00

“There's no shame in cancelling a podcast if it doesn't work.”

Jamie East · 0:00

“It's not as if they're new to this.”

Charlotte Tobitt · 0:00

“I have like one marketable skill.”

Rebecca Cooney · 0:00

“Please don't replace me.”

Rebecca Cooney · 0:00

Discussed

BBC · Daily Mail · Telegraph Media Group · RedBird IMI

Also mentioned: Jamie East · Lord Rothermere · Phil Chetwind · Jonathan Aspen Wall · Patricia Hiddalgo · Faraz Osman · Elon Musk · Don Lemon · Jamie Oliver · Tina Stowe · Matt Kelly · Matt Danconi · Press Gazette · Broadcast · PACT · Microsoft · OpenAI · New York Times · News UK · DMGT · All3Media · Channel 4 · TikTok · ByteDance

Mentioned or recommended

• The Trial of Lucy Letby · podcast
• The Joe Rogan Experience · podcast · Joe Rogan
• Shits and Gigs · podcast · James and Fuhad
• Uncanny · podcast · Danny Robins
• The Rest Is Politics · podcast · Alastair Campbell and Rory Stewart
• Newsnight · tv show · BBC
• Springwatch · tv show · BBC
• In the Night Garden · tv show · Ragdoll Productions
• Midsummer Murders · tv show · ITV Studios
• Today in History with the Retrospectors · podcast · Rethink Audio