2015
47 episodes · 2015
1Media trends to watch in 2015
The Listening Post offers its predictions for media and journalism in the year to come.
2The reaction to the Charlie Hebdo attack
Debating free speech in the wake of Charlie Hebdo; plus, the relevance of impartiality and objectivity in journalism.
3The return of Charlie Hebdo
The controversial magazine continues to make headlines; plus, the screwball comedy that turned into political standoff.
4Reporting the Baga massacre
How has the media covered the latest Boko Haram attack? Plus, the Charlie Hebdo story through the eyes of cartoonists.
5Greece: Syriza, austerity and the media
Will the new Greek government dismantle the old media networks? Plus, covering the new power structures in Yemen.
6Syriza and the new economic narrative
Greece's Syriza party challenges the media narrative on austerity. And, the close ties between journalists and NGOs.
7The Swiss Leaks
The journalist collaboration behind the biggest leak in banking history; plus, a look at the slow journalism movement.
8The provocation of ISIL propaganda
ISIL propaganda and the narrative of inevitable war; plus, fonts and typefaces, the loaded letters of the news business.
9The death that divided Argentina's media
The contradictory coverage of a suspicious death; plus, the growing politics behind the world's most watched TV show.
10Israel elections: The media battle
Netanyahu's allies and enemies in the media; plus, fixers, the local helpers who make international reporting possible.
11Screening rape: India's debate
Debating the Delhi rape documentary; plus, a look at the internet trolls on the Kremlin's payroll.
12UK surveillance under scrutiny
A media post-mortem into the UK's surveillance report. Plus, why five years on in Argentina the media looks so familiar.
13Nigeria's delayed elections
The partisan coverage of Nigeria's vote; plus, the 800 million Indians not deemed newsworthy by their country's media.
14Challenging coverage: The conflict in Yemen
The Yemen conflict and the geopolitics of the coverage; plus, the resurrection of Greece's state-owned broadcaster.
15Bangladesh: Politics, religion and the limits of speech
Politics, religion and freedom of speech in Bangladesh; plus, the ethics of native advertising.
16Spain's new 'gag law' and the media
What Spain's 'gag law' means for the media; and a radio station broadcasting from inside a mental hospital in Argentina.
17South Africa, xenophobia and the media
The politics and coverage of xenophobia in South Africa; and TV regulation in the UK ahead of a contentious election.
18Reporting Baltimore
Race and the media – the debate continues; plus, the politics of reforming Italy's state broadcaster.
19The perilous life of journalists in Iraq
Iraqi journalists are stuck between a rock and a hard place; plus, Thailand, where the media march in step.
20Examining the British election drama
A media post-mortem into the UK's general election; plus, a wiretapping scandal that has gripped Macedonia's media.
21Seymour Hersh: Challenging the Bin Laden story
What the coverage of the Bin Laden story reveals about journalism in the US; plus, Cuba's changing media scene.
22Mass surveillance under the microscope
Two years on from the Snowden leaks, the surveillance debate continues; plus, journalism in Japan - Abe's 'medianomics'.
23Erdogan, elections and the future of Turkish journalism
As Turks head to the polls, we look at the country's media; plus, an interview with whistleblower Daniel Ellsberg.
24Beijing's media damage control
How China managed the message after the Yangtze ferry disaster; plus, a look at the face behind the news, the anchorman.
25Behind the Sunday Times Snowden saga
Anonymous official sources go after Edward Snowden in the UK's media; plus, 30 years of covering Cuba from Miami.
26Azerbaijan and the European Games: Did the PR pay off?
As the Baku games close, we examine the challenges facing journalists; plus, Angola, Portugal and 'reverse colonialism'.
27Politics and polemics: Europe's immigration story
We analyse the media coverage of the immigration debate; plus, Cuban bloggers and their quest for freedom of expression.
28Under scrutiny: Selling the Iran-US nuclear deal
Managing the media message after the historic nuclear deal; plus, the problems and perils of reporting on Boko Haram.
29Muzzling the media: Egypt's new 'anti-terror' laws
We analyse the consequences of Egypt's new anti-terrorism bill; plus, the risks of reporting on Italy's Mafia.
30The Pentagon's rules of media engagement
Journalist or belligerent? What the Pentagon's Law of War manual means for conflict reporting; plus, tweeting the news.
31Egypt: Journalism on trial
A Listening Post special on the jailing of three Al Jazeera staff and the verdict's impact on press freedom.
32Spinning the refugee crisis
We explore Hungarian TV's decision to not show images of refugee children; plus, Nigeria's 'brown envelope' journalists.
33Inside Turkey's media battleground
Threats, raids and arrests: Turkey intensifies pressure on the press; Plus, Bosnia's divided media.
34Disrupting the media with disruptive politics
The media versus the rise of anti-establishment politics; Plus, Syria's TV dramas soldier on.
35Mecca and the media
The battle for legitimacy in the Saudi-Iranian proxy war of words; plus, the deadly trade of journalism in Mexico.
36Air strikes and media misses
Battling media narratives in Russian and US bombing campaigns; plus, the conundrum of covering India-Pakistan relations.
37Turkish media on tenterhooks
A look at Erdogan's tightening grip on the press; plus, how Canada's oil and gas industry affects the media.
38Israel-Palestine: The conflict and the coverage
We analyse the polarising coverage of the clashes in occupied East Jerusalem; plus, the false binaries in the media.
39Trump and the media: A marriage made in ratings heaven?
We explore the love-hate relationship between the media and Donald Trump; plus, the future of Canada's CBC television.
40Turkey's 'free' press
We examine the state of journalism in Erdogan's Turkey; plus, how to separate fact from fiction when news is breaking.
41The Russian plane crash and the battle of narratives
We examine the conflicting media reports of the Russian plane disaster in Egypt; plus, the rise of automated journalism.
42Double standards in the Paris attacks coverage
We examine whether there's a double standard for victims of terrorism; plus, fixers: the unsung heroes of journalism.
43National anthems: beating the drums of war?
We look at the Paris attacks, national anthems and the use of sports to promote war; plus, the battle over Rustavi 2 TV.
44High crimes and media misdemeanours
We look at Turkey's and Russia's battle in the air and over the airwaves; plus, China's anti-corruption drive.
45San Bernardino shooting: How not to cover breaking news
We look at the divisive and sensationalist media coverage of the mass shooting; plus, the rise of social news videos.
46Behind the headlines: Was the climate deal a success?
We look at the coverage of the COP21 climate change summit; plus, the fatal shooting of a black teen by US police.
47The Murdoch empire strikes back
We examine Rupert Murdoch's relationship with the UK government; plus, Nigeria's 'brown-envelope' journalists.