Home  >  The Explanation  >  The Media Show: A superinjunction that gagged the media
The Explanation
The Media Show: A superinjunction that gagged the media
The Explanation
Jul 17, 2025

A legal order known as a superinjunction prevented UK media from reporting a government data breach that exposed nearly 19,000 Afghans who had applied to relocate after the Taliban takeover. Larisa Brown, Defence Editor at The Times, recounts the legal constraints she faced and the broader implications for press freedom. A new ITV format blends natural history with reality TV by placing celebrities in shark-infested waters. Shark! Celebrity Infested Waters was produced by Plimsoll Productions. Creative Director Andrea Jackson outlines the development process. This year’s Tour de France marks the final edition available on free-to-air television in the UK before coverage moves behind a paywall. Rouleur journalist Rachel Jary reports from Toulouse on life inside the media zone, while Chris Boardman - Olympic gold medallist, commentator and now England’s Active Travel Commissioner - reflects on how cycling is covered and the visibility challenges it faces.

In regard to the story on the Tour de France we need to point out that the viewing figures quoted by Chris Boardman cannot be verified with TNT.

Presenters: Katie Razzall and Ros Atkins Producer: Lucy Wai Assistant Producers: Martha Owen and Emily Channon

More Episodes



Jul 24, 2025
The Media Show: YouTubers and the migrant hotel protest

In Epping, just outside London, protests have taken place near a hotel housing asylum seekers. While mainstream news outlets reported the story, a video filmed by YouTuber Wesley Winter attracted hundreds of thousands of views online. His presence - and the reaction to other journalists on the ground - has reignited debate over who the public trusts to shape stories like these. Wesley Winter reflects on how he works and what drives his audience.

Agence France-Presse says its journalists in Gaza are now facing starvation. The agency is working to evacuate remaining freelancers and their families as conditions continue to deteriorate. Phil Chetwynd, AFP’s Global News Director, describes what his reporters are telling him from the ground - and what might be lost if they are forced to stop.

In Rome, the Vatican is hosting a global gathering of Catholic influencers - from priests and nuns to lay creators with large digital followings. The Church’s media strategy dates back a century, but the rise of online evangelisation presents new opportunities and risks. Dr Justin Tackett, a philosopher at North Carolina State University, and Mary-Aoife Ong, co-director of Carlo Acutis Youth Ireland, discuss.

Presenters: Katie Razzall and Ros Atkins Producer: Lisa Jenkinson Assistant Producers: Martha Owen and Emily Channon Production Coordinator: Ruth Waites Technical Coordinator: Samuel Iyiola Sound: Robin Schroder


22min 59sec

The Media Show: A superinjunction that gagged the media

--:--
--:--