Eurovision News Podcast

Radio in the Modern Media Landscape with Cilla Benko

In this episode, Cilla Benko, Director General of Swedish Radio and Vice President of the EBU, joins Laurent Frat on the sidelines of Radio Days Europe 2025 in Athens. Cilla talks about innovative AI projects aimed at enhancing user experience and about the future of radio in cars. She delves into the continued resilience and role of radio in the evolving media landscape, and the importance of trustworthy news content. This is an in-depth interview with one of the industry's leading figures on the role of public service radio in today's media ecosystem.

Inside Hostile Environment Safety Training

Laurence Brecx, Eric Feijten, and Charlie McGrath join Laurent Frat to discuss Hostile Environment Safety Training (HEST). They share valuable insights and stories about the importance of preparation, the role of digital security, the advantages of networking within the course, and the unique challenges faced by journalists in high-risk environments. The conversation highlights practical tips, and the need for proper training.
If you would like to learn more about the HEST course offered by the EBU Academy, you can click the following link:  https://academy.ebu.ch/hest-hostile-environment-safety-training---in-person

Conflict Reporting: Jan-Christoph Kitzler on War, Trust, and Resilience

Jan-Christoph Kitzler, a correspondent with ARD in Tel Aviv, covers conflicts in Gaza, the West Bank, and nearby regions. In this interview, he shares the challenges of reporting in war zones, including a harrowing experience of being held at gunpoint and detained by Israeli soldiers in the West Bank. Jan discusses the balance required when reporting sensitive issues, the limitations imposed by Israel's media blackout in Gaza, and measures to mitigate risks and support the physical and mental health of journalists in conflict areas. He emphasizes the need for transparency in journalism, strategies to regain public trust, and the role of innovative formats like podcasts in engaging audiences.

Rebuilding trust: RTÉ’s transformation with Kevin Bakhurst

In this special episode of the Eurovision News Podcast, in collaboration with the Public Media Alliance, Harry Lock hosts an in-depth interview with Kevin Bakhurst, the new Director General of Irish broadcaster RTÉ. They discuss the revival and future of the broadcaster, exploring significant challenges and transformative decisions to restore trust in the network following a series of financial scandals. They also touch on the desire to inspire RTÉ to become one of the top broadcasters in Europe, and innovative five-year strategies and digital investments to reach the goal.

Find out more about PMA's podcast, Media Uncovered here:  https://www.publicmediaalliance.org/media-uncovered-podcast/

Forecasting the Future of Media with Laura Ellis

In this episode, Laurent Frat sits down with Laura Ellis, Head of Technology and Forecasting at the BBC. They cover a wide variety of topics including the impact of machine learning on journalism, content recommendations, the ethics involved, and projects like C2PA that aim to verify media provenance. Laura shares insights on how the BBC adapts to changing audience habits, tackles misinformation, and the importance of information literacy. The conversation also touches on the evolving role of AI in content creation and how public service media can navigate the rapidly changing landscape.

A European Perspective: Innovative News Sharing with Klaus Schneider & Alexiane Lerouge

Join host Laurent Frat as he speaks with Klaus Schneider and Alexiane Lerouge about A European Perspective, a collaborative project that uses AI to translate and share news with millions of people across Europe. They discuss the growing demand for local stories that resonate with pan-European audiences and discuss the editorial processes behind the platform. Highlights include surprising stories like Lithuania's new role as a watermelon producer due to climate change, Germany's cash-based culture, and the increase in euthanasia requests in Belgium. The conversation also explores their vision for enhancing cross-cultural news exchange, tackling fake news, and supporting greater community awareness across Europe.

Impression Zombies with Kaori Iida

Kaori Iida and her team at NHK have been at the forefront of tackling the growing spread of digital misinformation in Japan. 

In this episode, Emilio San Pedro speaks with Kaori, about the unique concept of 'Impression Zombies,' a new phenomenon emerging in Japan's media landscape.

Their discussion covers how these zombies amplify disinformation and their wide-ranging impacts which have even included delaying disaster response efforts. 
Emilio and Kaori also discuss NHK's pre-bunking strategies, their social listening team, and the vital role of human oversight in combating digital misinformation.

The Coalition for Content Provenance and Authenticity (C2PA) with Judy Parnall

Join host Laurent Frat as he sits down with Judy Parnall from the BBC to chat C2PA, an open standard designed to verify the origins and history of digital media in the fight against misinformation. In this episode, Judy unpacks the complexities of C2PA, exploring how it’s shaping the future of media authenticity and content certification in journalism. They discuss its role in building trust and transparency, the ethical challenges it addresses, and the collaborative efforts needed for successful implementation. The episode also closes with a look at how broadcasters and tech companies must continue innovating and working together to safeguard content integrity.

Harnessing AI’s Creative Potential and the Human Element with Kalle Kovacs

Kalle Kovacs, Digital Editor at Swedish Radio, joins Laurent Frat to explore the integration of AI in journalism. As an advocate for AI’s creative potential and an expert in effective prompting, Kalle discusses the impact of AI when used creatively and effectively by journalists. This episode delves into the rapid evolution of AI, ethical considerations, and the importance of skepticism to ensure responsible use. Kalle emphasizes the significance of clear communication with LLMs, addresses data privacy concerns, and shares his approach to maintaining a human touch in AI-assisted journalism. The conversation concludes with a look at the promising future of collaboration among EBU members to enhance accessibility and efficiency.

Combating Misinformation Through Cognitive Resilience with Valeria Kovtun

Valeria Kovtun is an expert in countering disinformation and building cognitive resilience.  She is the founder of Filter, Ukraine’s first governmental media literacy institution. With host Laurent Frat, Valeria delves into the concept of cognitive resilience within the realm of media literacy, focusing on the misinformation and propaganda tactics employed by Russia.

Valeria shares insights on the importance of psychological resilience and personal agency in combating disinformation. The discussion highlights how long-term propaganda strategies, such as rewriting history and fostering distrust, have affected Ukrainian society. They also explore contemporary methods of spreading propaganda, including AI-generated content, and the challenges faced by the Ukrainian government and media in addressing these issues.
Valeria Kovtun on LinkedIn