For many years I have counted this show among my favorite public radio shows. I was so happy to find that the show was available as a podcast in addition to the live radio. They cover critical issues related to the media.

On the Media was essential listening when I first began listening almost 15 years ago, the first show I supported financially directly, as a broke kid in college at that. It’s fallen extremely far in terms of scope and analysis. Given how crowded the field is with shows that are actually incisive, I think it’s time to put OTM out to pasture.

Is this some kind of liberal delusion or simple lack of basic humanity? Amidst the acutely slanted corporate media landscape and hypocrisy of the government despite of unrelenting violence in Gaza, I’d expected more than a few comments from this podcast on the distortions, lies, smear campaigns, threats and killings of journalists/writers/scholars, and silencing of dissenting voices from powerful places. Instead, dead silence. Let’s keep talking about the right wing media, big corps and Russia. So much safer. In the face of genocide, there’s no neutrality. What one doesn’t say often reveals more about one’s values. If the people behind this podcast really care about democracy and journalism, they need to speak up.

Coverage on media bias on Israel-Gaza war is biased, but somehow presented genuinely and without irony.

The March 8 episode with Iyad el-Baghdadi was exceptionally poignant, sad and at the same time beautiful. It was truly a great episode to listen to.

I make a point to catch every episode of OTM. Every week I am glad that I do. The topics and the coverage is always next level.

Is this supposed to be irony? Meta? A show that’s supposed to examine bias in the media is the most biased show on NPR. I never hear any kind of meaningful analysis to find the truth behind the sometimes conflicting reports in the news, or why each side chose to report the way they did. I only hear a show that has definite ideas out they want to say and picks stories and guests to help them support their foregone conclusions. Any undergrad journalism class would be able to do a better job. Should just be called the Brooke Gladstone opinion hour.

Please cover with better framing - how about interviewing Anthony Lowenstein???? The Palestine Laboratory - come on, that’s real, brutal, and true.

I've followed the show for years and have thoroughly enjoyed it. I considered giving for 2024 but wanted to see how OTM would cover Palestine. Unfortunately, we've found your weakness. OTM typically applies pressure unilaterally when others won't, but the continued focus on and framing of the Palestinian genocide through the lens of their oppressor? Despicable. There has been no attempt to bring in any Palestinian journalists in an active genocide. A fumbled opportunity to make a clear stance against genocide and for humanity, alas, historically, you'll be grouped in with the other spineless Western publications. An actual fall from grace, and you'll never see my financial support until you find some courage. OTM is in its flop era.

For a current events pod, there isn’t any better. Brooke an co. set the standard.

Point out the silent colkusion of western media and/or the false narrative forever painting Israel the victim when they’re carpet bombing neighborhoods, hospitals- oh my god you know the story. Please keep reporting.

I’ve been listening for years. This is still the best show made. Everyone should listen.

One of my favorites. Never miss it.

On the media is a light in a field of a lot of shady media. I can listen to this podcast and get a fair and balanced view of current events. It’s not easy, but they do it often. Great podcast.

I’ve been a fan of the show for over 10 years. Their coverage of what’s happening in Gaza has been horrible. The latest episode is finally a full episode of coverage - i’m 30+ minutes in and we got 15 minutes of an Israeli talking about Israeli media and how Israelis feel about it; and then 15 minutes about the right-wing attacks on Harvard’s president. Not a single Palestinian perspective. And also, not a single criticism or analysis of coverage in the US. I’m really disappointed in the failure of a project and mission I really used to support and believe in.

Through excellent curation of subjects/guests, the hosts provide a more nuanced take on issues than can be found in mainstream coverage. Although the podcast certainly has a liberal bent, there’s enough diversity of ideas and self-analytical thoroughness in examining the role of media in society that it doesn’t feel like the dogmatic propagation of a single agenda (to me at least). Also: I am obsessed with Brook Gladstone’s voice.

Love her humor, her wisdom, and how Balsey she is..it’s a great show. Great guests great questions and she’s no pushover. Love it just love it.

An enlightened discussion on the use and misuse of a weighty word. For many years it was unusual to read or hear the word “Palestinian” in the US press without finding the word “terrorist” nearby. Thanks for your work.

I’ve followed you all for years. Unfollowing now, because you are still somehow after all this death trying to justify the legitimacy of Israel, fence sitting, and skipping over why all this is happening (colonization and displacement of Palestinians.) y’all are cowards.

Thank you. Great programs. Can you take over the world?

Excellent and insiteful.

I always appreciate Brooke’s direct way of questioning the guest, and her willingness to examine and critique the the media ecosystem in which she and her show exists. Always fair.

I listen to this podcast exclusively for Brooke Gladstone. You continue to give the other guy more air time. I’m over it

love this podcast! i always make time to listen to this one weekly. the topics, the interviews, the commentary is all so amazing in analyzing the craziness in the world and giving a new perspective to think about!!

The first 20 to 30 minutes of every episode does a phenomenal job of critically evaluating the latest news topics. Helps me see the other side and where the media might be going off the rails.

I wonder what, if any affect he has had on the Wabanaki recent votes. I have been perplexed by our governors veto and overall attitude about Wabanaki sovereignty. Leonard Leo’s Maine home is on Wabanaki Territory of course most of Maine is.

Thank you OTM. Leonard Leo series pulls together loose ends that have held me in confusion. How would I have learned about this without your reporting? Again, thank you.

An excellent series. Why aren't more people talking about the meddling in our court system by billionaires like Leonard Leo?

What a great podcast. Episode #1 about Leonard Leo was so good. Definitely worth a listen.

OTM’s critical lens towards the media has been a huge help to my understanding of the systems underneath the noise. From their series on poverty in America to their coverage of the Trump presidency, I am an avid fan.

I am so happy to have found your site where I can again listen to your podcast. I was so disappointed when OPB dropped your podcast.

Having a masters degree in journalism. And having extensive work with the pointer Institute in Florida. I had to try this podcast out. Amazingly it is so slanted to the left right from the get-go. I made it through about 20 minutes and had to stop. My God. What have you done the journalism.

Glad to be able to resubscribe after recently learning that Brooke Gladstone is now the sole host. An incisive, illuminating, and intelligent analysis of media matters - and why it matters.

OTM used to be a great, objective media watchdog. These days, it has decayed to pedestrian partisanship. The answer to fake right-wing news is not for the left to co-opt and corrupt reliable media ombudsmen

during your drone conversation your guest said humans basically are better at hitting targets with drones than ai is, yet he also said that the ai drone saw a bus pull up by the target so it can see what humans can’t see or react to it fast enough to pause the drone hit. so guest dude, which is it? because i can tell you right now human drone operators are killing innocent people/households: wedding parties walking, ngo in afghanistan followed by drone and hit and killed his family, the son sitting at a cafe mistaken ID’d and on and on. it is not humane!!

The episode on RFK Jr. was blatantly one-sided.

Stellar episode: Whistles & Papers. Ellsberg, Gelb, Hersh, Palmer & Gladstone. Thank you.

It's not a dance show. No one is trying to dance to it. Stop the music bed. You have no idea how bad it is. Why do you need it? What does it add to my listening pleasure? It's not cute. It's not even real music. It's noise. Please don't over produce your work. The plinky twiddly notes cheapens your brilliant content.

The Constitution is not amenable to “ the law as we ( the people ) see it! What a statement made by your reporter whose own view of the law changes with politically popular themes. The Constitution preserves our federal system of states and national lawmakers. Remember, each of our states had laws about traditionally local issues: marriage, policing, medical and legal standards. The national law must conform to the written Constitution. It is for the Supreme Court to analyze state laws or national laws within the contours of the Constitution. Not the biased press which labels decisions as “dark” or “moneyed “ based. Nonsense bomb throwers think it’s funny to berate the Court or the members of the Court. Tearing apart our institutional structures devolves into a weaken America. Shame on you, “ the media,” which is controlled by MONEY.

This became my only must-listen pod two years ago and has never budged from that hero spot in my media diet. It helps me process the mess and get a grip. No small thing.

Best show to keep up to date on current events including the filter through which we view them. Entertaining even when dealing with challenging subjects. Kudos to host Brooke Gladstone and Co..

Thanks for your informative podcast. It does make you want to see if somehow a backlash of liberal radio hosts might counteract the monopoly that the right wing currently enjoys on the radio waves.

On the Media forms the nutritious center of my radio/podcast-listening diet! Offering intelligent, incisive, and in-depth analyses across multiple segments every hourlong show, Brooke Gladstone and Bob Garfield choose topics of concern to world citizens, and dissect and present those from the perspective of savvy media analysts. Not only the "what", but the "how" of reporting is covered, laying bare the mechanics of mass media … as well as of the corporate interests which often fuel it. As heavy as that sounds, the show is accessible and entertaining. Invariably, along with keeping listeners abreast of politics, journalism, mass entertainment and pop culture, each episode also elicits more than a chuckle or two. Without Brooke, Bob, and their correspondents, my world would be a poorer place indeed. HIGHLY recommended!!

Left-leaning bias is blatant. The presentation is not rooted in reality.

It is often interesting, but Brooke can’t hide her snarky opinion, and it’s not very journalistic. Also, please have the courage to somehow cover the absurd neo-Marxist movement destroying our campuses. Lives and careers are being ruined. The lunatics are running the asylum. fire.org please.

Why did Bob Garfield have to be cancelled?

I had found certain parts of what I had believed to had been certain installments of this "On the Media" to had been vulgar (or profane), unnecessary, unobjective, unprofessional, negative, and detrimental.

This used to be a great podcast, but now it is just partisan garbage. While I’m a liberal, I still like to hear an accurate portrayal of viewpoints I disagree with, not a self-serving caricature. Having principles is admirable, but On The Media (along with much of the media) have thrown all principles out of the window in favor of defending the Democrat Party’s narratives. Since when does the left advocate proxy wars with Russia? Or gullibly believe anything intelligence agencies say? Or support limiting free speech? It kinda sounds like they’re turning…right wing. But don’t worry, there’s a recent episode literally defending The Communist Manifesto while claiming America’s belief in capitalism was caused by a PR campaign - so they made sure to keep the worst parts of the left and combine it with the worst parts of the right. But if your motivation for listening to the news is to have your views reaffirmed and never have them challenged, this show is for you. If you like objectivity, sympathetic portrayals of groups who think differently, or liberal values such as pluralism and civil liberties, run far far away from this propaganda.

With all the distrust for and vitriol against “mainstream media,” this show is the best example of how we fight against media and journalism’s many flaws, while simultaneously upholding its myriad virtues and soberly questioning the widening gray area between them.

One of the few must listen programs out of WNYC. Insightful, independent, and willing to take all kinds of topics including the media. The program often ventures out of the ‘en vogue’ topics to highlight stories that are ‘out of sight’. Big fan!