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Episode details

World Service,16 Apr 2026,22 mins

The Media Show: Artemis II and Nasa’s media machine

The Explanation

Available for over a year

The Artemis II mission has been presented as a major milestone in human spaceflight, with global audiences following live coverage and access provided by NASA. Questions have been raised about how official feeds, astronaut storytelling and media partnerships shaped reporting. Rebecca Morelle, BBC News science editor, describes the reporting environment she experienced. The BBC has announced plans to cut around 2,000 jobs and save £500 million, citing financial pressures including declining licence fee income and rising production costs. The changes come ahead of charter renewal negotiations and increased competition. Rhodri Talfan Davies, the BBC’s acting director general, outlines the scale of the challenge. A Kuwaiti-American journalist is reportedly being held by authorities in Kuwait after posting footage of a US Air Force jet crash near Kuwait City. The case has drawn attention to press freedom in the region. Jodie Ginsberg, CEO of the Committee to Protect Journalists, sets out the known details. Presenters: Katie Razzall and Ros Atkins Producer: Lisa Jenkinson Content producer: Lucy Wai Sound engineer: Callum McLean

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