Jonathan Heawood, executive director of the Public Interest News Foundation and founder of Impress, discusses the rise of Manchester’s independent newsletter The Mill - widely praised for its coverage of Andy Burnham - and what it reveals about rebuilding local journalism: from new business models for independents and partnerships with the BBC, to press regulation and why strong local media is essential for a healthy democracy.To support our journalism and receive a weekly blog sign up now for £1.99 per monthwww.patreon.com/BeebWatch/membership @beebwatch.bsky.social@BeebRogerInstagram: rogerboltonsbeebwatchLinkedIn: Roger Bolton's Beeb Watchemail: [email protected] Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Former BBC Radio 4 Controller, Deputy Director of News and BBC Trustee Mark Damazer reflects on the BBC cuts announced last week and how such decisions are really made. He examines whether the reductions are justified, the trade‑off between chasing new audiences and providing high‑quality journalism, and how far the BBC’s digital‑first strategy should apply to radio as well as television — and at what pace. We also discuss what the BBC, new Director-General Matt Brittin, and supporters of public service broadcasting need to do next if the Corporation is to safeguard its future.To support our journalism and receive a weekly blog sign up now for £1.99 per monthwww.patreon.com/BeebWatch/membership @beebwatch.bsky.social@BeebRogerInstagram: rogerboltonsbeebwatchLinkedIn: Roger Bolton's Beeb Watchemail: [email protected] Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Tom Loxley, brand and editorial director of Radio Times, discusses what hundreds of readers’ letters reveal about the BBC at a time of deep budget cuts, job losses and declining trust in news. We talk about Radio Times’ historic ties to the BBC, why its readers still feel like stakeholders in public service broadcasting, how they really view issues like trust, impartiality and the licence fee, and what this all means for the BBC’s future funding, its struggle to keep talent, and its battle to stay relevant to younger audiences in an age dominated by algorithms and social media. To support our journalism and receive a weekly blog sign up now for £1.99 per monthwww.patreon.com/BeebWatch/membership @beebwatch.bsky.social@BeebRogerInstagram: rogerboltonsbeebwatchLinkedIn: Roger Bolton's Beeb Watchemail: [email protected]🎧  Listen to all our episodes:  https://podfollow.com/beebwatch Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Caroline Dinenage, Chair of the Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee, is chairing an inquiry into the BBC’s Royal Charter Review. We discuss the renewal timetable, possible reforms to BBC governance, alternative funding models and countering the global tech and streaming giants.We also discuss pressures on the new Director-General, cuts in BBC funding, impartiality and Ofcom’s handling of GB News and the Married at First Sight controversy.And there's the mystery of a ConservativeHome article.To support our journalism and receive a weekly blog sign up now for £1.99 per month www.patreon.com/BeebWatch/[email protected]@BeebRogerInstagram: rogerboltonsbeebwatchLinkedIn: Roger Bolton's Beeb Watchemail: [email protected] Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Former BBC Director of Communications (2013–2025) John Shield explains why he believes the BBC should be ready to go on GB News and other hostile platforms to make its case. He also discusses the Panorama edit, the BBC’s wider communications challenges, and his advice to incoming Director General Matt Brittin on visibility, handling criticism, engaging in public debate, and the future of public service broadcasting and its funding model.To support our journalism and receive a weekly blog sign up now for £1.99 per month www.patreon.com/BeebWatch/[email protected]@BeebRogerInstagram: rogerboltonsbeebwatchLinkedIn: Roger Bolton's Beeb Watchemail: [email protected] Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

After BBC Panorama’s investigation into Channel 4’s Married at First Sight raised fresh questions about reality television, Professor Helen Wood of Aston University discusses what’s really happening behind the scenes. Drawing on her three‑year ReCARE TV study and her role advising the 2019 parliamentary inquiry into reality TV, we talk about casting, consent, working conditions and duty of care in unscripted television – and ask what genuine responsibility to participants and production teams might look like in an industry under mounting commercial pressure.To support our journalism and receive a weekly blog sign up now for £1.99 per month www.patreon.com/BeebWatch/[email protected]@BeebRogerInstagram: rogerboltonsbeebwatchLinkedIn: Roger Bolton's Beeb Watchemail: [email protected] Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Rob Burley, writer and former BBC live political programming editor and Newsnight deputy editor, has recently published a long-form UnHerd article, “Inside the Capture of the BBC: How Transgenderism Killed Impartiality.” We discuss why he chose to examine the BBC’s handling of coverage related to sex and gender, how a 2013 change to the BBC style guide and subsequent diversity and inclusion policies shaped editorial decisions, and why he believes internal culture and restructuring affected the corporation’s approach to controversial issues.We explore key moments, including Theresa May’s proposal on self-ID, the Cass Review, and early attempts to cover trans-related debates on programmes like Newsnight. We also look at the wider impact of budget cuts on the BBC’s capacity to interpret and apply due impartiality.To support our journalism and receive a weekly blog sign up now for £1.99 per month www.patreon.com/BeebWatch/[email protected]@BeebRogerInstagram: rogerboltonsbeebwatchLinkedIn: Roger Bolton's Beeb Watchemail: [email protected] Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Adam Boulton, former Political Editor of Sky News and now a Times Radio presenter, discusses the political turbulence surrounding Keir Starmer’s position and the state of news coverage after local election results appeared to confirm the end of our old binary politics. We explore whether the rise of multi‑party politics affects ‘due impartiality’ and the substance and depth of broadcast coverage. We reflect on what’s working, what isn’t, and what might come next for political journalism: the state of public debate, whether GB News should have its licence revoked, and the changing nature of political communication and engagement. To support our journalism and receive a weekly blog sign up now for £1.99 per month www.patreon.com/BeebWatch/[email protected]@BeebRogerInstagram: rogerboltonsbeebwatchLinkedIn: Roger Bolton's Beeb Watchemail: [email protected] Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Chris Banatvala, Ofcom’s founding Director of Standards and former executive member of its Content Board, discusses what’s in the new chair of Ofcom’s in-tray.We discuss why ‘due impartiality’ has become so contested, the blurred line between news and current affairs, and what it means when politicians front TV shows on channels they’re closely associated with. Chris reflects on Ofcom’s evolving approach, the rise of GB News, and the tension between promoting competition and protecting the public interest. We also explore whether the rules we thought we understood are still being applied in the way Parliament intended—and what might need to change before the next general election. "Freedom of expression is absolutely essential. What I don't want is a pretence of regulating for due impartiality when it's not actually happening."To support our journalism and receive a weekly blog sign up now for £1.99 per month www.patreon.com/BeebWatch/[email protected]@BeebRogerInstagram: rogerboltonsbeebwatchLinkedIn: Roger Bolton's Beeb Watchemail: [email protected] Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Richard Tait CBE is Professor of Journalism at Cardiff University. Previously he was editor of Newsnight, Channel 4 News, Editor-in-Chief of ITN, and a BBC governor, trustee and chair of the Trust’s editorial standards committee. In this episode we talk about the letter of advice he’s written to the incoming BBC Director General, Matt Brittin – including the key appointment he believes is essential and how the BBC’s priorities need to shift.We also explore how the world of journalism has changed, from navigating fake news and political spin to the reported decline in international coverage on BBC News at Ten and the role of the BBC board. We discuss the importance of the BBC defending itself – and whether, in spite of everything, journalism is still a career worth pursuing. To support our journalism and receive a weekly blog sign up now for £1.99 per month www.patreon.com/BeebWatch/membership @beebwatch.bsky.social@BeebRogerInstagram: rogerboltonsbeebwatchLinkedIn: Roger Bolton's Beeb Watchemail: [email protected] Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.