Bonus Episode: Can you hold papers sharing disinformation and hate to account?
More
Available Episodes
5 of 13
Bonus Episode: Irish Conspiracyland
Marianna travels to Dublin to investigate a court case unfolding against the Irish Light conspiracy theory newspaper. Edel Campbell and her lawyer have been targeted by an extreme campaign of abuse after suing The Light which falsely claimed Edel’s son Diego died from a Covid vaccine, when in reality he had died by suicide. Conspiracy theorists worldwide have used dozens of tragic deaths to spread vaccine misinformation. This case is thought to be the first where a relative has sued. And what is the cost of taking action like this?
06/08/2023
18:57
Frontlines of Conspiracyland
In this bonus episode, the BBC’S International Editor Jeremy Bowen and Disinformation and Social Media Correspondent Marianna Spring talk about their respective new podcasts: Frontlines of Journalism and Marianna in Conspiracyland.
They reflect on the obstacles that stand between journalists and the truth and the conspiracy theory movement that seems to have boomed in the UK after Covid. Exploring the similarities and differences of their journalistic specialisms, they discuss techniques to hold interviewees to account – especially when their position is based on disinformation - and the significance of social media in modern journalism.
Host: Marianna Spring
Producers: Georgia Catt, Emma Close
Producer for BBC Radio 4 podcasts: Nathan Jones
Senior news editor: Sam Bonham
Commissioner: Rhian Roberts
04/07/2023
40:11
10. A Risk That’s Impossible to Ignore
What will happen next in Conspiracyland? In the final episode, Marianna is back where she started, in the Devon town of Totnes. With the help of locals, she makes sense of the legacy left by the conspiracy theory newspaper and the wider movement all over the UK.
Host: Marianna Spring
Producers: Philip Marzouk and Olivia Lace-Evans
Producer for BBC Radio 4 podcasts: Nathan Jones
Technical Producer: Alex Portfelix
Series producer: Emma Close
Senior news editor: Sam Bonham
Commissioner: Rhian Roberts
New episodes released every Monday. If you're in the UK, listen to the whole series first on BBC Sounds.
And please get in touch with Marianna by emailing at: [email protected].
30/06/2023
13:50
9. People Like Us
Do you know someone who’s fallen down the rabbit hole? During the investigation, Marianna’s inbox has been filled with messages from people sharing their stories about those they know and love who’ve been sucked into conspiracy theories. With the help of social psychologist Karen Douglas, Marianna explores how people find themselves in Conspiracyland, why they stay, and how some managed to escape.
Host: Marianna Spring
Producers: Philip Marzouk, Olivia Lace-Evans
Producer for BBC Radio 4 podcasts: Nathan Jones
Technical Producer: Neva Missirian
Series producer: Emma Close
Senior news editor: Sam Bonham
Commissioner: Rhian Roberts
If you’ve been impacted by any of the issues that have come up in this podcast, please visit www.bbc.co.uk/actionline.
And please get in touch with Marianna by emailing at: [email protected].
30/06/2023
14:10
8. The Science Of Conspiracy
Could people in the UK conspiracy theory movement ever become violent? Returning to the UK, BBC disinformation and social media correspondent Marianna Spring meets possibly the only person outside of the movement who has read as much of the Light as her: political scientist at King’s College London Dr Rod Dacombe. What insights will he have for Marianna from his years studying The Light and the conspiracy theory movement in the UK?
Host: Marianna Spring
Producers: Philip Marzouk and Olivia Lace-Evans
Producer for BBC Radio 4 podcasts: Nathan Jones
Technical Producer: Tom Brignell and Neva Missirian
Series producer: Emma Close
Senior news editor: Sam Bonham
Commissioner: Rhian Roberts
New episodes released every few days. If you're in the UK, listen to the whole series first on BBC Sounds bbc.in/42x5sO5
And please get in touch with Marianna by emailing at: [email protected].