Rupert Lowe this week became the first British politician to appear on The Joe Rogan Experience The Restore Britain-supporting Lotus Eaters podcast is another example of Lowe's digital strategy with @zoecrowther.bsky.social

The 'MAGA-esque' YouTube Channel Boosting Rupert Lowe Online

Rupert Lowe this week became the first British politician to appear on The Joe Rogan Experience. The podcast has more British listeners than the BB...

politicshome.com

Next week, @maxwellmodell.bsky.social & myself will be delivering two sessions alongside the Centre for Welsh Politics & Society about our @cujournmedcul.bsky.social research into the 2026 Senedd election. More details 👇 #Senedd #journalism #Seneddelection #politicalcommunication #impartiality

It's Christmas day for political podcast scholars 🎅 We have a new special issue to unwrap and lots of exciting new journal articles to play with

Kim Fox, The Podcast Professor @ohradiogirl.bsky.social · 3mo ago

#NewPubAlert: Excited to share this new co-authored publication. Our guest editor's introduction to the Journal of Radio & Audio Media's (JRAM) latest special issue: The Turn in Podcasting: Intimacy, Populism and the Transformation of Political Communication. #podcaststudies doi.org/10.1080/1937...

I've come back from annual leave to find this copy of Media Magazine on my desk. In Issue 96, @stephencushion.bsky.social, @maxwellmodell.bsky.social & myself talk about the Enhancing the Impartiality of Political News project. Thanks to @englangblog.bsky.social for the invite to write for them!

New BBC guidance on the May elections acknowledges “the era of two-party politics, or the more recent period of ‘big parties’ and ‘smaller parties’, is not the world we now live in." Our @cujournmedcul.bsky.social project will track how broadcasters handle this new context. tinyurl.com/nhkayjmz

How the BBC is covering May’s elections

An update from Jonathan Munro, Interim CEO, BBC News, and Rhuanedd Richards, Interim Director, Nations

tinyurl.com

Our team @cujournmedcul.bsky.social will be monitoring news coverage of the Senedd Election. We will examine how broadcasters meet impartiality commitments, the degree of political scrutiny, and differences between Welsh and UK media. Our latest blog previews the study: tinyurl.com/yc7fe4ew

Who will dominate news coverage of the Senedd Election campaign? — Researching the impartiality of political news

The next five weeks of campaigning for the Senedd election represents one of the most fascinating periods in Welsh political history. With six parties competing in a new proportional voting system, t...

tinyurl.com

Great piece by @stephencushion.bsky.social and Llion Carbis that demonstrates why it is so important for media coverage of devolved politics to explain the workings of the Welsh political system and how it differs from Westminster

The Conversation UK@uk.theconversation.com · 4mo ago

Study reveals major gaps in public understanding of devolved powers as voters prepare to head to the polls.

1/5 🗳️ Why reporting of devolved politics matters ahead of elections in 🇬🇧 Our new Cardiff University research (featured in Guardian) shows many voters in Wales are still unsure who is responsible for key policy decisions such as UK or Welsh governments: www.theguardian.com/media/2026/a...

Voters in Wales failed by inaccurate UK media reports on devolved issues, study finds

Reports on English policies seen in Wales as relating to whole of UK contribute to widespread confusion, researchers say

theguardian.com

In a recent episode of Media Confidential, Chris Banatvala joins the discussion on how the regulator is handling complaints & investigations, particularly in relation to GB News. 🔗 tinyurl.com/mw37p839 🧵👇 #impartiality #Ofcom #GBNews #journalismstudies #journalism

Why isn’t Ofcom investigating GB News?

In today’s episode of Media Confidential Alan and Lionel are joined by Chris Banatvala. Chris was Ofcom’s founding director of standards and executive member of the content board.The three discuss Ofc...

tinyurl.com

Are you a feminist and podcaster? We are seeking women & gender-diverse podcasters (Europe, North America, Latin America) to share their experiences of podcasting as political action & transmission. 👉 Your participation in our short survey is appreciated! rug.eu.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_...

With the Senedd election just months away public understanding, or lack thereof, of devolution and Welsh politics more broadly has never been more important. Stephen's new research with YouGov provides a powerful insight into the depth of the problem.

Stephen Cushion@stephencushion.bsky.social · 5mo ago

New Cardiff University/YouGov research reveals major gaps in public understanding of devolved powers, Welsh political leaders and the new Senedd voting system - just months before the May 2026 election. What we found 👇 www.enhancingimpartiality.com/blog/knowled...

New research by the Impartiality project team (@stephencushion.bsky.social, @mattwalshjourno.bsky.social, @maxwellmodell.bsky.social & myself) tracked coverage of the Greens on BBC & ITV News at 10. 🔗 tinyurl.com/yzmeujxm 🧵👇 #impartiality #GreenParty #GortonandDenton #byelection

Why isn’t the Greens’ growing success reflected in media coverage?

Greens have not received more airtime in recognition of their growing popularity.

tinyurl.com

Write up of our latest research on impartiality, and why the Greens are still struggling for a broadcast breakthrough

Why isn’t the Greens’ growing success reflected in media coverage?

Greens have not received more airtime in recognition of their growing popularity.

theconversation.com

As the Greens celebrate victory in the Gorton and Denton by-election, TV news bosses might want to reflect on why the party's improving election and opinion poll results are not matched by more frequent appearances on bulletins. A trend that's the mirror image of Reform UK.

After winning the by-election, should the Greens be given more airtime? — Researching the impartiality of political news

News programmes are leading their coverage this morning with the Greens’ historic victory in the Gorton and Denton parliamentary by-election – the first the party has ever achieved. But our new resear...

enhancingimpartiality.com

New blog! The @greenparty.org.uk striking victory brings into focus how the broadcasters treat the party. Despite sustained improvements in opinion ratings, our new research suggests broadcasters still treat them as a minor party of little electoral significance. tinyurl.com/35yzcsas (1/6)

After winning the by-election, should the Greens be given more airtime? — Researching the impartiality of political news

News programmes are leading their coverage this morning with the Greens’ historic victory in the Gorton and Denton parliamentary by-election – the first the party has ever achieved. But our new resear...

tinyurl.com

Chris Mason describing a by-election result as "extraordinary" - I think I've seen this film before

In live broadcasting, when things go wrong, they can often be blamed on live conditions. Once a programme has been edited, this no longer applies.

Baftas racial slur controversy: what should the BBC have done?

In live broadcasting, when things go wrong, they can often be blamed on live conditions. Once a programme has been edited, this no longer applies.

tcnv.link

I have a new article out in @uk.theconversation.com outlining my thoughts on the Bafta racial slur controversy and how the BBC failed in its editorial responsibility causing substantial and avoidable harm to the black and disabled communities. theconversation.com/baftas-racia...

Baftas racial slur controversy: what should the BBC have done?

In live broadcasting, when things go wrong, they can often be blamed on live conditions. Once a programme has been edited, this no longer applies.

theconversation.com

Over many pints I've pitched the idea of a book called 'Conservation Analysis for Screenwriters', merging my interest in social interaction with my love for film and theatre. I was delighted to find out @spencerhazel.bsky.social has written something along those lines. Perfect read to start 2026

It was a pleasure to speak at @ofcom.bsky.social's 'Making Sense of the Senedd Election' event yesterday. I discussed our upcoming @cujournmedcul.bsky.social study of impartiality in media coverage of the Senedd election campaign and our wider Enhancing Impartiality project.

The events of the last 24 hours show why it's important to build functional verification structures in public and counterpublic spaces to resist the authoritarian erosion of our democratic systems, as described in this thread.

Eliot Higgins@eliothiggins.bsky.social · 6mo ago

🧵 @jburnmurdoch.ft.com is spot on about the conditions in his FT piece. Liberal democracy held it together thanks to growth, good demographics, and the promise of a better future. Those days are gone, and that’s the "why" behind the erosion. However...

After the killing of Alex Pretti by federal ICE officers, BBC Verify has stepped up to invalidate false accounts of the events from Trump and his representatives. This should be front and centre of all BBC coverage and give them permission to call out blatant lies. www.bbc.co.uk/news/videos/...

Unpicking the second Minneapolis shooting frame by frame

BBC Verify has analysed footage of the shooting from multiple angles, piecing together a detailed picture of what happened.

bbc.co.uk

With the new season of Question Time starting tonight, now's the perfect time to read the latest blog post from the Enhancing the Impartiality of News project...

Dr Keighley Perkins@perkinskeighley.bsky.social · 7mo ago

A new blog from the Enhancing the Impartiality of News project takes a look at who appeared on Question Time throughout 2025 & what those guest choices reveal about how the programme interprets political balance. 🔗 bit.ly/4jLeYY2 🧵👇 #BBC #QuestionTime #impartiality #impartialityproject

A new blog from the Enhancing the Impartiality of News project takes a look at who appeared on Question Time throughout 2025 & what those guest choices reveal about how the programme interprets political balance. 🔗 bit.ly/4jLeYY2 🧵👇 #BBC #QuestionTime #impartiality #impartialityproject

The impartiality of Question Time: An analysis of panellists in 2025 — Researching the impartiality of political news

The BBC’s weekly debate political programme, Question Time , has long been a magnet for controversy. And 2025 has been no different, with critics regularly questioning its impartiality, most often be...

bit.ly

EXCL: SNP appearances plummet and right-wing journos appear twice as often as left-wing...🤔 Some intriguing findings by media experts at @cardiffuni.bsky.social about Question Time in 2025👀 Thanks to @maxwellmodell.bsky.social for sharing insights! www.thenational.scot/news/2577777...

SNP appearances on BBC Question Time plummet, new research shows

SNP appearances on Question Time have dramatically dropped in the last year compared to the previous decade, fresh research by experts has revealed.

thenational.scot

It was a pleasure to speak to @stephbrawn.bsky.social of @scotnational.bsky.social to discuss our latest analysis of Question Time guests in 2025. Research team: @mattwalshjourno.bsky.social, @stephencushion.bsky.social, @perkinskeighley.bsky.social, and myself www.thenational.scot/news/2577777...

With Question Time returning to our screens for 2026, we decided to look back at who appeared on the programme in 2025 to assess how producers interpreted impartiality when selecting panellists, updating @mattwalshjourno.bsky.social's study of panellists from 2014-2024. tinyurl.com/yc77s5mp

The impartiality of Question Time: An analysis of panellists in 2025 — Researching the impartiality of political news

The BBC’s weekly debate political programme, Question Time , has long been a magnet for controversy. And 2025 has been no different, with critics regularly questioning its impartiality, most often be...

tinyurl.com

The first Senedd poll of 2026 puts Plaid Cymru in the lead just four months before voters go to the ballot box. While one poll does not decide an election, the Senedd elected in May 2026 may look different from anything Wales has seen before. 🔗 tinyurl.com/mtp35nfz 🧵👇 #politics #Senedd

NEW: Ofcom has launched a formal investigation into X under the Online Safety Act Ofcom has a range of enforcement powers it could use against X if it is found to have broken the law, including: - fines - the removal of the service in the UK - criminal prosecutions

Ofcom Launches Formal Investigation Into X Over Grok Sexualised Imagery

Ofcom has launched a formal investigation into X under the Online Safety Act after the platform's AI chatbot produced non-consensual sexualised ima...

politicshome.com

BBC Verify coverage of the US and Venezuela is the main item on the BBC News app. The fact-checking service comes to the fore in moments of uncertainty where information is patchy and complex. I'm currently writing an article about the moments the BBC put fact-checking front and centre of coverage