Censorship at student papers and the role of social media in Gen-Z protests

Available for over a year

Protests across Europe led by youth movements have drawn attention to the role of social media in spreading information and misinformation. Largely led by Gen-Z, these protests have included references to films like The Hunger Games and The Avengers, and featured people in costumes taking part in 'aura battles', while memes of the demonstrations are shared online. Researcher Dr Nayana Prakash considers how online platforms, viral videos and AI-generated content are now an inextricable part of protest movements. After Russian TV sent a camera crew to report on a Welsh independence march, BBC Monitoring’s Russia specialist Francis Scarr examines how Russian state media is reporting on independence movements across the world, and what this coverage reveals about the Kremlin’s portrayal of European instability and decline. A new survey by the Student Publication Association suggests that more than a quarter of student newspapers and magazines lack full editorial independence from their publishers. The SPA’s chair Emily Pitt-Shaw and Tamara Greatrix, editor-in-chief of Birmingham Uni's student newspaper Redbrick, discuss the implications for press freedom on campus. Filmmakers Itab Azzam and Jack MacInnes reflect on their documentary One in a Million, which follows a Syrian family over ten years as they rebuild their lives after fleeing Aleppo. Centred on Israa, first seen aged 11, the film traces her journey through adolescence, marriage and motherhood as she navigates life between two cultures. Presenters: Katie Razzall and Ros Atkins Producer: Tim Bano