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Episode details

World Service,29 Jan 2026,22 mins

The Media Show: Netflix’s skyscraper live stunt

The Explanation

Available for over a year

The fatal shooting of Alex Pretti during ICE operations in Minneapolis has intensified scrutiny of how events are recorded and reported, as video filmed by members of the public becomes central to news coverage. Meg Anderson, correspondent at NPR, outlines the challenge for reporters on the ground. Algorithms are in the news. Elon Musk says he will "open-source" the algorithms that power X. Instagram has recently started giving some users more control over what its algorithm recommends. And “the secret sauce” that powers TikTok has been part of the discussion this month as the company sells its US operations. James Ball, political editor at The New World, explains their fascination. Netflix’s live broadcast of free solo climber Alex Honnold scaling a skyscraper in Taiwan has raised ethical questions about risk. Vicky Jessop, commissioning editor and culture writer at The Evening Standard, considers what the event tells us about the future of television. Presenter: Ros Atkins Producer: Lisa Jenkinson Content producer: Laura Cain Researcher: Phil Hawkins Technical co-ordinator: Akik Rahman Sound engineer: Robin Schroder

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