The Media Show

The Metropolitan Police have issued a statement acknowledging that when they described allegations of historic child abuse and a VIP paedophile ring as 'credible and true', it suggested that they were pre-empting the outcome of their investigation. They say did not mean to give that impression and that they retain an open mind. The investigation has drawn criticism for appearing to rely too heavily on the evidence of one witness and some high profile people have accused the police of conducting a witch hunt. It's not the first time that the police have got into difficulties in the way they communicate with the media. Steve talks to Sean O'Neill, crime editor at the Times about police media relations. The heads of seven Nordic public service broadcasters have warned the UK government not to weaken the BBC. In an open letter, published in the Guardian they argue it is a model for how public service broadcasters should be set up in new democracies and have called for its international role to be taken into account during charter renewal. Steve hears from Cilla Benko, director general of Sweden's national publicly funded radio broadcaster SR, Sweden. Egypt has pardoned Al Jazeera journalists Mohammed Fahmy and Baher Mohamed who were convicted of broadcasting false news. Steve speaks to former Al Jazeera English journalist Sue Turton who was convicted in absentia. Greenpeace has hired a team of investigative journalists. Can investigative journalism by a campaigning group with an agenda ever be truly trusted? Steve hears from former BBC Newsnight and Panorama journalist Meirion Jones who is now a consultant on the project. Producer Dianne McGregor.