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DMI project; Royal pictures; media ownership; journalists in Egypt

The 大象传媒's failed DMI project. Plus are recent pictures of the Royals at odds with past objections to 'private' photos, and should Ofcom have the final say on media ownership?

Former 大象传媒 director general Mark Thompson apologised to MPs this week for the failure of the 拢100m Digital Media Initiative. The project, that was meant to allow 大象传媒 staff to create, share and store content in a new digital system, was suspended in 2012. The DMI project is one of a series of controversies at the 大象传媒 that has prompted parliamentarians to grill former and current bosses. Steve Hewlett talks to the chair of the Commons Public Accounts Committee Margaret Hodge on why she hopes this is the last saga she'll have to investigate at the 大象传媒.

Long lens photographs of the Duchess of Cambridge getting off a plane en route to Mustique with Prince George have appeared on the cover of Hello! magazine. Some say the publication of the photos appears to be at odds with past objections to "private" photographs of members of the royal family taken in public places. So, under what circumstances can pictures of the Royals be published? Steve Hewlett discusses the issue with Max Cisotti, who runs the agency which sold the pictures to Hello!, royal correspondent Robert Jobson, and former palace press secretary Dickie Arbiter.

Communications watchdog Ofcom should have the final say on issues of media ownership rather than the culture secretary. The House of Lords Communications Committee says the watchdog should also carry out regular reviews of the media landscape that would "set the context" for any future decisions. Lord Inglewood, the chair of the committee, joins Steve Hewlett to discuss the findings.

And as protests in take place in Nairobi in support of detained Al-Jazeera correspondent Peter Greste, we speak to the broadcaster's head of newsgathering about the dangers now facing journalists in Egypt.

Producer: Katy Takatsuki.

Available now

30 minutes

Chapters

  • Who was responsible for the failed DMI project?

    The Chair of the Public Accounts committee on what went wrong.

    Duration: 08:17

  • The publication of the pictures of the Duchess of Cambridge on holiday.

    With Dickie Arbiter, Robert Jobson and Ken Wharfe

    Duration: 08:09

  • The Lords report on media plurality

    With Lord Inglewood, Chair of the Select Communications committee.

    Duration: 06:32

  • The detention of Al Jazeera journalists in Egypt

    With Heather Allan, Head of Newsgathering at Al Jazeera.

    Duration: 03:17

Broadcast

  • Wed 5 Feb 2014 16:30

Podcast