
News Avoidance, Counterpoint, and Ukrainecast Follow-Up
From Feedback by BBC Radio 4
March 5, 2026 · 29 min
About this episode
The episode discusses news avoidance trends and listener feedback on BBC Radio's coverage and programming changes.
The main news this week has been about the US-Israel attacks on Iran - but how is BBC Radio handling its coverage? We'll hear from you on the situation. And in light of that, is there a chance that more and more people might be switching the news off? BBC Radio 4 recently aired a series of programmes all about positive news items, which many listeners felt was a relief to hear. Presenter Andrea Catherwood talks to Nic Newman, a founding member of the BBC News website and currently a Senior research associate with the Reuters Institute for the study of journalism, to find out what's fuelling the trend towards news avoidance. Following our piece last week about the end of regular episodes of Ukrainecast, we'll hear more of your thoughts on what you'll miss about the podcast. We also hear from listeners concerned that the music quiz programme Counterpoint is no longer recorded in front of a live audience. And there's information about how you can give your thoughts in the UK government's ongoing open consultation on the BBC's Charter Renewal, which closes at midnight on 10th March. The survey can be found on the government's website, under the heading Britain's Story: The Next…
People in this episode
Host: Andrea Catherwood
Guest: Nic Newman
Topics covered
- news avoidance
- BBC coverage
- positive news
- listener feedback
- Ukrainecast
- Counterpoint
- BBC Charter Renewal
Keywords
- news avoidance
- BBC Radio
- positive news
- Ukrainecast
- Counterpoint
- listener feedback
- Iran
- US-Israel attacks
- Charter Renewal
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: BBC Radio, Reuters Institute for the study of journalism, BBC Radio 4
Places: US, Israel, Iran
More episodes of Feedback
- Fergal Keane, Doing Death Differently, and Visualisation · May 8, 2026 · 28 min
- Visualisation, Long Wave, Elis and John Podcast · April 23, 2026 · 28 min
- Radical with Amol Rajan. Faith, Hope and Glory. Interview of the Year · April 16, 2026 · 28 min
- Broadcasting House, and When It Hits the Fan · April 9, 2026 · 28 min
- News coverage of Iran, Woman's Hour Follow Up, and Miss Marple · April 2, 2026 · 29 min
- Woman's Hour, Liza Tarbuck and Desert Island Discs · March 26, 2026 · 28 min
Explore listener stats, chart rankings, contacts and more on the Feedback podcast page.