There are many truisms about journalism. That it should speak truth to power. That it must be rooted in community. But what do these mean in practice, especially at a time when journalism is facing an unprecedented set of threats – financial, technological, and political?

In this episode, George Miller talks to journalist and media commentator Jon Allsop about the challenges confronting journalism today and how he went about exploring them in his new book, What is Journalism For? Their conversation covers journalism’s complex relationship with democracy and power, the impact of declining local news, the evolving role of social media, and whether there's reason for hope amid the crises.

Society needs journalism, Jon says, but ‘that is not the same as saying society needs legacy media – large newspapers, cable news networks – and that these things will somehow be preserved in aspic forever, in the current form, and that traditional journalism with its ethical codes and its norms will persist forever.’

Jon Allsop writes for the Columbia Journalism Review, editing its flagship “Media Today” newsletter.

Find out more about the book at: https://bristoluniversitypress.co.uk/trade/what-is-journalism-for

The transcript is available here: https://www.transformingsociety.co.uk/2025/04/14/podcast-can-journalism-as-we-know-it-survive/

Timestamps:

01:43 - How do you explain what your job is?

05:02 - When you get up in the morning what is your journalistic diet? What is your routine?

08:27 - How did you decide the best way to tackle the question of what is journalism for?

13:16 - How did you actually approach that process of speaking to fellow journalists?

24:05 - Why do journalists sit so low in the league table of trusted professionals?

30:02 - How worried should we be about the disappearance of local news?

44:45 - Do you think there is reason to be hopeful even with the changing landscape of journalism?

Intro music:

Cold by yoitrax | @yoitrax

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creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en_US

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Billionaires represent a scourge of economic inequality, but how do they get away with it within our culture?

In this episode of our Transforming Business podcast series with Martin Parker, Carl Rhodes, author of ‘Stinking Rich’, explains the dangerous and deceptive myths which portray billionaires as a ‘force for good’.

They discuss the myths of the heroic, generous, meritorious and vigilante billionaire, and how their wealth and power is setting us back to old-fashioned feudalism and plutocracy.

Hosted by leading organization studies professor Martin Parker (University of Bristol), Transforming Business is a new series from Transforming Society, featuring in-depth conversations with top experts in work, economy, finance, employment, leadership, responsible and sustainable business, innovation, organising and activism. These insightful interviews explore fresh ideas and bold strategies for creating a more ethical and equitable business world. Tune in to challenge conventions, spark innovation and drive meaningful change.

Carl Rhodes is Professor of Organization Studies and Dean of the Business School, University of Technology Sydney.

Find out more about the book at: https://bristoluniversitypress.co.uk/trade/stinking-rich

The transcript is available here: https://www.transformingsociety.co.uk/2025/03/26/podcast-the-myth-of-the-heroic-billionaire/

Timestamps:

00:31 - What did you want to achieve with this book?

01:25 - Why do you think we have an elevated perception of billionaires?

05:45 - The myth of the heroic billionaire

09:51 - The myth of the generous billionaire

14:04 - The myth of the meritorious billionaire

19:20 - The myth of the vigilante billionaire

26:30 - The importance of writing for a non-academic audience

Intro music:

Cold by yoitrax | @yoitrax

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Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License

creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en_US

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Everybody wants to change the world, but can we actually make a difference?

In the first episode of our Transforming Business podcast series with Martin Parker, Jane Holgate and John Page, authors of Changemakers: Radical Strategies for Social Movement Organising, discuss the power of activism and challenge the belief that change is impossible.

They explore the distinction between mobilising and organising, the role of optimism in driving social change and how we can actively contribute to meaningful transformation in our communities.

Hosted by leading organization studies professor Martin Parker (University of Bristol), Transforming Business is a new series from Transforming Society, featuring in-depth conversations with top experts in work, economy, finance, employment, leadership, responsible and sustainable business, innovation, organising and activism. These insightful interviews explore fresh ideas and bold strategies for creating a more ethical and equitable business world. Tune in to challenge conventions, spark innovation and drive meaningful change.

Jane Holgate is Professor of Work and Employment Relations at the University of Leeds and a Trustee of the Ella Baker School of Organising. John Page serves on the committee of the Ella Baker School of Organising.

Find out more about the book at: https://policy.bristoluniversitypress.co.uk/trade/changemakers

The transcript is available here: https://www.transformingsociety.co.uk/2025/03/19/podcast-changemaking-and-radical-hope-in-times-of-crisis/

Timestamps:

01:27 - Why is optimism important when thinking about social change?

03:43 - What about people who say this will never change?

06:46 - What is the distinction between mobilising and organising?

11:02 - What is the metaphor of the spider versus the starfish?

14:53 - How do you understand leadership?

17:41 - Can you reflect on the idea of giving people a sense they can participate actively in forms of social change?

21:12 - Can you talk about the difference between Saul Alinsky and Myles Horton's approaches?

27:12 - Who do you hope will buy this book? Who would you like to read it?

Intro music:

Cold by yoitrax | @yoitrax

Music promoted by www.free-stock-music.com

Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License

creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en_US

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.