hello, this is bbc news. the headlines... warnings of further disruption for air travellers this summer — with more flights set to be cancelled in the coming weeks at heathrow — the uk's busiest airport. a vigil is held in east london — dedicated to zara aleena — who was killed as she walked home from a night out. the conservative mp, chris pincher, who is under investigation for allegedly groping two men said he is seeking "professional medical support" and hopes to return to his duties as an mp "as soon as possible". two more britons captured by russian forces in ukraine have have been charged with being mercenaries — according to russian state media. fraud is causing "ever increasing tide of damage" to people and the problem is likely to get worse, the head of a policing watchdog has warned. and more than a million people

are gathering on the streets on london for pride — as the lgbt+ community marks 50 years since the first march. now on bbc news, the media show... hello, and welcome. this week, we're talking about the return of q. and if that doesn't mean anything to you, don't worry. you'll be hearing a lot more in this programme about one of the world's most notorious conspiracy theories. we're also looking at white bristol's mayor is facing a boycott of his press briefings and what it says about the often fractious relationship between councils and journalists. among our guests on that topic are martin booth, editor of bristol 24—7, and charlotte green, who's a local democracy reporter with the manchester evening news. martin, welcome to the media show.

what's your big story in bristol today? so, today i've been visiting bristol's newly repainted rainbow crossing, just painted in time for our city's pride celebrations. so we've got a brand—new rainbow crossing on wine street. sounds fantastic. charlotte, what have you been covering in tameside? so, in tameside, we've just got a new council leader. after the last one was deposed following the local elections. and so i have been speaking to them about what their plans are for the borough and what they are going to do difficult or differently. so that is the full spectrum of localjournalism right there. thank you. and we will hear more from both of you and others in a bit. but we are going to start with an extraordinary story from the other side of the atlantic. qanon is the conspiracy theory that says donald trump has been waging war on a cabal of satanic paedophiles who stole the 2020 us election. completely unfounded theories but believed by significant numbers. qanon supporters were amongst the mob that stormed the us capital last year. the movement has been fuelled by the online postings of a user who signs off as q. and last week, after nearly two

years of silence, 0 posted again. gabriel gatehouse is international editor at bbc news and the presenter of the radio four documentary series the coming storm that looks at the rise of qanon. and dr irene pasquetto is assistant professor at the university of michigan school of information. irene, gabriel, welcome to the media show. hi, katie. hello. thank you. most welcome. gabriel, when we say 0 is back, how do we know this? what's happened 7 ok, so, 0 was this supposed figure who was supposed to be a government insider with high—level security clearance who was revealing secrets about this cabal of satanic paedophiles that had supposedly captured the levers of government in the united states. and 0, this government insider,

was posting his secrets on a little—known website called 4chan, then 8chan, then 8kun. these kind of very niche internet message boards. and the last time he posted something was shortly after the 2020 election. he posted a link to a song called we're not going to take it. and that was it. we thought this thing had disappeared. we thought it had kind of merged with the millions of people who believe that the us election had been stolen and that the kind of satanic cabal element had kind of faded into the background, but now he — we're assuming it's a he — is back posting under the name of q on this same niche website, called 8kun. and irene, why now do you think? what's he posted on that, and why now? yeah, ijust want to add that we also think it's the same 0 or the same person because he used the same short code that is used on the image boards by q. that's why the community kind of recognised q as the real 0.

why now? that's a good question. i think it has to do with roe v wade overturn. it's a good political moment. you know, the audience, q's audience, is paying attention attention to what's happening at a political level. yeah, that's one of the theories why it's happening right now. and he posted three things, i think. "shall we play the game once more?" "it had to be done this way." and "are you ready to serve your country again? remember your oath." gabriel, there is of course a lot of speculation about who 0 is. your fabulous podcast goes down that route, but tell us who you think he is. well, i mean, most people who have looked into this, and there are people who have dug into it who know a lot more about the intricacies of these image boards than i do, believe that however qanon started, and it's likely that qanon started as a game. and it's interesting this reference

to "shall we play a game once more" in this latest post. it seems to be an acknowledgement that perhaps this whole thing is a game, and there's very strong evidence that it started as something called a larp, which is live action role—play. it's kind of like dungeons & dragons online, where people play a role, they pretend to be a high level in government insider and other people online kind of play along and pretend to believe him, don't really. and the idea is that qanon sort ofjumped out of this niche portion of the internet where people kind of knew what was going on and on to the mainstream internet, if you like. facebook, youtube, where people weren't so savvy. and so they started believing this kind of outlandish stuff. whoever started it, we think that it ended up at least being controlled by this slightly strange father and son duo called jim and ron watkins. jim's the father and ron's the son. jim watkins bought this website, 8kun — 8chan, and then became 8kun — and his son was a sort of computer programmer.

and we think that, in the latter months and years of qanon, they were the ones who were controlling it. and certainly, in the course of researching my podcast, there was evidence that we uncovered, and other people uncovered, that people in the trump orbit, in the run—up to the 2020 election campaign, had been in touch with the watkinses in order to try and harness the power of this crazy conspiracy theory to help get donald trump elected. irene? yeah, yeah, definitely. i agree, that's the main theory. and all the evidence points towards the watkinses. also because, as i mentioned, the short code, there is evidence showing that it was edited manually to match q's original short code. and just an administrator of the site can do this sort of intervention. so, basically, this is real evidence that behind —

so, basically, this is real evidence that behind q is the website manager. that behind q is the website manager-— that behind q is the website manauer. .,, , , manager. people will be listening, could be listening _ manager. people will be listening, could be listening and _ manager. people will be listening, could be listening and thinking - manager. people will be listening, | could be listening and thinking why are we even talking about such a bizarre conspiracy theory? a conspiracy that had as one of its original narratives that qanon spread, that there was an alleged satanic paedophile ring run by hillary clinton but is obviously morphed into much more than that. how is it influencing political debate in the us?— how is it influencing political debate in the us? basically, what ha--ened debate in the us? basically, what happened after— debate in the us? basically, what happened after the _ debate in the us? basically, what happened after the election - debate in the us? basically, what happened after the election was l debate in the us? basically, what i happened after the election was that this qanon conspiracy theory which already had, it's hard to say how many believers it had because it is a kind of spectrum, from people who literally believe that hillary clinton drinks baby's blood, to people who think there is a deep state and people we don't know are controlling our lives or presumably they can be that many people leaving hillary clinton drinks baby's blood? you would be surprised. i'm not kidding you. this qanon conspiracy

theory about the cabal of satanic paedophiles merged with the conspiracy theory about how the election was stolen, and in a sense that conspiracy theory which involves these weird voting machines or dominion voting machines that were... that conspiracy theory was also promoted by this same ron watkins guy he was one of the administrators who we think may have been controlling qanon. so they stick to things merged and what has happened now is that the idea that america is controlled by a malevolent force, a deep state that has subverted its democracy, is now mainstream political opinion. there is a massive battle going on inside the republican party between those who believe this big lie, those who are promoting the big lie and those who really don't, but it has become

massively mainstream. if you look at the hearings that are currently going on on capitol hill into what happened around those january six storming of the us capitol, what we see is that the american electorate is completely bifurcated by this conspiracy theory which really has qanon as a huge element. question of what happened in the 2020 election has essentially ceased to be one thatis has essentially ceased to be one that is empirically answerable and become a an entirely political question, and no facts seem capable of dissuading people who believe this conspiracy theory of the falseness of it.— this conspiracy theory of the falseness of it. this is a vast disinformation _ falseness of it. this is a vast disinformation campaign, i falseness of it. this is a vast disinformation campaign, if| falseness of it. this is a vast i disinformation campaign, if you like. what is it about it that has meant so many people have taken it up? is it a top— down thing, or is there something about the way they are using social media to give power to individuals to be part of it? the thin is to individuals to be part of it? the thing is that _ to individuals to be part of it? the thing is that there are many things about_ thing is that there are many things

about it _ thing is that there are many things about it. like all conspiracy theories. _ about it. like all conspiracy theories, it has a core truce, meaning _ theories, it has a core truce, meaning that the crux is that child abuse. _ meaning that the crux is that child abuse, pornography and corruption are real_ abuse, pornography and corruption are real problems in the world. but all of— are real problems in the world. but all of this— are real problems in the world. but all of this is— are real problems in the world. but all of this is accompanied by lies and misrepresentation, which is that it is att— and misrepresentation, which is that it is all controlled by these crazy cabat— it is all controlled by these crazy cabal of— it is all controlled by these crazy cabal of democrats who were also paedophiles. sol cabal of democrats who were also paedophiles. so i think that is what makes _ paedophiles. so i think that is what makes it— paedophiles. so i think that is what makes it very credible. ifi paedophiles. so i think that is what makes it very credible.— makes it very credible. if i can add to that idea _ makes it very credible. if i can add to that idea about _ makes it very credible. if i can add to that idea about the _ makes it very credible. if i can add to that idea about the court - makes it very credible. if i can add | to that idea about the court truths, when i was doing this podcast was speaking to a guy about the donald trump as a russian spike conspiracy theory, which lots of democrat supporters got hung up on for quite a while. i was speaking to a guy and he was trying to make an equivalence

between qanon and this russian narrative, but i said there was a large truth at the bottom of the russia story, whereas this is just complete fantasy. bud russia story, whereas this is 'ust complete fantasy.i russia story, whereas this is 'ust complete fantasy. and he said, have ou ever complete fantasy. and he said, have you ever heard _ complete fantasy. and he said, have you ever heard of— complete fantasy. and he said, have you ever heard of jeffrey _ complete fantasy. and he said, have you ever heard of jeffrey epstein? i you ever heard ofjeffrey epstein? so the thing that i kind of came to believe about qanon is that, yes, if you took it literally to mean that hillary clinton was literally running a cabal of satanic paedophiles out of a pizza restaurant out of washington, dc they didn't have a basement, then of course it is nonsense. but if you took qanon as a kind of parable, which is that people feel that there are unelected people who were kind of controlling their lives in a changing world that they don't really understand how it is changing and they don't feel like these changes are happening to their benefit, then there is a kind of metaphor, qanon has the central core of truth and that is why so many people seem drawn to it, i think. has it spread across the atlantic?

irene or gabriel, is it in the uk, is it in europe?— irene or gabriel, is it in the uk, is it in europe? yeah, i did some studies of— is it in europe? yeah, i did some studies of qanon, _ is it in europe? yeah, i did some studies of qanon, how _ is it in europe? yeah, i did some studies of qanon, how it - is it in europe? yeah, i did some studies of qanon, how it has i is it in europe? yeah, i did some i studies of qanon, how it has spread in euroae, _ studies of qanon, how it has spread in europe, and what we found is that yes, it _ in europe, and what we found is that yes, it witi— in europe, and what we found is that yes, it will be picked up by a lot of influencers in europe as well and it has— of influencers in europe as well and it has spread well beyond social media — it has spread well beyond social media. there are websites and forums. — media. there are websites and forums, and there is so much work taking _ forums, and there is so much work taking in— forums, and there is so much work taking in att— forums, and there is so much work taking in all of the qanon theories and data _ taking in all of the qanon theories and data points in the local languages. and germany, france, itaty~ _ languages. and germany, france, itaty~ ahd — languages. and germany, france, italy. and what they also did was to take this _ italy. and what they also did was to take this narrative and adapt the narrative — take this narrative and adapt the narrative to the local political context _ narrative to the local political context. it wasjust narrative to the local political context. it was just so narrative to the local political context. it wasjust so much narrative to the local political context. it was just so much work, narrative to the local political context. it wasjust so much work, i guess— context. it wasjust so much work, i guess it _ context. it wasjust so much work, i guess it surprised me the amount of effort _ guess it surprised me the amount of

effort and _ guess it surprised me the amount of effort and work that qanon influencers put into this transmission.— influencers put into this transmission. , , transmission. gabriel, is it in the uk? it is transmission. gabriel, is it in the uk? it is in _ transmission. gabriel, is it in the uk? it is in the _ transmission. gabriel, is it in the uk? it is in the uk. _ transmission. gabriel, is it in the uk? it is in the uk. i— transmission. gabriel, is it in the uk? it is in the uk. ithink- transmission. gabriel, is it in the uk? it is in the uk. | think it- transmission. gabriel, is it in the uk? it is in the uk. i think it is. uk? it is in the uk. i think it is not a strong — uk? it is in the uk. i think it is not a strong draw _ uk? it is in the uk. i think it is not a strong draw i'm - uk? it is in the uk. i think it is not a strong draw i'm not i uk? it is in the uk. i think it is not a strong draw i'm not an . uk? it is in the uk. i think it is - not a strong draw i'm not an expert on how it is taken root in the uk and europe. on how it is taken root in the uk and eur0pe-_ on how it is taken root in the uk and euroe. . �*, , , y., . on how it is taken root in the uk and euroe. . �*, , , . . and europe. that's because you are a foreian and europe. that's because you are a foreign correspondent. _ and europe. that's because you are a foreign correspondent. but _ and europe. that's because you are a foreign correspondent. but i - and europe. that's because you are a foreign correspondent. but i believe l foreign correspondent. but i believe it is very strong _ foreign correspondent. but i believe it is very strong in _ foreign correspondent. but i believe it is very strong in germany. - foreign correspondent. but i believe it is very strong in germany. but i it is very strong in germany. but one of the things that irene said about the amount of work that people put in, i think that is one of the things that has helped qanon to spread. because it is a participatory thing. if you are a qanon believer, you are notjust a passive recipient of secret knowledge. you do the research, you scour the internet for clues, you make connections, and you might be part of this wonderful movement that can save the world from this overwhelming evil.— can save the world from this overwhelming evil. when you put it like that, it — overwhelming evil. when you put it like that, it sounds _ overwhelming evil. when you put it like that, it sounds very _ like that, it sounds very compelling. i'm not suggesting that anyonejoins it. compelling. i'm not suggesting that anyone joins it—

anyone joins it. indeed. i was speaking _ anyone joins it. indeed. i was speaking from _ anyone joins it. indeed. i was speaking from the _ anyone joins it. indeed. i was speaking from the point i anyone joins it. indeed. i was speaking from the point of i anyone joins it. indeed. i was l speaking from the point of view anyone joins it. indeed. i was i speaking from the point of view of a qanon devotee. do not try this at home. ~ ., �* , ., , home. we won't. gabriel gatehouse and doctor irene _ home. we won't. gabriel gatehouse and doctor irene pat _ home. we won't. gabriel gatehouse and doctor irene pat squirted - home. we won't. gabriel gatehouse and doctor irene pat squirted from i and doctor irene pat squirted from the university of michigan, thank you so much for coming on the media show. now we are going to turn onto this row in bristol are has been troubling on this month. let me play you a clip from a press conference last week. the mayor had just got back from giving a ted talk in canada and a reporter was keen to ask him about it. i canada and a reporter was keen to ask him about it.— canada and a reporter was keen to ask him about it. i wondered if you saw the irony _ ask him about it. i wondered if you saw the irony in _ ask him about it. i wondered if you saw the irony in flying _ ask him about it. i wondered if you saw the irony in flying so _ ask him about it. i wondered if you saw the irony in flying so far i ask him about it. i wondered if you saw the irony in flying so far a i saw the irony in flying so far a talk— saw the irony in flying so far a talk in — saw the irony in flying so far a talk in climate change. so saw the irony in flying so far a talk in climate change. so you likes the tour? what _ talk in climate change. so you likes the tour? what did _ talk in climate change. so you likes the tour? what did you _ talk in climate change. so you likes the tour? what did you think- talk in climate change. so you likes the tour? what did you think of- talk in climate change. so you likes the tour? what did you think of the j the tour? what did you think of the argument i made in it? i the tour? what did you think of the argument i made in it?— argument i made in it? i thought it was very interesting, _ argument i made in it? i thought it was very interesting, but _ argument i made in it? i thought it was very interesting, but i - argument i made in it? i thought it was very interesting, but i just i was very interesting, but ijust thought— was very interesting, but ijust thought about the irony. let�*s was very interesting, but i 'ust thought about the irony. let's work throu . h thought about the irony. let's work through this- _ thought about the irony. let's work through this. do _ thought about the irony. let's work through this. do you _ thought about the irony. let's work through this. do you know- thought about the irony. let's work through this. do you know what i thought about the irony. let's work| through this. do you know what the fundamental argument i made was? i fundamental argument i made was? i thought we were asking you questions. thought we were asking you questions-— thought we were asking you cuestions. �* , , ., , questions. i'm 'ust trying to see if we are on questions. i'm 'ust trying to see if we on the — questions. i'm just trying to see if we are on the same _ questions. i'm just trying to see if we are on the same ground. i questions. i'm just trying to see if we are on the same ground. that| questions. i'm just trying to see if. we are on the same ground. that is

the iztristol— we are on the same ground. that is the bristol mayor, _ we are on the same ground. that is the bristol mayor, marvin - we are on the same ground. that is the bristol mayor, marvin rees. i we are on the same ground. that is i the bristol mayor, marvin rees. that then can for a while and then the press officer got involved.- press officer got involved. alex, ma i press officer got involved. alex, may i just _ press officer got involved. alex, may ijust ask— press officer got involved. alex, may ijust ask a _ press officer got involved. alex, may i just ask a question. i press officer got involved. alex, may i just ask a question. just l press officer got involved. alex, | may i just ask a question. just in may ijust ask a question. just in terms _ may ijust ask a question. just in terms of— may ijust ask a question. just in terms of your— may ijust ask a question. just in terms of your role _ may ijust ask a question. just in terms of your role as _ may ijust ask a question. just in terms of your role as an - may ijust ask a question. just in terms of your role as an ldr. i may ijust ask a question. just in i terms of your role as an ldr. from my understanding, _ terms of your role as an ldr. from my understanding, it _ terms of your role as an ldr. from my understanding, it would - terms of your role as an ldr. from my understanding, it would be i terms of your role as an ldr. from my understanding, it would be to l my understanding, it would be to report— my understanding, it would be to report and — my understanding, it would be to report and provide _ my understanding, it would be to report and provide impartial- report and provide impartial coverage _ report and provide impartial coverage. regarding - report and provide impartial coverage. regarding the i report and provide impartial- coverage. regarding the regular workings — coverage. regarding the regular workings of— coverage. regarding the regular workings of local— coverage. regarding the regular workings of local authorities i coverage. regarding the regularj workings of local authorities and public— workings of local authorities and pubtic sector— workings of local authorities and public sector bodies, _ workings of local authorities and public sector bodies, and - workings of local authorities and public sector bodies, and so i workings of local authorities and public sector bodies, and sol. public sector bodies, and so i suppose _ public sector bodies, and so i suppose my— public sector bodies, and so i suppose my question - public sector bodies, and so i suppose my question is i public sector bodies, and so i suppose my question is thatl public sector bodies, and so i- suppose my question is that marvin was fully— suppose my question is that marvin was fully funded _ suppose my question is that marvin was fully funded by— suppose my question is that marvin was fully funded by ted _ suppose my question is that marvin was fully funded by ted to - suppose my question is that marvin was fully funded by ted to attend i was fully funded by ted to attend this conference, _ was fully funded by ted to attend this conference, so _ was fully funded by ted to attend this conference, so i _ was fully funded by ted to attend this conference, so i couldn't- was fully funded by ted to attend i this conference, so i couldn't quite understand — this conference, so i couldn't quite understand what— this conference, so i couldn't quite understand what the _ this conference, so i couldn't quite understand what the role - this conference, so i couldn't quite understand what the role as - this conference, so i couldn't quite understand what the role as an i this conference, so i couldn't quitei understand what the role as an ldr would _ understand what the role as an ldr would he _ understand what the role as an ldr would he in — understand what the role as an ldr would be in asking _ understand what the role as an ldr would be in asking those _ understand what the role as an ldrl would be in asking those questions? that apparent — would be in asking those questions? that apparent suggestion _ would be in asking those questions? that apparent suggestion from i would be in asking those questions? that apparent suggestion from the l that apparent suggestion from the press officer that the local democracy reporter shouldn't be asking such questions of the mayor has got the trade up in arms. local newspapers, broadcasters and the bbc have said they are boycotting the

bristol mayor's press briefings. with me is martin booth, editor of bristol 2a seven and part of the boycott. you're also going to take a look at the bigger picture and, so we have a charlotte green, a journalist for the bureau of domesticjournalism, and co—founder domestic journalism, and co—founder of domesticjournalism, and co—founder of shout communications. welcome all of shout communications. welcome all of you to the media show. let us start with you, martin booth. what is your take on what happened between the mayor and the ldr, and why did you decide to join the boycott? so why did you decide to 'oin the bo cott? ,, ., ~' why did you decide to 'oin the bo cott? ,, ., boycott? so i think we all appreciate. _ boycott? so i think we all appreciate, thank - boycott? so i think we all appreciate, thank you i boycott? so i think we all appreciate, thank you so | boycott? so i think we all- appreciate, thank you so much for having me on, that necessity of journalists to sometimes ask difficult questions. the fact is that asking the mayor of bristol why he chose to fly to canada to give a 14 he chose to fly to canada to give a iii minute ted talk is a valid question in my opinion. so the issue

here is that we don't want bristol city council or the mayor's office to pick and choose which journalists ask questions at these fortnightly press briefings. i ask questions at these fortnightly press briefings.— press briefings. i 'ust have to add here that the i press briefings. ijust have to add here that the bristol _ press briefings. ijust have to add here that the bristol city - press briefings. ijust have to add here that the bristol city council. here that the bristol city council spokesperson gave us a statement, which said it is completely false that the local democracy that reporters have been banned. " all media outlets had been invited, there's been long—standing mutual agreement about personnel attending press conferences whenever they announced and held, and that ldr is would not be sent due to the narrow definition of their role as an impartial service." they say that they never did go to these briefings. charlotte green, let's just bring you in. you are a local democracy work, are these kind of difficulties with councils familiar to you? difficulties with councils familiar to ou? , ~ , , difficulties with councils familiar to ou? , ,, , difficulties with councils familiar toou?, ,, , to you? yes, i think this is a very extreme example, _

to you? yes, i think this is a very extreme example, but _ to you? yes, i think this is a very extreme example, but this i to you? yes, i think this is a very extreme example, but this is i to you? yes, i think this is a very extreme example, but this is not uncommon. authorities don't like to be criticised, and a lot of the time of news _ be criticised, and a lot of the time of news stories aren't necessarily glowing _ of news stories aren't necessarily glowing in — of news stories aren't necessarily glowing in their praise of the councils— glowing in their praise of the councils and how they handle issues. when _ councils and how they handle issues. when we _ councils and how they handle issues. when we talk about basic things like pot holes, _ when we talk about basic things like pot holes, that is not a positive story— pot holes, that is not a positive story for— pot holes, that is not a positive story for a _ pot holes, that is not a positive story for a council, so you do end ”p story for a council, so you do end up having — story for a council, so you do end up having a — story for a council, so you do end up having a lot of back and forth with the — up having a lot of back and forth with the press office where they try to get— with the press office where they try to get you — with the press office where they try to get you to potentially take their side first— to get you to potentially take their side first or they want to try to -et side first or they want to try to get the — side first or they want to try to get the council's spin on something because _ get the council's spin on something because it — get the council's spin on something because it is in their interest to protect— because it is in their interest to protect the reputation of the council. _ protect the reputation of the council, but that is not what we are here to _ council, but that is not what we are here to do — council, but that is not what we are here to do. we are here to scrutinise _ here to do. we are here to scrutinise these local authorities. people _ scrutinise these local authorities. people might not know what an ldr is. it is a scheme funded by the bbc. , ., , , ., ., bbc. yes, we are set up to fill a kind of void _ bbc. yes, we are set up to fill a kind of void in _ bbc. yes, we are set up to fill a kind of void in democratic i kind of void in democratic accountability. there is a decline in local_ accountability. there is a decline in local news that means there arewt— in local news that means there aren't local government report is going _ aren't local government report is going to — aren't local government report is going to these council meetings and haven't_ going to these council meetings and haven't been for several years, so the scheme — haven't been for several years, so the scheme was set up in 2018 to address— the scheme was set up in 2018 to

address that. did the scheme was set up in 2018 to address that.— address that. did you find it easy to net address that. did you find it easy to get into _ address that. did you find it easy to get into the _ address that. did you find it easy to get into the meetings? - address that. did you find it easy to get into the meetings? were. address that. did you find it easy i to get into the meetings? were you welcomed by open hours? fine to get into the meetings? were you welcomed by open hours?— to get into the meetings? were you welcomed by open hours? one of my councils did — welcomed by open hours? one of my councils did not _ welcomed by open hours? one of my councils did not welcome _ welcomed by open hours? one of my councils did not welcome with - welcomed by open hours? one of my councils did not welcome with open l councils did not welcome with open arms_ councils did not welcome with open arms at— councils did not welcome with open arms at they were very, almost offended — arms at they were very, almost offended that i was coming in and getting _ offended that i was coming in and getting a — offended that i was coming in and getting a chair and having to sit in a room _ getting a chair and having to sit in a room with— getting a chair and having to sit in a room with them and hear them discuss _ a room with them and hear them discuss things. they didn't think i had a _ discuss things. they didn't think i had a place — discuss things. they didn't think i had a place there at all. but discuss things. they didn't think i had a place there at all.— had a place there at all. but they let ou had a place there at all. but they let you in? _ had a place there at all. but they let you in? a _ had a place there at all. but they let you in? a couple _ had a place there at all. but they let you in? a couple of— had a place there at all. but they let you in? a couple of times, i l had a place there at all. but they i let you in? a couple of times, i had to no and let you in? a couple of times, i had to go and get _ let you in? a couple of times, i had to go and get my — let you in? a couple of times, i had to go and get my own _ let you in? a couple of times, i had to go and get my own chair- let you in? a couple of times, i had | to go and get my own chair because they wouldn't put a desk or chair out for— they wouldn't put a desk or chair out for me _ they wouldn't put a desk or chair out for me— they wouldn't put a desk or chair out for me. ., , ,., . ~ out for me. considering back in the day journalists _ out for me. considering back in the day journalists cover _ out for me. considering back in the day journalists cover to _ out for me. considering back in the day journalists cover to council- day journalists cover to council meetings dayjournalists cover to council meetings and all their glory whenever they were held. martin, just to bring you back, doesn't the council have a point in a sense, the local democracy reporting service was set up with a limited remit. council meetings, planning registers, that sort of thing. a press briefing by the mayor, which is already attended by mainstream titles, doesn't merit the presence

of a local democracy reporter? at of a local democracy reporter? git bristol 24 seven, we are an independent media company. we are incredibly under resourced, so we are not able to attend every press briefing ourselves, so it's opportunities like that that we very much rely on the service that the ldr can provide. and then there is the hyper local publications, bristol has actually got a really buoyant immediate scene, and below the surface, in print, there is still the hyper local publications. one of the best things about the ldr scheme is that the content is shared out between everyone from bbc news to online publications like ourselves to this hyper local publications. they are not going to be able to have a seat in the mehr�*s briefing, so that is why the presence of ldr is so important. let me bring you and, because i guess it didn't look like good pr there, did it? ., �* , .,

didn't look like good pr there, did it? ., a ., ._ didn't look like good pr there, did it? ., ,, , it? no, it's a really pr mess up i would say- _ it? no, it's a really pr mess up i would say- i— it? no, it's a really pr mess up i would say. i think _ it? no, it's a really pr mess up i would say. i think it _ it? no, it's a really pr mess up i would say. i think it all— it? no, it's a really pr mess up i would say. i think it all comes i it? no, it's a really pr mess up i i would say. i think it all comes down to the _ would say. i think it all comes down to the key— would say. i think it all comes down to the key thing, which is reputation. that is what pr is about — reputation. that is what pr is about it _ reputation. that is what pr is about. it is about establishing good reputations and then keeping them there _ reputations and then keeping them there and — reputations and then keeping them there. and what happens when somebody tries to duck an issue, particularly somebody who is in a publicly— particularly somebody who is in a publicly funded role? and it is all about— publicly funded role? and it is all about accountability. when that is threatened, it makes people trying to manage the communication and trying _ to manage the communication and trying to— to manage the communication and trying to manage that narrative, it makes _ trying to manage that narrative, it makes them look bad, doesn't it? and frankly— makes them look bad, doesn't it? and frankly it _ makes them look bad, doesn't it? and frankly it makes them look like they have something to hide. it is something we always say we media train some — something we always say we media train some of our clients, we say never— train some of our clients, we say never ducked the issue of a question because _ never ducked the issue of a question because why would you do that? you can answer— because why would you do that? you can answer it — because why would you do that? you can answer it in a very small way. it can— can answer it in a very small way. it can be — can answer it in a very small way. it can be a— can answer it in a very small way. it can be a really bland and boring answer. _ it can be a really bland and boring answer, but you have to answer it. we have _ answer, but you have to answer it. we have a — answer, but you have to answer it. we have a free press and a journalist _ we have a free press and a journalist is in within their rights to keep —

journalist is in within their rights to keep pushing that question. i'm surprised — to keep pushing that question. i'm surprised that the reporter didn't io surprised that the reporter didn't go back— surprised that the reporter didn't go back there again, because i would say any— go back there again, because i would say anyjournalist sitting in front of a publicly funded figure is within— of a publicly funded figure is within their right to ask that question. within their right to ask that cuestion. , , within their right to ask that cuestion., , ., within their right to ask that question-— within their right to ask that cuestion. , ., , . ., question. just to be clear, the ma or question. just to be clear, the mayor did _ question. just to be clear, the mayor did answer _ question. just to be clear, the mayor did answer that - question. just to be clear, the i mayor did answer that question. it was a tense exchange but he did answer the question. you are a community organiserfor answer the question. you are a community organiser for local reporters with the bureau of investigative journalism, what is your experience of working with councils? l your experience of working with councils? ., ., g , your experience of working with councils? . ., ~ , 4, councils? i mean, frankly, ithink we have all— councils? i mean, frankly, ithink we have all been _ councils? i mean, frankly, ithink we have all been done _ councils? i mean, frankly, ithink we have all been done a - councils? i mean, frankly, ithink we have all been done a favour. councils? i mean, frankly, ithink we have all been done a favour if| councils? i mean, frankly, ithinkl we have all been done a favour if a man had never written in the thick of it, because it would only be half joking. it sometimes feels like communications managers think it is a documentary and a manualfor how you do public sector, because the series's point is that they increasingly start from the point of view of how do i get the least possible information into the hands of the public, and that is not their job. of the public, and that is not their

'ob. ~ ., of the public, and that is not their 'ob. . . . of the public, and that is not their 'ob. ~ . ., ., _ ., job. we are in a democracy after all. your job. we are in a democracy after all- youriob _ job. we are in a democracy after all. yourjob is _ job. we are in a democracy after all. yourjob is to _ job. we are in a democracy after all. yourjob is to provide - job. we are in a democracy after all. yourjob is to provide the i job. we are in a democracy after. all. yourjob is to provide the most all. your “0b is to provide the most ossible all. yourjob is to provide the most possible information, _ all. yourjob is to provide the most possible information, they - all. yourjob is to provide the most possible information, they are i all. yourjob is to provide the mostj possible information, they are paid for the public, becausejournalists for the public, because journalists are for the public, becausejournalists are people too, to do exactly that, to foster open and demographic local government. i think we need a pretty fundamental reset to get back to that. ~ ., ,., fundamental reset to get back to that. ~ ., ., . , fundamental reset to get back to that. ., ., . , ., that. what sort of techniques do the use that. what sort of techniques do they use to _ that. what sort of techniques do they use to try _ that. what sort of techniques do they use to try to _ that. what sort of techniques do they use to try to close - that. what sort of techniques do they use to try to close down i they use to try to close down information?— they use to try to close down information? the first thing is, the will information? the first thing is, they will rrot — information? the first thing is, they will not answer _ information? the first thing is, they will not answer the - information? the first thing is, they will not answer the phone j information? the first thing is, i they will not answer the phone or answer an e—mail. because why would they? because they are leveraging their power as a monopoly. they have a monopoly on being your local council. if they don't add your e—mail of the phone, you often can't run that story because you need response from them. you can't go to another council to answer that question. so they can kill the story just by not picking up the phone answering an e—mail. just by not picking up the phone answering an e-mail._ just by not picking up the phone answering an e-mail. charlotte is noddin: answering an e-mail. charlotte is nodding there. _ answering an e-mail. charlotte is nodding there. is _ answering an e-mail. charlotte is nodding there. is that _ answering an e-mail. charlotte is nodding there. is that what i answering an e-mail. charlotte is nodding there. is that what is i nodding there. is that what is happening to you?— nodding there. is that what is hauenina to ou? . ., ,, , happening to you? yeah, it happens all the time — happening to you? yeah, it happens all the time and _ happening to you? yeah, it happens all the time and you _ happening to you? yeah, it happens all the time and you end _ happening to you? yeah, it happens all the time and you end up - happening to you? yeah, it happens all the time and you end up having l all the time and you end up having to play— all the time and you end up having to play this — all the time and you end up having to play this game of hardball with them, _ to play this game of hardball with them, saying if you don't get back

to me. _ them, saying if you don't get back to me. we — them, saying if you don't get back to me, we will put you did not respond — to me, we will put you did not respond to— to me, we will put you did not respond to comments, and they will look worse — respond to comments, and they will look worse. they think that by withholding they keep more power that way. — withholding they keep more power that way, and it is incredibly frustrating, especially when it is possible — frustrating, especially when it is possible to build up good working relationships with press offices and do back— relationships with press offices and do back and forth, and that where you are _ do back and forth, and that where you are more likely to pick up on the positive stuff. the opening of a new school— the positive stuff. the opening of a new school or something, and giving it more _ new school or something, and giving it more coverage, then you wait if you've _ it more coverage, then you wait if you've got — it more coverage, then you wait if you've got this really antagonistic relationship with them. what you've got this really antagonistic relationship with them.— relationship with them. what you advise your _ relationship with them. what you advise yourjournalists _ relationship with them. what you advise yourjournalists to - relationship with them. what you advise yourjournalists to do? i relationship with them. what you | advise yourjournalists to do? the problem is that the business model of local journalism problem is that the business model of localjournalism makes us very weak. if yourjob is to put out five or ten or more stories a day, you simply don't have time to keep going back to councils are going to the information commissioner, etc. but i may beg... my background isn't broadcast. i've been a big advocate for putting up the questions you asked and the bland statement you gave back which engage with the

questions next to each other so that people can make up their own minds. because that's the other thing they do, they simply don't engage with the questions. you will get a generic statement, and if you go back to them they will say you had a statement. the other thing, as charlotte says, we do face empty chairing, being aggressive, if they have had an opportunity to answer, they have an opportunity to answer. if we then need to run the stories, we should. ibis if we then need to run the stories, we should-— we should. as the sole pr voice here, do we should. as the sole pr voice here. do you — we should. as the sole pr voice here, do you think— we should. as the sole pr voice here, do you think councils i we should. as the sole pr voice | here, do you think councils have blurred lines between publishing their own new stories and providing information to local residents? like an brand, information to local residents? like any brand. they _ information to local residents? like any brand, they have their stories to promote, and they want to i suppose — to promote, and they want to i suppose justify their actions and their— suppose justify their actions and their spendings to the public. and i think— their spendings to the public. and i think that _ their spendings to the public. and i think that they are using it as a

tool— think that they are using it as a tool to— think that they are using it as a tool to benefit what they do. but maybe _ tool to benefit what they do. but maybe it — tool to benefit what they do. but maybe it has gone too far, and it sounded — maybe it has gone too far, and it sounded without told bristol exchange that it was very aggressive, very antagonistic, and maybe _ aggressive, very antagonistic, and maybe that is not the best way to communicate. it doesn't lead to a listener— communicate. it doesn't lead to a listener or— communicate. it doesn't lead to a listener or a — communicate. it doesn't lead to a listener or a viewer a very good flavour — listener or a viewer a very good flavour. ., ., ,, , flavour. charlotte? i think it 'ust made it rookfi flavour. charlotte? i think it 'ust made it look very i flavour. charlotte? i think it 'ust made it look very thin i flavour. charlotte? i think itjust made it look very thin skinned i flavour. charlotte? ithink itjusti made it look very thin skinned and like they— made it look very thin skinned and like they were _ made it look very thin skinned and like they were taking _ made it look very thin skinned and like they were taking it _ made it look very thin skinned and like they were taking it incredibly. like they were taking it incredibly personally. — like they were taking it incredibly personally. and _ like they were taking it incredibly personally, and i— like they were taking it incredibly personally, and i don't _ like they were taking it incredibly personally, and i don't think- like they were taking it incredibly personally, and i don't think you| personally, and i don't think you should _ personally, and i don't think you should be — personally, and i don't think you should be in— personally, and i don't think you should be in a _ personally, and i don't think you should be in a journalism - personally, and i don't think you should be in a journalism or- personally, and i don't think you should be in a journalism or in i should be in a journalism or in munication _ should be in a journalism or in munication is _ should be in a journalism or in munication is if— should be in a journalism or in munication is if you _ should be in a journalism or in munication is if you are - should be in a journalism or in| munication is if you are unable should be in a journalism or in i munication is if you are unable to deal— munication is if you are unable to deal with— munication is if you are unable to deal with criticism _ munication is if you are unable to deal with criticism or— munication is if you are unable to deal with criticism or answer i deal with criticism or answer questions _ deal with criticism or answer questions properly, - deal with criticism or answer questions properly, and i deal with criticism or answer questions properly, and that deal with criticism or answer i questions properly, and that also extends— questions properly, and that also extends to — questions properly, and that also extends to politicians _ questions properly, and that also extends to politicians as - questions properly, and that also extends to politicians as well. i extends to politicians as well. martin, — extends to politicians as well. martin, do— extends to politicians as well. martin, do you _ extends to politicians as well. martin, do you think- extends to politicians as well. martin, do you think you i extends to politicians as well. martin, do you think you willi extends to politicians as well. i martin, do you think you will be backin martin, do you think you will be back in those press offices? certainly, i'm not setting out to be aggressive. we want to find a positive and productive resolution to this, and enable local democracy reporters to get back in those press conferences as soon as possible. thanks, martin. i'm afraid that's all we've got time for today. thank you to all my guests. we will be

back at the same time next week, but for now thank you for watching. goodbye. hello. today is bringing some sunny spells, yes. but also some big shower clouds bubbling up in the sky. some of those showers will continue to be heavy and thundery. more generally cloudy and rather wet weather in the northern half of scotland and this little band of rain approaching the south—east corner, although it won't arrive across parts of kent until we get into the evening. temperatures, 16—21 degrees, but we will see some showery rain into the far south—east later on. then, overnight, most places will be dry, but we will see some more showers feeding back into northern and western scotland and northern ireland on a strengthening breeze. that breeze will be a feature of the weather across the northern half of the uk during tomorrow. there will be showers around again but probably not as many as we have today. still potentially some heavy thundery ones for central and eastern parts. northern ireland, wales, south—west of england turning quite dry, i think,

in most places. not too many showers by the afternoon. temperatures of 16—22. it's going to warm up in the south through the week ahead. it could get into the high 20s in places. always cooler with more cloud, and some rain further north.

good afternoon. there are warnings of further disruption for air travellers this summer, with more flights expected to be cancelled in the coming days — including at heathrow, britain's busiest airport. airlines look set to change their schedules as the busy school holiday period begins. british airways said it would help provide "certainty" to customers. our business reporter noor nanji has more.

after big queues at airports this summer, warnings of more