Podcasts by Mediawatch

From paper to platform - media's online dependence from 2023-12-10T14:10

Five years ago Dr Merja Myllylahti warned our news media were becoming dangerously dependent on global digital platforms which gave them online audiences but undercut their income and didn’t seem t...

Mediawatch for 10 December 2023 from 2023-12-10T09:08

Parliamentary pomp and ceremony - but no honeymoon; 'From Paper to Platform'- media's online dependence; Todd Niall - local matters really matter

Todd Niall - local matters really matter from 2023-12-10T09:07

‘Look ahead, not back’ - the last words of Todd Niall after 46 years in daily journalism. The last of these were spent reporting the complicated and highly-contested issues afflicting Auckland and ...

Midweek Mediawatch ‘Kin oath’ - new Parliament sworn in from 2023-12-06T21:53

Midweek Mediawatch - Mediawatch’s weekly catch-up with Nights. Colin Peacock talked to Mark Leishman about the new government getting underway with plenty of ceremony, lots of protest - but no hone...

Claims of media 'bribery' derail new government on day one from 2023-12-03T09:12

It didn't take long for Winston Peters’ news media grievances to make headlines - and headaches - for the new government. Mediawatch looks at how the media reacted to his claims of media 'bribery' ...

Mediawatch for 3 December 2023 from 2023-12-03T09:08

Claims of media 'bribery' derail new government on day one; politics shows off air just as politics hots up; mayor under pressure after rumour-based reports.

Mayor under pressure after rumour-based reports from 2023-12-03T09:07

Wellington’s mayor is under pressure after acknowledging an alcohol problem. Her admission was prompted by media questions about drunken ‘antics’ based in part on a reported recording which no medi...

Midweek Mediawatch: Winston's war from 2023-11-29T20:54

In this week's edition of Midweek Mediawatch, Hayden Donnell talks to Mark Leishman about Winston Peters' war with the media, a new streaming app for Three, and Kim Hill's farewell to RNZ.

Not the greatest story ever told from 2023-11-26T09:12

The three political coalition partners finally sealed the deal on Friday, bringing to an end more than 40 days of limbo - and Shane Jones' biblical quotes. Never has so much been said by so many po...

Watchdog warns media laws need urgent upgrade from 2023-11-26T09:10

The chief of the country’s most powerful media watchdog says we need new laws now to hold media to account in future. The outgoing government had a plan for one single body to oversee rules for all...

Music journalism all but vanishes from our media from 2023-11-26T09:08

This week the country’s biggest arts funding agency published a plan to boost coverage of culture which has been dwindling in our media. Music reviews and writing used to be eagerly-read and hotly-...

Mediawatch for 26 November 2023 from 2023-11-26T09:08

Parties seal the coalition deal to end long limbo for media; watchdog warns media laws need urgent upgrade; media tuning out of music journalism; Covid response reckons ramp up in inquiry season.

Midweek Mediawatch - Are we there yet? No . . . from 2023-11-22T22:00

Midweek Mediawatch - Mediawatch’s weekly catch-up with Nights. Colin Peacock talks to Mark Leishman about the ongoing process of forming a new government testing the patience of political reporters...

Producers pressure government to tax Netflix and co from 2023-11-19T11:00

This week the people who make the local stuff for our screens big and small urged the powers-that-be to tax the likes of Netflix and Disney Plus to fund it. But producers here can already get tax b...

Media campaign of the century? from 2023-11-19T09:10

As we wait for a new government, one election did deliver a clear-cut result this week - Forest and Bird's Bird of the Century poll. The winner had considerable offshore input thanks to a celebrity...

Mediawatch for 19 November 2023 from 2023-11-19T09:08

Media campaign of the century; producers push for tax on streamers; the legacy of a 'true newspaperman'.

'True newspaperman' Fred Tulett leaves a legacy from 2023-11-19T09:07

Long-serving Southland Times editor Fred Tulett has died - leaving a legacy of more than 50 years in journalism in which he mentored many top journalists who followed in his footsteps.  

Midweek Mediawatch - feathers fly over election outcomes from 2023-11-16T19:35

In this week's edition of Midweek Mediawatch, Hayden Donnell talks to Mark Leishman about allegations of foreign interference in the Bird of the Century vote  - and dubious concerns about the gener...

Three bananas and a coalition cauliflower from 2023-11-12T09:12

The news media see themselves as the eyes and ears of the public - but so far political leaders have mostly turned a deaf ear to their questions about forming the new government. How are they handl...

Burying the Bird - is trashed Twitter facing extinction? from 2023-11-12T09:10

Twitter emerged as an important source of live updates, news and images during the Arab Spring more than a decade ago. Many in the media also joined the platform to share news and commentary with u...

Are the Irish twice as rich as us? from 2023-11-12T09:08

Mediawatch - A business lobby group is urging New Zealand to emulate Ireland, which has a GDP twice as big as ours - but is the GDP picture warped? 

Mediawatch for 12 November 2023 from 2023-11-12T09:08

This week Mediawatch looks at how the media have followed the formation of the next government going on behind closed doors.   Also: a push to persuade policymakers to emulate Ireland’s economy - a...

Midweek Mediawatch 8 November 2023 from 2023-11-08T22:12

Midweek Mediawatch - Colin Peacock talks to Mark Leishman about political reporters’ ongoing efforts to get party leaders to talk about forming a new government and media companies’ growing financi...

Rugby in recovery as a media spectacle from 2023-11-05T09:12

Anger about rules and referees ruining rugby matches ran for days in the media after last weekend's Rugby World Cup final. Players, pundits and even current national coaches have said the game is '...

Keeping it confidential to properly protect sources from 2023-11-05T09:10

Protecting people who offer the media important information is a fundamental obligation for journalists. Chris Cooke quit TVNZ after it didn't keep a promise to Erin Leighton, whose off-the-record ...

Mediawatch for 5 November 2023 from 2023-11-05T09:08

Rugby in recovery as a media spectacle; keeping it confidential to protect sources; Musk trashing Twitter.

Midweek Mediawatch - Gaps in Gaza coverage from 2023-11-01T20:58

In this week's edition of Midweek Mediawatch, Hayden Donnell talks to Mark Leishman about a comparative lack of coverage on Gaza, sympathy for Supie's leaders even as their employees miss out, and ...

Whanganui - What we miss when we miss out on local news from 2023-10-29T09:10

Major news media outfits have cut back in the regions in recent years. That doesn't just leave locals worse off - it also means all New Zealanders miss out on important ideas, events and perspectiv...

Mediawatch for 29 October 2023 from 2023-10-29T09:08

Covering news from all over the country is a struggle for media companies dealing with rising costs and falling revenues. But some local outlets are surviving - and even thriving. Mediawatch's Hayd...

Midweek Mediawatch - screwing the scrum from 2023-10-25T22:00

Midweek Mediawatch - Colin Peacock talks to Mark Leishman about the media’s mounting problems covering the crisis in Gaza and Israel; TVNZ under pressure over compromised confidentiality; the PM ta...

Take me to your leader from 2023-10-22T11:10

Our new political leaders got off on the wrong foot this week with the political press pack by keeping them at arm's length over their negotiations to from the new government. Was this a genuine me...

Media in the middle of Gaza claims and counterclaims from 2023-10-22T09:09

Major media organisations all over the world are copping criticism for the way they’re reporting what’s happening in Gaza and Israel. Mediawatch asks BBC news boss Jonathan Munro how they’re handli...

Mediawatch for 22 October 2023 from 2023-10-22T09:08

Take me to your leader - political press pack gets off on wrong foot with our new political leaders; media in the middle of Gaza claims and counterclaims; World Cup fever - and Irish anguish.

Midweek Mediawatch - PM's parlour game claim peeves press pack from 2023-10-18T22:52

Midweek Mediawatch - Hayden Donnell talks to Mark Leishman about how media handled the claims and counter-claims that followed the deadliest incident yet in the Gaza conflict. Also - friction betwe...

Mediawatch special - campaign culminates in a 'bluenami' from 2023-10-15T07:32

Mediawatch looks back on how the media covered a long, long campaign - and how election night played out across the media after the polls finally closed on Saturday. Hayden Donnell in Auckland - an...

Midweek Mediawatch - major scrutiny for minor parties from 2023-10-11T22:00

Midweek Mediawatch  - Colin Peacock talks to Mark Leishman about minor parties under the microscope and more heated head-to-head election debates. Also: and the horror in Israel/Gaza gives media a ...

Media shift blame for misleading tax policy headlines from 2023-10-08T09:11

This week political reporters seized on fresh figures showing the National Party overstated the benefits of its tax cut policy - and accused its leaders of misleading the public. Yet some of them h...

Murdoch's real life succession becomes reality from 2023-10-08T09:10

After seven decades up to his neck in media - and having a profound and world wide influence on them - now nonagenarian mega mogul Rupert Murdoch’s starting up the succession plan for his empire. O...

What are the political parties' plans for media? from 2023-10-08T09:10

The media have been a political football this year - and now some politicians are complaining the media are against them in this election. But hundreds of millions of dollars of public money is spe...

Mediawatch for 8 October 2023 from 2023-10-08T09:08

Media shift blame for misleading tax policy headlines; political parties' policies for the media; Rupert Murdoch steps down and starts up the succession - or does he?

Midweek Mediawatch - a sacred shield soiled from 2023-10-04T22:00

In this week's edition of Midweek Mediawatch, Hayden Donnell talks to Mark Leishman about an outcry over the soiling of the sacred Ranfurly Shield, a rancorous interview with Winston Peters, and me...

Giving young people an election voice from 2023-10-01T12:12

The TVNZ Young Voters' debate run by Re:News was a rowdy interjection into what had been a relatively subdued election campaign. Its moderator has some ideas on how media organisations can better c...

Mediawatch for 1 October 2023 from 2023-10-01T09:08

The undecided could decide the election; giving youth a voice in the election; ZB's 'straight talking' subscribers' service.

A new paid-platform for news and opinion from 2023-10-01T09:07

A new subscriber service offering "straight talking" reporting and opinion was launched this week by talk radio network Newstalk ZB. Owner NZME has several other services putting content behind a p...

Midweek Mediawatch - The state of debates from 2023-09-27T22:00

Midweek Mediawatch - Colin Peacock talked to Mark Leishman about the ever-growing volume of election campaign coverage - and the latest TV (and off-TV) debates putting party leaders under the spotl...

Current and future state of Stuff from 2023-09-24T12:00

Three years ago Sinead Boucher took over the country’s biggest publisher of news from Aussie owners who gave it away “like a set of steak knives.” In the absence of big backers and the government b...

Debate stalemates fuel election fatigue from 2023-09-24T09:12

The election campaign went up a gear in the media this week as party leaders lined up on live TV for the first time. But while the public tuned in in numbers, the pundits reckoned the debates faile...

Mediawatch for 24 September 2023 from 2023-09-24T09:08

Debate statemates add to election frustration; the current and future state of Stuff; some good - but overdue - news for Dunedin.

Midweek Mediawatch: A game of two Chrises from 2023-09-20T20:59

In this week's edition of Midweek Mediawatch, Hayden Donnell talks to Mark Leishman about the first live TV leaders' debate of the election campaign and the sports analogy-filled post-match analysis.

Un-spun numbers don't derail duelling versions of the economy from 2023-09-17T09:12

The Pre-election Economic and Fiscal Update lifted the lid on the nation’s finances this week - and Treasury's projections for the foreseeable future. This dropped some ‘un-spun’ numbers into the e...

Stuff keeps Open AI at arm's length from 2023-09-17T09:10

New Zealand's biggest publisher of news this week joined big global names in blocking Open AI from using its content to power generative artificial intelligence tool Chat GPT. Stuff says it is bein...

Mediawatch for 17 September 2023 from 2023-09-17T09:08

Un-spun numbers don't derail duelling versions of the economy; Stuff keeps AI at arm's length; medical school row - and a made-up university.

Midweek Mediawatch - dogs on a plane&sporting flops from 2023-09-13T22:00

Midweek Mediawatch - Colin Peacock talks to Mark Leishman about the coverage of two huge disasters in North Africa; a little local political difficulty in Dunedin - and political party leaders unde...

AI coming ready or not for our news and music  from 2023-09-10T16:30

Business is booming in artificial intelligence technology and new applications appear in the news almost daily. At an AUT symposium this week, experts said it’s already being deployed in creative i...

Advocacy angst as campaign begins - officially from 2023-09-10T09:12

The Herald copped criticism for publishing a front-page attack ad targeting the National Party leader this week - but it was far from the first time ads like it have appeared in print. Meanwhile qu...

Mediawatch for 10 September 2023 from 2023-09-10T09:08

Angst over advocacy adverts and content as official election period begins; AI - coming ready or not for news and music.

Midweek Mediawatch: The return of the octopus from 2023-09-06T20:49

In this week's edition of Midweek Mediawatch, Hayden Donnell talks to Mark Leishman about National's attempt to weather a storm of journalistic scrutiny of its tax plan, Patrick Gower's unusual aqu...

Horse race journalism as National takes aim at squeezed middle from 2023-09-03T17:30

As National announced its long-awaited tax plan, some journalists took a hard look at its numbers, while others focused more on political strategy and impact.

Mediawatch for 3 September 2023 from 2023-09-03T09:08

Mongrel and maths collide as campaigns launch - and media ponder National's tax plan; scrutiny of candidates' online footprints prompts pushback and claims of 'agendas'.

Scrutiny of candidates prompts pushback and claims of 'agendas' from 2023-09-03T09:07

Scrutiny of political parties' policies intensified this week - and so did the scrutiny of some candidates for seats in Parliament. When TVNZ reported some election candidates’ controversial past s...

Midweek Mediawatch - Spain's football boss (&mum) v the world from 2023-08-30T22:00

Midweek Mediawatch - Colin Peacock talks to Mark Leishman about the strange saga sparked by the sexist behaviour of Spain’s football chief at the Women’s World Cup final. Also - broadcasters' elect...

Low-key reveal of law to make big tech pay for news from 2023-08-27T18:00

Long-awaited legislation to force big tech platforms to pay New Zealand media for the news they disseminate online is now before Parliament. It could give our media with much-needed money in years ...

Brought to you by . . . 'partners' from 2023-08-27T09:10

It’s meant to be clear what’s advertising and what isn't, but 'sponsored content' and 'native advertising' blurred that line a long time ago. Now some outlets form ‘partnerships’ with clients to ge...

Mediawatch for 27 August 2023 from 2023-08-27T09:08

Brought to you by 'partners' - critics question sponsorship deals pushing clients' content into news media; IMANZ - a new umbrella body for independent local media marketing agencies; low key revea...

Midweek Mediawatch - polling death spiral&sandwich slump from 2023-08-23T22:18

In this week's edition of Midweek Mediawatch, Hayden Donnell talks to Mark Leishman about a dire poll for Labour raising the spectre of a media-driven death spiral; a reorganisation at NZME; a plea...

Migrant exploitation finally in the media spotlight from 2023-08-20T18:00

A spike in shocking cases of exploitation has put the plight of migrant workers in the media spotlight. But these latest stories are part of a longstanding issue that's sometimes flown under the ra...

Our World Cup runneth over - and out. What next? from 2023-08-20T09:10

The Women's World Cup 2023 attracted record crowds in the stands and on TV - both here and in Australia. It also delivered drama and off-pitch stories that livened up standard sports coverage. But ...

Mediawatch for 20 August 2023 from 2023-08-20T09:08

Our World Cup runneth over - what legacy will it leave? Lifting the lid on exploitation of migrant workers and human trafficking.

Midweek Mediawatch - football and fruit&veg frenzies from 2023-08-16T22:00

Midweek Mediawatch: Colin Peacock talked to Mark Leishman while Australia’s Matildas were playing England’s Lionesses in Sydney and breaking TV viewing records. Also: election fever building in the...

Report finds history repeating in coverage of calls for crime crackdown from 2023-08-13T16:00

Political calls to crack down on crime are echoing in our media ahead of the upcoming election - not for the first time. Two seasoned journalists showed this was part of a pattern in a report on cr...

Mediawatch for 13 August 2023 from 2023-08-13T09:08

Reporters' report on crime coverage urges new thinking - and highlights electoral 'crime crackdown' pattern; RNZ's Richard Sutherland calling it quits after 30 years; free sports streaming options ...

Calling it quits after 30 years from 2023-08-13T09:07

RNZ’s head of news Richard Sutherland’s called it a day after more than 30 years in the news. He’s worked at almost every major news broadcaster in the country and led the outfit representing their...

Midweek Mediawatch - climate, cellphones and how not to spell cat from 2023-08-09T19:07

In this week's edition of Midweek Mediawatch, Hayden Donnell talks to Mark Leishman about one news broadcast foregrounding climate while another hones in on cellphones and Chris Luxon misspelling '...

Political road rage - budget holes and emissions omissions from 2023-08-06T16:00

The UN says we've reached "the era of global boiling". Given that, you'd think climate might have got more of a mention from the media as the National Party released its road-heavy $24 billion tran...

Putting right what went wrong with RNZ's online news from 2023-08-06T09:10

A review of RNZ's online news has called for greater oversight and enforcement of standards after a crisis sparked by a single staffer making 'inappropriate' edits to international news online. Med...

Mediawatch for 6 August 2023 from 2023-08-06T09:08

Political road rage - budget holes & emissions omissions; what went wrong with RNZ's online news - and putting it right,

Midweek Mediawatch - RNZ review, Cup crackers, Palmy peeved from 2023-08-02T19:20

In this week's Midweek Mediawatch, Colin Peacock talks to Mark Leishman about what a review of the ‘inappropriate editing’ of online news at RNZ has revealed. Also  - the FIFA Women’s World Cup cap...

Allan’s resignation sparks another at RNZ from 2023-07-30T17:09

A board member at RNZ appointed less than a month ago quit this week after making public comments on Kiri Allan’s downfall and criticising media coverage of it. RNZ had asked Jason Ake to stop and ...

Minister’s downfall triggers premature election speculation from 2023-07-30T09:10

The media could scarcely ignore the startling story of a minister of justice under arrest, but the circumstances of that and her sudden resignation raised many other issues. Many in the media seize...

Mediawatch for 30 July 2023 from 2023-07-30T09:08

Minister's downfall triggers election speculation - and another resignation at RNZ.

Midweek Mediawatch - a media storm over a mental health crisis from 2023-07-26T20:30

Midweek Mediawatch - Mediawatch's weekly catch-up with Nights. This week Hayden Donnell talks to Mark Leishman about the coverage of Kiri Allan's arrest and subsequent resignation - and media pushi...

A triumph - after a day of tragedy from 2023-07-23T18:00

On a day when Auckland was the focus of the biggest story in world sport and the Football Ferns ended up making history, deadly shootings a stone's throw from football teams' hotels and the fan zon...

Poll analysis unhitches itself from reality from 2023-07-23T14:00

Nothing much changed in a 1News Verian poll released on Monday. Some commentators treated the boring results as a blank canvas on which to express their creativity.

Political parties roll out crime control policy from 2023-07-23T09:09

After it emerged that Matu Reid was on home detention for family violence offences, the media rapidly raised questions about home detention, the discounting of prison sentences and gun control. Pol...

Mediawatch for 23 July 2023 from 2023-07-23T09:08

A triumph on a tragic day; political parties roll out crime control policies; creative interpretations of a pretty prosaic political poll.

Midweek Mediawatch - too much information too soon? from 2023-07-19T22:00

Midweek Mediawatch - Colin Peacock talks to Mark Leishman about intense coverage of a mother accused of killing her children - and the media finally covering the crimes of Sir James Wallace. Also: ...

Could a 'mortgage bomb' blow up borrowers? from 2023-07-16T12:00

Recent reports have warned of a ‘mortgage bomb’ that could blow up - and a growing number of people unable to pay back debts. Is the story as explosive as some headlines would have you believe? 

Australia puts big tech under more pressure from 2023-07-16T09:09

These days the platforms that pump news round the internet make more money out of it than the media who make it. In Australia they’ve done deals to ensure the media get more. Now the government als...

Mediawatch for 16 July 2023 from 2023-07-16T09:08

Warnings of a 'mortgage bomb' about to blow up; Australia puts big tech' under more pressure; Mary Holm's 25 years with readers and writers.

Mary Holm - 25 years with readers and writers from 2023-07-16T09:06

Mary Holm's been writing about personal finance weekly for the same paper for more than 25 years. But she tells Mediawatch it's really the readers who have kept it going.  

Midweek Mediawatch - Greens gazumped; Cane caned from 2023-07-12T21:58

In this week's Midweek Mediawatch, Hayden Donnell talks to Mark Leishman about the Greens' entire manifesto crowded out by coverage of a single law and order tweak from Act . Also a Mediawatch mess...

The death and rebirth of a long-lasting column from 2023-07-09T14:10

The New Zealand Herald column Sideswipe ended in May after a 21-year run. Its creator attributes its longevity to good curation and building a community.

Mediawatch for 9 July 2023 from 2023-07-09T09:08

100 days to go; unknown Luxon; Listener goes online and brings back NZ's longest lasting columnist; confusing news on the economy.

Christopher Luxon, the unknowable man from 2023-07-09T09:07

Political reporters often say people need to get to know National leader Christopher Luxon. But he's ubiquitous in the media and has been in the job 18 months. Is it possible he's unknowable? Or is...

Midweek Mediawatch - tipsy Tory&allegedly angry Allan from 2023-07-05T22:30

Midweek Mediawatch - Colin Peacock talks to Mark Leishman about the reaction to two politicians who both filled the front page of The Post this past week: cabinet minister Kiri Allan and Wellington...

Shock of the news - and the state of the arts from 2023-07-02T09:10

A new report says the arts and culture get just half of the space in our media that's devoted to sport. Mediawatch asks a leading local culture critic if the arts are just a 'nice to have' for our ...

The right to be wrong - even in a crisis from 2023-07-02T09:08

Dolphins mating in a prime-time TV documentary was deemed a breach of broadcasting standards this week by the broadcasting watchdog - but dismissing official information and experts on air during C...

Mediawatch for 2 July 2023 from 2023-07-02T09:08

The shock of the news - and a critical shortage in the state of the arts; TVNZ top-table changes; reserving the right to be wrong - even in an emergency.

Midweek Mediawatch - a Titanic amount of coverage from 2023-06-28T20:49

In this week's Midweek Mediawatch, Hayden Donnell talks to Mark Leishman about a titanic amount of coverage of the Titan submersible tragedy. Also: complaints about an unfair focus on Christopher L...

One weird trick for getting uncritical media coverage from 2023-06-25T18:09

Most publications would never dream of running advertising for free, or publishing a highly ideological press release verbatim, but they may do so if the same information is presented in the form o...

Surgery scoop sparks rows over equality and equity from 2023-06-25T09:10

A scoop revealing that ethnicity is factored into Auckland-region surgery waiting lists sparked strong reactions against ‘race-based healthcare’ and claims that Māori and Pacific patients were “get...

1XX changes hands - but not the mission from 2023-06-25T09:08

A leading local, award-winning and proudly-independent radio station based in Whakatāne has changed hands after more than 50 years on air. We ask the boss who’s been there for most of them: is it t...

Mediawatch for 25 June 2023 from 2023-06-25T09:08

Surgery, equality and equity; starling survey results score easy exposure; independent local radio pioneer 1XX changes hands - but the mission remains the same.

Midweek Mediawatch - 'Mad Max' mob scenes; election fever; Ellsberg RIP from 2023-06-21T22:15

Midweek Mediawatch - Colin Peacock talks to Mark Leishman about a ‘tough on crime’ policy triggering media - after ‘Mad Max’ Mongrel Mob scenes in the news. Also: media war-gaming the election too ...

Further fallout as RNZ takes out the ‘garbage’ from 2023-06-18T09:10

External experts are poring over the ‘inappropriate editing’ of international news published online by RNZ. It has already tightened editorial checks and stood down an online journalist. Will this ...

Mediawatch for 18 June 2023 from 2023-06-18T09:08

Mediawatch looks at the response to the revelation of 'inappropriate editing' of online world news at RNZ - and asks two experts what may come out of the investigation into how it happened. Also: M...

Midweek Mediawatch - RNZ's Russiagate; 'rinky-dink' politics&forecast fatigue from 2023-06-14T22:05

In this week's Midweek Mediawatch, Hayden Donnell talks to Anna Thomas about RNZ's 'pro-Russia edits' saga now extending stories about other countries - and a newspaper's feature story that fell sh...

Digging out the facts on crime and punishment from 2023-06-11T09:09

Crime is set to be a big election year issue, with polls showing the public feels unsafe and the opposition claiming the government is 'soft' on offending. A pair of Herald journalists have tried t...

Mediawatch for 11 June 2023 from 2023-06-11T09:08

How stories about the war in Ukraine ended up with a pro-Russian slant on RNZ's website; reports of crime are on the up but does the story change when reporters run the numbers before running a story?

RNZ investigating Kremlin-friendly story edits from 2023-06-09T19:55

RNZ is investigating how online stories about the war in Ukraine, supplied by an international news agency, were edited to align with the Russian view of events. A staff member has been stood down ...

Midweek Mediawatch - on the outside looking in from 2023-06-07T22:00

Midweek Mediawatch - Colin Peacock talks to Tod Zaner about Auckland mayor Wayne Brown antagonising the media . . . again; a shake-up of Stuff's top brass; TVNZ boosting free-to-air sport; a dead r...

Mediawatch for 4 June 2023 from 2023-06-04T09:08

Mediawatch talks to the radio industry's top spokesperson who called on commercial companies to curb their rivalry - and the brains behind a small music radio network spreading around the country -...

Midweek Mediawatch - a potentially toxic election season from 2023-05-31T19:59

In this week's Midweek Mediawatch, Hayden Donnell talks to Mark Leishman about racist abuse of journalists and the potential for more of it in a toxic election campaign. Also: an eyebrow-raising Me...

The long game of investigating Loafers Lodge disaster from 2023-05-28T09:12

Years before the Grenfell Tower fire killed 72 residents, it was foreshadowed by another fatal fire in London which wasn't adequately investigated. A journalist who has worked on that story for six...

Mediawatch for 28 May 2023 from 2023-05-28T09:08

Lessons for Loafers Lodge investigation in the long game of the UK's Grenfell saga; new fund backing business and economics coverage; an hour of Gower (and friends . . . and his issues).

An hour of Gower from 2023-05-28T09:07

Three's new current affairs show Paddy Gower Has Issues walks a tonal tightrope - balancing comedic heckling and faux-serious investigations with in-depth reporting on important issues of the day.

Midweek Mediawatch: Miami not nice from 2023-05-24T22:00

Midweek Mediawatch -  Colin Peacock talks to Mark Leishman about the outrage over Paora that sparked escalating apologies from Zoo Miami - and how the media reacted to a Budget which wasn't quite w...

A little local political difficulty pulls national media focus from 2023-05-21T09:12

The nation’s news outlets aren’t usually interested in local government ructions in the south, but deep rifts in one dysfunctional council have made many headlines lately. When a ‘showdown’ meeting...

Politicians seeking platforms for political reveals from 2023-05-21T09:10

Brian Tamaki couldn't get on TV last weekend to announce the launch of a new umbrella movement to contest the next election. But other political leaders had better luck recently week getting a medi...

Mediawatch for 21 May 2023 from 2023-05-21T09:08

Gore blimey - a little local political difficulty pulls national media focus; Politicians seeking platforms for political reveals.

Midweek Mediawatch - putting a disaster in context from 2023-05-17T21:36

In this week's Midweek Mediawatch, Hayden Donnell talks to Mark Leishman about coverage putting the Loafers Lodge disaster in context - even in the midst of chaos and confusion, some impressive pol...

Some broadcasters still shrugging off storm warnings from 2023-05-14T09:12

Some in the media learned the lessons of Cyclone Gabrielle and the Auckland Anniversary Weekend floods, just as the emergency management authorities have done - and they made a concerted effort to ...

Offshore outfit rating the reliability of our media from 2023-05-14T09:09

US-based NewsGuard is rating New Zealand's significant news sites for reliability - and even preparing ‘nutrition labels’ to warn users to treat them with caution. NewsGuard is also using human jou...

Mediawatch for 14 May 2023 from 2023-05-14T09:08

Safe or sorry? Some still shrugging off storm warnings; an offshore outfit rating reliability of our news - and trying to train the AI chatbots; angst over not-so-Super Rugby on screen.

Angst over not-so-Super Rugby on screen from 2023-05-14T09:07

Midweek sports bulletins and commentaries declared that a former All Blacks coach had "slammed" modern rugby and declared it "unwatchable," prompting push-back from current All Blacks about changin...

Midweek Mediawatch - out with the old, in with the new from 2023-05-10T22:00

Midweek Mediawatch - Mediawatch's weekly catch-up with Nights. Colin Peacock talks to Mark Leishman about criticism of the Coronation coverage - and the PM grilled by the BBC on republicanism and s...

A constitutional conundrum - or simply a king-size spectacle? from 2023-05-07T09:10

The Coronation this weekend was an historic event that anointed a new head of state for us for the first time in 70 years - and also a made-for-media spectacle that captivated broadcasters. After t...

Mediawatch for 7 May 2023 from 2023-05-07T09:08

The Coronation - constitutional conundrum or just a king-size media spectacle?; political defection takes media by surprise.

Political defection takes media by surprise  from 2023-05-07T09:07

Te Pāti Māori livestreams from local marae don’t usually attract much mainstream media interest. But the defection of government minister Meka Whaitiri on Wednesday was carried by every major outle...

Midweek Mediawatch - a media muddle over Meka Whaitiri from 2023-05-03T21:12

In this week's Midweek Mediawatch, Hayden Donnell talks to Mark Leishman about Meka Whaitiri's defection to Te Pāti Māori taking the media by surprise, a media organisation and a politician censure...

Stuff takes paywall plunge from 2023-04-30T17:12

After putting almost all its news online for free for a quarter of a century, Stuff launched subscription-based websites this weekend for its biggest daily papers - The Press, Waikato Times and The...

Citizenship celebration turns sour in record time from 2023-04-30T09:10

For 22 years, media stories regularly bemoaned Kiwis treated as second class citizens across the ditch. This week, the problem finally got resolved, only for coverage to turn to fears of a 'Great E...

Mediawatch for 30 April 2023 from 2023-04-30T09:08

Stuff takes the paywall plunge; fear of brain drain drowns out victory for Kiwis' rights across the ditch; economic predictions wide of the mark.

Stuff to put up first paywalls for news from 2023-04-27T17:56

The country’s biggest publisher of news will soon begin charging readers of three titles for news online for the first time. Stuff is launching subscription-based websites for The Dominion Post, Th...

Midweek Mediawatch - big bills for media billionaires from 2023-04-26T22:45

Midweek Mediawatch: Colin Peacock talks to Mark Leishman about a very bad week for two billionaire media barons - Elon Musk and Rupert Murdoch - burning up credibility and cash in court, online and...

What’s the government’s post-merger media plan? from 2023-04-23T09:10

The government is beefing up RNZ’s budget after scrapping the new public media entity it planned over four years. But what’s the ‘broadcasting strategy for all New Zealanders’  the minister says he...

New regional news network seeks reporters and backers from 2023-04-23T09:08

This week ads for a new start-up appeared seeking reporters in the regions - and offering salaries reporters only get in the big cities these days. What is Regional News Network? How does it plan t...

Mediawatch for 23 April 2023 from 2023-04-23T09:08

What's the government plan for public media now?; regional news start-up seeking reporters and backing; airline snack swap secures sparks media appetite.

Midweek Mediawatch - an unwanted Twitter tag from 2023-04-19T20:07

Midweek Mediawatch - Mediawatch's weekly catch-up with Nights. Hayden Donnell talks to Mark Leishman about Twitter tagging public broadcasters around the world - including RNZ - as 'government fund...

A rainy day for the mayor's media freeze out from 2023-04-16T09:13

Auckland mayor Wayne Brown has maintained a relationship with the media that's been - at best - frosty. A new report into the Council's flood response shows the limits of that approach. The mayor's...

Droning on about flying pizza - again from 2023-04-16T09:10

This week the prospect of pizza by drone from store-to-door hit the headlines again - seven years years after a similar PR fly-by prompted stories insisting this was just around the corner for need...

Mediawatch for 16 April 2023 from 2023-04-16T09:08

Auckland flood response review finds arms-length Council didn't use media effectively; media droning on about flying pizza - again; a fake news backflip.

Midweek Mediawatch - Lobbying, OIA angst and spoiler rage from 2023-04-12T22:00

Midweek Mediawatch - Mediawatch's weekly catch-up with Nights. Colin Peacock talks to Mark Leishman about how the media reacted to a sudden switch of rules for those who lobby politicians. Also - a...

Mediawatch: Turning off the news? from 2023-04-09T11:30

Mediawatch looks at the results of the biggest annual survey of New Zealanders’ trust in news - which shows it’s on the slide for the fourth year in a row. For the first time it also shows many of ...

Midweek Mediawatch - All the President's luggage from 2023-04-05T21:43

In this week's edition of Midweek Mediawatch, Hayden Donnell talks to Mark Leishman about Donald Trump getting arrested, trust in news falling again, a controversy involving a Cabinet minister and ...

Today FM turned off - and erased from 2023-04-02T18:10

Why did MediaWorks kill a network launched with heavy hype only a year ago - which was also the source of news for half the country's commercial stations? The major media company also scrubbed the ...

Mediawatch for 2 April 2023 from 2023-04-02T09:08

The untidy end of Today FM - and 30 years of talk radio history; further fallout from coverage of the short-but-sharp visit of provocateur Posie Parker - and the protest that drowned her out.

Media mismatch on an 'out-of-control mob' from 2023-04-02T09:07

The protest that overwhelmed a rally for anti-trans rights activist Kellie-Jay Keen-Minshull in Auckland last weekend was described as out-of-control and violent in some accounts. Two reporters who...

Today FM goes up in flames after on-air explosion from 2023-03-30T09:51

The future of MediaWorks talk network Today FM and its news service are in doubt after a proposal to close the station prompted an on-air staff revolt. Today FM abruptly cut to pop music after brea...

Midweek Mediawatch - incorrect Corrections ad? from 2023-03-29T22:00

Midweek Mediawatch: Colin Peacock talks to Susana Lei’ataua about the advertising watchdog scuppering an expensive and important TV advert - and a surprise rise in the media’s income from ads. Also...

Lifting the lid on lobbying, ministers - and the media from 2023-03-26T13:10

An RNZ investigation lifted the lid this week on lobbyists and how they communicate with politicians outside the public gaze or official oversight. But it also raised questions for the media about ...

Posie the provocateur captures media's attention from 2023-03-26T09:12

The fly-in fly-out visit of provocateur Posie Parker was obviously a divisive issue - with people going to court to try to prevent it and then taking to the streets when that failed. Opponents drow...

Mediawatch for 26 March 2023 from 2023-03-26T09:08

UK provocateur captures media's attention; lifting the lid on lobbying, ministers - and the media; a source burned and spurned - in the public interest?

A source burned and spurned - in the public interest? from 2023-03-26T09:07

An RNZ investigation this week revealed ministers and their staff are messaged by lobbyists using apps out of the public gaze - but discoverable under the OIA. In the UK, one minister’s messages ex...

Midweek Mediawatch - Lobbyists, Iraq, provoking the woke&angst over activist from 2023-03-22T22:06

In this week's Midweek Mediawatch, Hayden Donnell talks to Susana Lei'ataua about revelations on political lobbying from RNZ, a new online outlet seeking to provoke the woke; how US media boosted t...

A muted media response to March 15 from 2023-03-19T18:10

The media did little to mark the fourth anniversary of the March 15 terror attack, and some victims and their families say they are starting to feel forgotten.

Climate policies burn on the bread and butter bonfire from 2023-03-19T09:12

Chris Hipkins won media plaudits for his political strategy after scrapping or deferring some of Labour's policy in his latest policy bonfire, including ones to reduce emissions. But a poll release...

Mediawatch for 19 March 2023 from 2023-03-19T09:08

Polls and policy bonfire create climate contradiction; a muted media response to March 15; apology; talk radio outbursts spark apology.

Mis-match of the day at the BBC  from 2023-03-15T22:00

Midweek Mediawatch - Colin Peacock talks to Todd Zaner about how a former footballer took on the top brass of the BBC - and won.  Also: a confronting front-page story about a high-profile death - a...

Kids and consultants - Media run the rule over opposition policy from 2023-03-12T09:12

The National Party unveiled two dove-tailed policies last weekend - pumping up childcare subsidies while cutting down on consultants to cover the cost. Mediawatch looks at how the media ran the rul...

Big bills for aborted media merger - but what next? from 2023-03-12T09:10

The broadcasting and media minister spoke about the collapse of the public media merger for the first time this week when a Parliamentary committee asked about the sums spent on it. He gave little ...

Mediawatch for 12 March 2023 from 2023-03-12T09:08

Media run the rule over policy on kids and consultants; Michelle Duff on journalism and switching to fiction; awkwards questions over media merger bills - and what comes next.

Mediawatch: Ukraine's war and the media from 2022-05-01T09:10

Some are already calling the invasion of Ukraine a turning point in world history. How we react is shaped by the media coverage - and most of what we get comes from outlets in countries that have t...

Midweek Mediawatch: Elon's Twitter takeover from 2022-04-28T10:06

In this week's edition of Midweek Mediawatch, Hayden Donnell talks to Karyn Hay about a murderers' row of interviews for National leader Christopher Luxon and the free speech implications of Elon M...

Mediawatch for 24 April 2022 from 2022-04-24T09:08

Two years ago this week the country's media chiefs told MPs Covid had crushed their cashflow and the viability of the news media was in doubt. Two years later, Mediawatch asks one boss: is the cris...

Midweek Mediawatch - Gotcha vs Google it, mate from 2022-04-20T19:00

Midweek Mediawatch - Colin Peacock talks to Karyn Hay about an Aussie politician whose ‘Google it, mate’ riposte to a reporter’s ‘gotcha’ question struck a chord recently - and the otherwise invisi...

Print and paper problems for publishers from 2022-04-17T09:11

‘Not worth the paper it’s printed on' is a common jibe at sub-standard journalism - but paper’s worth a lot these days and one of our biggest printing plants has closed citing shortages offshore. H...

Missing voices in media marking the switch to Orange from 2022-04-17T09:10

The easing of restrictions on pubs, clubs, cafes and restaurants after the Covid traffic light went 'Orange' this week was celebrated by media urging us to 'put on our dancing shoes'. Owners and in...

Mediawatch for 17 April 2022 from 2022-04-17T09:08

Print and paper problems for publishers; missing voices as media mark the orange traffic light switch; MP's exit excites media.

MP's exit excites media keen on conflict from 2022-04-17T09:07

Louisa Wall left Parliament this week after condemning the colleagues who manoeuvred her out as a candidate - and telling the media the PM didn't want her as a minister or an MP. Several pundits an...

Midweek Mediawatch: A new angle on housing from 2022-04-13T21:49

Midweek Mediawatch: Hayden Donnell talks to Karyn Hay about alternative approaches to stories about our housing and transport problems - and news media getting a green light to try and get Facebook...

Measuring trust is tricky with suspicious minds from 2022-04-10T19:10

Last year the biggest annual survey of Kiwis’ trust in news found it was on the slide, though it wasn’t quite clear why. Since then there’s been plenty of anti-media sentiment at anti-government pr...

Mismatch in coverage of climate science and climate solutions from 2022-04-10T09:11

The media has for the most part accepted climate change is a crisis, and time is running out to implement fixes. But climate solutions, particularly when it comes to transport and housing, are stil...

Mediawatch for 10 April 2022 from 2022-04-10T09:08

Planes, trains and automobiles vs. climate change; measuring media trust gets tricky with sus pickups minds; pundit's claim of compromised coverage undermined.

Midweek Mediawatch 6 April 2022 from 2022-04-06T14:48

Mediawatch's weekly catch-up with Lately on RNZ National. Colin Peacock talks to Karyn Hay about new moves in the ‘post-Covid’ media; a new job for John Campbell; and an unusual censorship decision...

NZME undermines collective bid to confront tech titans from 2022-04-03T17:10

Google and Facebook have distributed New Zealand media outlets' news online for years - for free. Local media companies joined forces last year in a bid to get them to pay for it. But one of the bi...

Pushback against the upswing of political nastiness from 2022-04-03T09:12

Online abuse of politicians is on the rise - especially for women, including the PM and local councilors. This week one was able to unmask her anonymous abuser and the media played a part. But this...

Mediawatch for 3 April 2022 from 2022-04-03T09:08

Pushback against the upswing of political nastiness; NZME undermines collective bid to confront tech titans; Today FM's Dallas Gurney .

Today FM's Gurney: Dallas cowboy - or talk radio saviour? from 2022-04-03T09:07

Before its launch, the boss of new talk station Today FM promised a new approach eschewing anger and antagonism just for the sake of engagement. The first fortnight's been a mix of some of that - a...

Midweek Mediawatch - spotlight on falls from grace from 2022-03-30T08:31

Mediawatch's weekly catch-up with Lately on RNZ National. Colin Peacock talks to Karyn Hay about TVNZ keeping allies abandoned in Afghanistan on the agenda; a revealing front page exclusive with a ...

Opening up not all it's cracked up to be for business from 2022-03-27T09:12

Even after the government announced it was relaxing Covid restrictions on Wednesday, business leaders responded with a familiar call for more freedom. But looser restrictions haven't shored up thei...

New talk station offers new approach - but also same old bluster from 2022-03-27T09:10

MediaWorks launched its latest talk radio network this week - Today FM - promising a constructive approach in contrast with its predecessors and its rivals. It sounds like an upgrade, but there’s s...

Mediawatch for 27 March 2022 from 2022-03-27T09:08

Covid countermeasures canned amid chorus of commentators urging us to 'open up'; new talk station offers new approach - but also same old bluster; new TV channels add entertainment options.

Midweek Mediawatch: An anti-vax PR blitz? from 2022-03-23T21:34

In this week's edition of Midweek Mediawatch, Hayden Donnell talks to Karyn Hay about a good start for Tova O'Brien and a not-so-good one for Duncan Garner on new talk station Today FM - and the we...

Fast-rising prices - and loud cries of 'crisis' from 2022-03-20T09:12

After the media seized on 'pain at the pump' the PM was pressed to concede sudden spikes in prices constituted 'a crisis.' She eventually did, but - like a pricey petrol - that only gets us so far.

Pulling young Kiwis into the loop with news from 2022-03-20T09:10

Younger Kiwis have been turning away from traditional news media outlets and bulletins for years, and the media they’re using most heavily have little news. But podcast listening is growing fast am...

Mediawatch for 20 March 2022 from 2022-03-20T09:08

Fast-rising prices and loud cries of 'crisis' ; pulling young Kiwis into the loop with news; new talk network's soft-launch opinions.

A soothing scroll through Today FM's opinion section from 2022-03-20T09:07

Today FM is set to take on Newstalk ZB in a battle for talk radio supremacy. But in contrast to its controversy-courting crosstown rival, its website is demonstrating a surprisingly tranquil approa...

Midweek Mediawatch - 16 March 2022 from 2022-03-15T19:17

Midweek Mediawatch: Colin Peacock talks to Karyn Hay about foreign correspondents bringing Ukraine’s war to the small screen; big issues the backdrop to the big public media shake-up; groupthink on...

Mediawatch for 13 March 2022 from 2022-03-13T09:08

The government has confirmed it is creating a new public media entity next year to incorporate RNZ and TVNZ. It's the biggest shake-up in broadcasting for years but unanswered questions remain. So ...

Midweek Mediawatch: 'Graph crime' - and corruption claims from 2022-03-09T22:05

In this week's Midweek Mediawatch, Hayden Donnell talks to Karyn Hay about a 'graph crime' amplifying anxieties about mental health - and what happened when the Herald's editors fronted up to reade...

Newsroom accused of publicising anti-vax PR pitch from 2022-03-06T09:10

A few days before the occupation of Parliament dissolved in a wave of fire and violence, Newsroom published soft-focus vision of it in a report called 'A visit to Freedom Village'. It's now being a...

Shock and awe-ful takes on Ukraine's invasion from 2022-03-06T09:09

There were lots of were warning signs over recent months - and Russian-backed forces were already fighting in parts of Ukraine from 2014 onwards. But Russia's invasion this month still seemed to ta...

Broadcasting ‘flying blind’ on public media plan from 2022-03-06T09:08

What could be the biggest shake-up of public broadcasting for 30 years reportedly got a green light from Cabinet ministers last month. But the public’s still waiting for the government to announce ...

Mediawatch for 6 March 2022 from 2022-03-06T09:08

Soft-focus protest portrayals jar with violent end to occupation; shock and awe-ful takes on Ukraine's catastrophe; broadcasters 'flying blind' on public media plan.

Midweek Mediawatch - pitchforks at Parliament from 2022-03-02T17:57

Midweek Mediawatch - Mediawatch's weekly catch-up with Lately. This week Colin Peacock talked to Karyn Hay about reporters targeted again at the flashpoints in Wellington - which jarred with with e...

Parliament protest: Making sense of extreme scenes and unsavoury stories from 2022-02-27T11:10

The occupation around Parliament has become the most heavily-covered protest since the ‘81 Tour- in spite of the considerable hostility reporters have faced documenting it. But arguments still rage...

Mediawatch for 27 February 2022 from 2022-02-27T09:08

The occupation around Parliament has become the most heavily-covered protest since the '81 Tour- in spite of the considerable hostility reporters have faced documenting it. But arguments still rage...

Midweek Mediawatch: A shaky take on booster benefits from 2022-02-23T22:56

In this week's edition of Midweek Mediawatch, Hayden Donnell talks to Karyn Hay about Mike Hosking's regrets about being boosted, NZME's financial comeback from Covid - and emotional scenes as pion...

Public service screened by 'communications complex' from 2022-02-20T16:10

Dominion Post editor Anna Fifield says after 20 years reporting offshore - she’s shocked at the “communications industrial complex” she says shields our government and public service from media scr...

Mad, bad or mostly moderate? Media's mixed message on protest from 2022-02-20T09:12

There was plenty of condemnation of the occupation of Parliament in the media at first - but this week some media painted a much more palatable picture of the protesters and their motivations. Thos...

Mediawatch for 20 February 2022 from 2022-02-20T09:08

Mixed messages from media on Parliament protesters; extremism and the media; DomPost pushes back on public service obfuscation; sweary dad's live TV f-bomb double.

Midweek Mediawatch - 16 February 2022 from 2022-02-16T22:50

Mediawatch's weekly catch-up with Lately. This week Colin Peacock talked to Karyn Hay about mixed messages in the media about those protesters at Parliament. Also:  the value of public money for me...

Covid-19 convoy conundrum confronts news editors from 2022-02-13T16:13

Covid skeptics occupied Parliament grounds this week under the banner of ‘freedom’ - and many other things. Did media coverage amplify their fringe views? Should media do more to understand them an...

Quest for certainty undercuts Omicron analysis from 2022-02-13T09:09

Everyone wants to know how bad our Omicron outbreak might get - and when. But experts running the numbers on that have copped flak in the media when scenarios they’ve been told to scope don't pan o...

Mediawatch for 13 February 2022 from 2022-02-13T09:08

Convoy conundrum confronts editors; quest for certainty undercuts Omicron analysis; sweary Dad's minties moment.

Midweek Mediawatch: divining the polls a shaky science from 2022-02-09T21:25

In this week's edition of Midweek Mediawatch, Hayden Donnell talks to Karyn Hay about commentators reading the tea leaves over the latest political poll, Sean Plunket's new online talkback station,...

Mediawatch for Waitangi Day 2022 from 2022-02-06T18:28

For years Māori  journalism leaders warned not enough training, investment or opportunities meant Māori  people and perspectives were mostly missing in our mainstream media. This Waitangi Day he lo...

Publicly-funded boost for Māori media from 2022-02-06T07:30

For years Māori journalism leaders warned a lack of training, investment and opportunities meant Māori people and perspectives were mostly missing in our media. But more effort and money than ever ...

Midweek Mediawatch: broadcaster's MIQ mission fires up media from 2022-02-02T18:55

Mediawatch’s weekly catch-up with Lately on RNZ National.  This week Colin Peacock talked to Bryan Crump about the fallout from broadcaster Charlotte Bellis’s media campaign against MIQ. Also: ove...

Covering Tonga’s eruption - without communications from 2022-01-30T17:12

That epic undersea eruption in Tonga was heard around the region - and recorded and analysed in minute detail, even from space. But a comprehensive communications wipeout cut reporters off from sou...

Silly season turns serious as Omicron arrives from 2022-01-30T09:10

It’s business as usual for the media again: all Covid, all the time with the whole country back in the red (traffic light). But even before Omicron inevitably broke through, anti-vaxxers and their ...

Thick-skinned stars savaged by summer scandals from 2022-01-30T09:09

While Brian Tamaki behind bars made headlines here, the world’s biggest anti-vaxxer created bulletin-leading drama round the world when he was detained across the Tasman. Meanwhile in the UK 'Party...

Mediawatch for 30 January 2022 from 2022-01-30T09:08

Covering Tonga's crisis - without communications; summer silly season gets serious as Omicron arrives; reputations trashed in summer scandals.

Midweek Mediawatch: Tova O'Brien barred from starting Today on time from 2022-01-26T22:56

In this week's Midweek Mediawatch Hayden Donnell talks to Karyn Hay about the employment dispute keeping Tova O'Brien off the air and creating bad blood between broadcasters. Also - non-commercial ...

The Mediawatch Christmas Bonus from 2021-12-26T09:15

2021’s almost gone - but not forgotten - though it would be nice to be able to forget large parts of it.  Before we flip into 2022, Mediawatch looks at what's coming up next year - and some more ac...

Mediawatch for 19 December 2021 from 2021-12-19T09:05

2021 - media in the year of the vaccine; NZ news media in Oz-style ideological drift?

Midweek Mediawatch With Hayden Donell from 2021-12-15T22:45

Midweek Mediawatch With Hayden Donell.

Midweek Mediawatch: Anger, anxiety, and Kerre McIvor from 2021-12-15T20:13

In this week's edition of Midweek Mediawatch, Hayden Donnell talks to Bryan Crump about a sympathetic story on the plight of the unvaccinated, a new doco from TVNZ, and anger and anxiety directed a...

Young entrepreneur’s death sparks media backlash from 2021-12-12T09:10

The recent death of entrepreneur Jake Millar  - at the age of 26 - prompted an angry backlash against the media - over coverage of his failed venture Unfiltered. Some in business cited tall poppy s...

Mediawatch for 12 December 2021 from 2021-12-12T09:08

Young entrepreneur's death sparks media backlash; angst over 'iwi checkpoints' obscures big picture.

Midweek Mediawatch: Style v substance; service station sausage rolls scandal from 2021-12-08T23:00

In this week's edition of Midweek Mediawatch, Hayden Donnell talks to Karyn Hay about style over substance in the coverage of Chris Luxon's first question time as leader, a Stuff column for the age...

RNZ’s Tahi -'the one' for rangatahi? from 2021-12-05T17:10

RNZ’s previous plan to reach younger people collapsed in early 2020 after opposition to RNZ Concert cuts - and pushback from commercial broadcasters. This week RNZ fired up Tahi - a more modest eff...

No man is an airline from 2021-12-05T09:12

The National Party has new leadership, after an intense focus on the outgoing leader Judith Collins. But while no-one will forget her in a hurry, the name of her successor still seems to confuse th...

An anti-intensification housing media blitz from 2021-12-05T09:10

Opponents of the bipartisan bill aimed at enabling housing blitzed the media over the past few weeks. Many of the reports failed to include relevant context and balancing opinion.

Mediawatch for 5 December 2021 from 2021-12-05T09:08

Spotlight swings onto new National's new leader; an anti-intensification housing media blitz; RNZ's 'Tahi' - 'the one' for rangatahi?

Midweek Mediawatch: Chris Luxon's baptism of fire from 2021-12-01T22:59

In this week's edition of Midweek Mediawatch, Hayden Donnell talks to Karyn Hay about the barrage of tough questions that met Chris Luxon upon his ascent to the National leadership, a media acquisi...

Bridges burned, Collins crushed, Reti takes the reins from 2021-11-28T09:12

Late on Wednesday night’s not prime time for political news to break, but Judith Collins' late-night kneecapping of rival Simon Bridges kicked off the chain of events that left her on the backbench...

Just fed-up farmers? Or 'radical right in gumboots'? from 2021-11-28T09:11

Groundswell took over about 70 centres nationwide - briefly and pretty peacefully - in last weekend’s Mother of All Protests. But the picture the media painted of who they really are and what they ...

New collective bid to make tech titans pay for NZ news from 2021-11-28T09:11

The umbrella group representing locally-owned news media wants to negotiate with Facebook and Google for "fair payment” for the local journalism appearing on their services. Australian news media h...

Mediawatch for 28 November 2021 from 2021-11-28T09:08

Bridges burned, Collins crushed, Reti takes the reins; Just fed-up farmers - or 'the radical right in gumboots'? ; New bid to get tech titans pay for NZ news.

Midweek Mediawatch: Soper's simmering stand-off from 2021-11-26T14:32

In this week's Midweek Mediawatch, Hayden Donnell talks to Karyn Hay about a Cold War brewing between Newstalk ZB's political editor and the PM, misinformation in local papers - and the need for be...

Radio in NZ 100 not out. But what next? from 2021-11-21T09:12

Radio in New Zealand marked its centenary this week with tributes to its staying power in the past - and confident claims it’s here to stay for the future. Several stations now have bigger audience...

Looking back on tech titans' takeover of media from 2021-11-21T09:10

Facebook’s all-powerful founder has rebooted his trillion-dollar company as ‘Meta’ and he’s planning for a new virtual ‘metaverse’ for us in five years. But the real world mess Facebook’s made in t...

Mediawatch for 21 November 2021 from 2021-11-21T09:08

Radio in NZ is 100 not out: RNZ's Paul Thompson on what comes next; looking back on tech titans' takeover of media with Rory Cellan-Jones.

The missing context in vaccine mandate coverage from 2021-11-19T14:13

Analysis: News organisations have devoted plenty of space to the unvaccinated healthcare and education workers being stood down this week. But many of those stories are missing vital context.

Midweek Mediawatch: Mandate reporting missing context from 2021-11-17T23:00

In this week's episode of Midweek Mediawatch, Hayden Donnell talks to Karyn Hay about a glaring lack of context in vaccine mandate coverage, a doco looking into our toxic alcohol culture, and a soc...

The risks of reporting displays of discontent - and amplifying aggro from 2021-11-14T16:10

Tuesday’s Covid protest at Parliament was a spectacle that had to be covered, but reporters who did so were targeted by protesters - and not for the first time. Does coverage risk ramping up the im...

Experts denigrated by conspiricists - and radio hosts from 2021-11-14T09:09

A fresh analysis of Covid misinformation says it intensified after Delta arrived - and leading public figures and officials have “received specific targeting and abuse” online. But you don't have g...

All journalists are climate reporters now from 2021-11-14T09:09

The climate talks in Glasgow are the big global story right now - but it doesn't always feel like it in our news. A climate change reporter tells Mediawatch every journalist should now be one too -...

Mediawatch for 14 November 2021 from 2021-11-14T09:08

The risks of reporting displays of discontent - and amplifying aggro; experts denigrated by conspiracists - and radio hosts; all journalists are climate reporters now.

Midweek Mediawatch: An anti-vax coverage conundrum from 2021-11-10T22:51

In this week's episode of Midweek Mediawatch, Hayden Donnell talks to Karyn Hay about Discovery announcing a pair of new TV channels, media coverage of an anti-vax march on parliament, and a valuab...

Meta’s moves to boost our media underwhelms observers from 2021-11-07T09:10

Facebook - freshly rebadged as ‘Meta’ - gives local news media content huge extra reach, but it covers none of the cost of creating it while snaring the bulk of the digital ad revenue it attracts. ...

Avoiding the mistakes of the past in trans rights coverage from 2021-11-07T09:10

During the homosexual law reform campaign 35 years ago plenty of inflammatory, derogatory and sometimes downright bigoted portrayals of gay people were published and aired in our media. Some have a...

Alert level angst not leveling off on radio from 2021-11-07T09:07

Another Monday, another review of alert level condition for Auckland and other areas this week -  along with ample evidence in the media that the change can’t come soon enough for Aucklanders who a...

Mediawatch for 7 November 2021 from 2021-11-07T09:06

The owners of Facebook - now known as 'Meta' - announced a plan to boost news publishers here this week. Mediawatch looks at the media's response to that. Also: how media angst about upcoming alert...

Midweek Mediawatch: COP-26, Covid-19, radio re-jigs and grandstanders from 2021-11-03T11:12

Midweek Mediawatch - our weekly catch-up with Karyn Hay on Lately.  This week Colin Peacock talks to Karyn about a shake-up in news radio that made headlines - while another went under the radar. A...

Keeping calm (or not) as Covid comes to Christchurch from 2021-10-31T09:12

Did our media keep calm and carry on when Covid came to Christchurch this week? Or amplify anger and confusion about loose borders and unvaccinated travellers? Bit of both . . .

Te Rito - a new bid to boost diversity in our newsrooms from 2021-10-31T09:10

We’ve had too few journalists of M?ori, Pasifika and Asian origin in our newsrooms for decades - and now there’s a new publicly-funded push to turn that round. Four established outlets are backing ...

Mediawatch for 31 October 2021 from 2021-10-31T09:08

Keeping calm as Covid comes to Christchurch - and not; a new bid to boost diversity in our news; Australian media straying into fake news about NZ.

'Straya media strays from mainstream reporting NZ from 2021-10-31T09:07

One Australian news outlet seized on a Kiwi commentator's claim this week that our media is 'fully controlled' by the PM - while a big name broadcaster here seized on fake news from another Aussie ...

Midweek Mediawatch: Anti-vax messages in the media from 2021-10-27T20:28

In this week's episode of Midweek Mediawatch, Hayden Donnell talks to Karyn Hay about anti-vax messages finding a media platform, some outstanding local investigative reporting this week - and conf...

Media mull mental health amid lingering lockdowns from 2021-10-24T09:12

As the Covid crisis deepens and lockdown levels give way to traffic lights, the mental health effects of it all are being aired more than ever in the media - sometimes along with assumptions that d...

Wrapping up the vaxathon from 2021-10-24T09:10

Last weekend’s hastily-organised eight-hour Vaxathon TV extravaganza silenced most critics after a record number of jabs last weekend - but not all.  We ask the brains behind the broadcast - Bailey...

Reflecting on a revolution-MMP in the rear-view mirror from 2021-10-24T09:08

The media marked a quarter of a century of MMP with a lot of mixed reviews on how it has changed our politics - and our country. Mediawatch talks to a documentary-maker who created one of the most ...

Mediawatch for 24 October 2021 from 2021-10-24T09:06

Media mull mental health impact of lingering lockdowns; wrapping up the Vaxathon, MMP in the rear view mirror.

A pundit backlash against actual experts from 2021-10-22T13:30

Analysis: Our epidemiologists and Covid modellers have faced an increasingly bitter series of barbs from commentators and columnists over the last month, and it's making their often thankless task ...

Midweek Mediawatch: Epidemiologists under attack from 2021-10-20T18:12

In this week's episode of Midweek Mediawatch, Hayden Donnell talks to Karyn Hay about an escalating series of media attacks on epidemiologists and layoffs at Newshub.

Thank you very much for your kind injection from 2021-10-17T09:13

Super Saturday’s vaxathon was the biggest and longest local live TV broadcast we’ve seen for years. While some critics carped about the entertainment value, all that mattered in the end was pumping...

Pressure piling up on tech titans - Australia leading the charge from 2021-10-17T09:10

Big tech platforms have failed to tackle the misinformation and toxicity they spread - and their dominance of the market for digital media revenue is becoming increasingly obvious. Australia's gove...

Patients pressure group’s startling survey claims from 2021-10-17T09:07

Nine out of ten people think funding expensive new medical treatments is more important than Covid vaccines, according to news reports this week. That's pretty surprising when you consider how crit...

Mediawatch for 17 October 2021 from 2021-10-17T09:05

Vaxathon rolls back the years to roll up our sleeves; tech titans under pressure as Australia squeezes them from the top; Patients pressure group's starling survey claims.

Midweek Mediawatch: The blame game from 2021-10-13T22:29

Mediawatch’s weekly catch-up with Karyn Hay on Nights. This week Hayden Donnell talked to Karyn about the media blame game as the country moves away from elimination - and an explosive live on-air ...

Anger management and roadmaps to nowhere from 2021-10-10T09:12

This week's call that Auckland must linger longer in Level 3 - but with picnics and double bubbles - upset those who wanted more freedom, those who saw it as waving the white flag and those demandi...

Anthonie Tonnon: singing the news from 2021-10-10T09:08

Many songwriters turn inward for inspiration. Anthonie Tonnon turns to the newspapers, writing about toxic waste in the Mataura Paper Mill, the housing crisis, the decline of regional rail and even...

Pandora Papers highlight deals done in darkness from 2021-10-10T09:07

Five years ago, hundreds of reporters turned The Panama Papers into stories spotlighted the corruption and tax-dodging of some rich and powerful people all over the world. It eventually led to chan...

Mediawatch for 10 October 2021 from 2021-10-10T09:06

Anger management, rumours and roadmaps to nowhere; Pandora Papers highlight deals done in darkness; Anthonie Tonnon: singing the news.

Midweek Mediawatch: A good 1pm press briefing gotcha from 2021-10-06T22:21

In this week's Midweek Mediawatch, Hayden Donnell talks to Bryan Crump about an incisive question at the daily 1pm press briefing, a backlash against NZME's premium product; Hilary Barry's sweet tr...

Home by Christmas? Political Covid plans overpromise from 2021-10-03T09:12

Opposition parties’ plans for lockdown-free Covid management and re-opening our borders made headlines this week - kicked off former PM John Key last weekend. All of them dangled the prospect of fr...

Huge journalism jobs boost from public purse from 2021-10-03T09:10

110 new journalism jobs have been bankrolled by the Public Interest Journalism Fund - the biggest investment yet from this recent government initiative. News media companies welcomed this big boost...

Mediawatch for 3 October 2021 from 2021-10-03T09:08

Political Covid plans overpromise: huge journalist jobs boost from public purse; moving on from fast-food frenzy

Moving on from lockdown fast food frenzies from 2021-10-03T09:07

History repeated recently when our media joined the fast food frenzy when Auckland switched to Level 3 recently. But some in the media are getting sick of it and others say the real story should be...

Midweek Mediawatch: John Key's media takeover from 2021-09-29T21:41

In this week's Midweek Mediawatch Hayden Donnell talks to Bryan Crump about John Key's media blitz, dueling Covid recovery plans -  and some change-making stories from Metro and RNZ.

Commercial radio urges MPs to rein in RNZ from 2021-09-26T16:11

This week the big commercial radio broadcasters boasted of record-breaking audiences for their big brands when the latest audience figures came out. But at the same their bosses were also urging ou...

Confused claims of Covid-compromised cancer care from 2021-09-26T11:29

A new campaign is urging people with possible symptoms of cancer to get a diagnosis - and never mind the lockdown.  This week two media outlets claimed  'almost half of new cancers' went undetected...

Covid complications confuse the media from 2021-09-26T09:14

Worrying breaches of Auckland’s Level 4 border fired up the media this week - just as the Government prepared to green-light a risky shift to Level 3 in the supercity. Meanwhile the media also chan...

Collins’ snub startles media - but it cuts both ways from 2021-09-26T09:07

National's embattled leader surprised the media by spurning some interview opportunities this week - and the public exposure that would have come with them. But while political reporters often crit...

Mediawatch for Sunday 26 Sep 2021 from 2021-09-26T09:06

Covid complications confuse the media; Collins' snubs startles media - but it cuts both ways; confused claims of Covid-compromised cancer care; Collins' snubs startles media - but it cuts both ways.

Midweek Mediawatch: Opining on elimination from 2021-09-22T20:40

Mediawatch's weekly catch-up with Bryan Crump on Nights. This week Hayden Donnell talks to Bryan about media angst over whether ‘elimination’ is still our Covid strategy - and the Herald aiming hig...

Rule-breaking fires up debate on fairness and privilege from 2021-09-19T11:10

As the lockdown in Auckland lengthened, the exposure of one couple’s rule-breaking prompted a predictably intense pile-on. Ironically, that actually helped to keep their names out of the headlines ...

Mediawatch for SUNDAY 19 Sep 2021 from 2021-09-19T09:27

Mediawatch looks at how the media zeroed in on our social cohesion this week - as the current lockdown in Auckland became the longest we've had so far. Also: Mediawatch talks to the BBC's ...

Peter Taylor: 50 years focused on a 100-year conflict from 2021-09-19T09:10

Few journalists on the planet have more experience of reporting terrorism than the BBC’s Peter Taylor. He has spent half a century covering Northern Ireland’s ‘Troubles - a consequence of the parti...

Midweek Mediawatch - 15 September 2021 from 2021-09-16T08:47

Mediawatch's weekly catch-up with Bryan Crump on Nights. This week Hayden Donnell talked to Bryan about the media facing accusations that they're undermining the Covid response by airing the claims...

Reporting Afghanistan after abandonment from 2021-09-12T09:12

Twenty years after the 9/11 attacks prompted the US to invade Afghanistan, the Taliban announced they’ve taken the whole country again this week. Journalists who remain there are at risk in spite o...

MediaWorks refresh fires up fans of outgoing veteran from 2021-09-12T09:10

In the midst of a bid to move away from its troubled internal culture, MediaWorks hired new people for news and talk radio this week. But the sudden retirement of controversial veteran host Peter W...

Mediawatch for 12 September 2021 from 2021-09-12T09:00

Reporting Afghanistan after abandonment; MediaWorks rings changes and fires up fans of outgoing veteran

Midweek Mediawatch - terror, hate and terrible tweets from 2021-09-07T11:04

Mediawatch’s weekly catchup with Bryan Crump on Nights. This week Colin Peacock talked to Bryan about where the media focus fell after the LynnMall attack; Patrick Gower ‘On Hate’; some in-depth Co...

Media confront thorny questions raised by terror attack from 2021-09-05T09:12

When a terrorist struck on Friday, the media were confronted with shocking reports and images - but also thorny questions about what happened and why - and how much they could reveal. 

Demands for greater scrutiny - and media push back from 2021-09-05T09:10

The opposition’s unhappy about the scrutiny the media are applying to the government, especially over vaccines - but some reporters pushed back at criticism of them this week. 

Mediawatch for 5 September 2021 from 2021-09-05T09:06

How the media reacted to another shocking act of terrorism at home. Also: political pressure for greater media scrutiny of the Government - and TVNZ's boss giving up the top job.

TVNZ's long-serving boss creates a vacuum from 2021-09-03T18:07

TVNZ chief executive Kevin Kenrick will leave the state-owned broadcaster next February after almost a decade in charge. TVNZ will now have to find a new leader as the government progresses plans t...

Midweek Mediawatch: scrutiny under scrutiny - and Lou Grant from 2021-09-01T11:46

Mediawatch’s weekly catchup with Bryan Crump on Nights. This week Colin Peacock talked to Bryan about the media reflecting on the fairness of the scrutiny they apply to those running our Covid resp...

Mediawatch for 29 August 2021 from 2021-08-29T09:06

Mediawatch looks at how our media covered the struggle to contain the Delta variant -- and how media reports of Covid clusters in Auckland this week sparked racist responses and claims that the rep...

Midweek Mediawatch - racist reactions and offshore opinions from 2021-08-25T17:32

Mediawatch's weekly catchup with Nights. This week Colin Peacock chats to Bryan Crump about the media in the middle as reports about Covid clusters spark racist reactions - and offshore opinions ab...

Mediawatch for 22 August 2021 from 2021-08-22T09:06

Media react to level 4 lockdown and the dawn of Delta; the Taliban takeover in Afghanistan.

Midweek Mediawatch - Covid's media comeback from 2021-08-18T22:00

Mediawatch's weekly catch-up with Lately. Colin Peacock talks to Karyn Hay about the media back in Covid-emergency mode; a business editor slapping down Covid complainers - and a truly clueless TV ...

Landmark climate report lands - but makes little mark on media from 2021-08-15T09:12

The first comprehensive IPCC stocktake of the global climate trends for years was easy to read and its confronting conclusions were clear. But after hitting front pages and headlining bulletins the...

The double standard in the bike bridge backlash from 2021-08-15T09:11

A proposed walk and cycle bridge over the Waitemat? provoked a furious media backlash over the goverment's wasteful spending. Why don't roading projects get the same treatment?

RNZ challenged on turning stolen data into news from 2021-08-15T09:10

Unknown cyber-criminals sent stolen information to the media to pile on pressure to pay a ransom. RNZ subsequently aired a scoop sourced from it before a court ordered all media to dump the dodgy d...

Mediawatch for 15 August 2021 from 2021-08-15T09:06

Landmark climate report lands - but makes little mark on media; double standard in bike bridge backlash; RNZ challenged on turning stolen data into news.

Midweek Mediawatch: Olympic overload and conference crankiness from 2021-08-11T22:00

Mediawatch’s weekly catch-up with Lately. Colin Peacock talks to Karyn Hay about what the media made of an Olympics that turned out better than many expected in Tokyo - or did it? National Party me...

GOAT in a boat - and a trans trailblazer in Tokyo from 2021-08-08T09:12

While Lisa Carrington struck gold and set records, Laurel Hubbard struck out in competition but still made history and headlines as our first ever transgender Olympian. She also won hearts and mind...

Mediawatch for 8 August 2021 from 2021-08-08T09:10

GOAT in a boat - and a trans trailblazer at Tokyo 2020; MediaWorks’ accountability still in question; making sense of ‘Milk and Money’; big-name broadcasters boosted by watchdog’s verdict.

Making sense of ‘Milk and Money’ from 2021-08-08T09:10

The recent Groundswell protest put farmers’ grievances about the government’s environmental policies front and centre. Good timing for a new six-part documentary series exploring the dairy industry...

Accountability in question after MediaWorks review from 2021-08-08T09:10

A review of the working culture at MediaWorks released this week is by far the most comprehensive airing of the internal problems of any New Zealand media company.  But its leaders and governors ha...

Midweek Mediawatch: News not fit for social media from 2021-08-04T21:53

In this week's episode of Midweek Mediawatch, Hayden Donnell talks to Karyn Hay about a mainstream media outlet getting kicked off YouTube, a court judgement against RNZ, and a harrowing culture re...

‘Hussy’ OK says BSA (*in context) from 2021-08-01T19:09

ZB’s Mike Hosking called Meghan Markle “a hussy” on the air earlier this year. It was a rude and sexist slur on someone he didn’t know at all  - and it prompted formal complaints to the broadcastin...

Olympians strike gold - while media find plenty of colour from 2021-08-01T09:13

Kiwis finally struck gold in Tokyo this week - but the media didn't always get the colour they were looking for.

Media ramp up angst over arming police from 2021-08-01T09:12

A year ago, a trial of armed police teams was scrapped with opponents adopting the slogan ‘Arms Down.’ One year on, some in the media are now amplifying calls for arming all officers after the deat...

Mediawatch for 1 August 2021 from 2021-08-01T09:07

Kiwi strike Tokyo gold - and give media plenty of colour; ramping up angst over arming police; 'hussey' is OK says BSA (in context)

Midweek Mediawatch: 28 July 2021 from 2021-07-28T21:39

On this week's Midweek Mediawatch, Hayden Donnell talks to Karyn Hay about an error-strewn academic report, a prominent radio host's abrupt departure, some less-than-sympathetic accounts of people ...

'Groundswell' exposes rural / urban divide in media from 2021-07-25T15:13

At the biggest national protest for years last week, farmers made it clear they're unhappy with the government and they feel unloved by the country - and the media. The media coverage also revealed...

Government and media get on same page for terrorism from 2021-07-25T09:10

A group representing our major news media have agreed a set of principles for reporting terrorism and “national security events." It's a response to fears extremists could use the media for their o...

The problem with economists' forecasts from 2021-07-25T09:07

The data is clear: economists' forecasts are often wrong. Given their track record, shouldn't these prognostications come with more caveats and disclaimers when they're broadcast by the media?

Mediawatch for 25 July 2021 from 2021-07-25T09:06

Protests expose urban/rural divide in media; government and media on same page over terrorism reporting; the problem with economists' forecasts.

Midweek Mediawatch - podcasting politicians from 2021-07-21T22:00

Mediawatch’s weekly catch-up with Lately. Colin Peacock talks to Susana Leiataua about surprises in Gerry Brownlee’s ‘Backroom’  while James Shaw jams with Brian Eno. Also - talk radio ringing the ...

New journalism fund's first projects unveiled from 2021-07-18T09:10

The first tranche of the government’s $55m journalism Fund has been allocated - against a backdrop of criticism it could skew reporting of political issues. M?ori journalism projects and a new trai...

A deeply unsympathetic media campaign from 2021-07-18T09:08

Employers have put their hands out for more migrant workers to fill gaps in their rosters over the last two weeks, but their campaign may have hit a sour note.

Money for the mob and hoha over koha from 2021-07-18T09:08

A regional paper’s scoop about $2.75m in public funding for a drug rehabilitation programme with Mongrel Mob connections kicked off a political controversy - and so did $200 koha. 

Mediawatch for 18 July 2021 from 2021-07-18T09:05

Labour market's mixed messsages; new journalism fund unveils first projects; angst over money and the mob; good, bad and gruesome of sport.

Midweek Mediawatch - revenge for pineapple on pizza from 2021-07-14T09:58

Mediawatch’s weekly catch-up with Lately. Colin Peacock talks to Karyn Hay about controversial sportscaster Martin Devlin reportedly returning to the radio; the Forever War in Afghanistan; football...

Afghanistan’s war dropping out of sight from 2021-07-11T09:13

Twenty years after the US invaded Afghanistan in pursuit of Al Qaeda, it suddenly pulled its troops out this week.  It’s the end of the longest war in modern history in which 3500 New Zealanders al...

Do top stars trump media power in sport? from 2021-07-11T09:11

Naomi Osaka will be a star at the Tokyo Olympics after taking time out for her mental health. Some say giving stressful press conferences a swerve was no-one else’s business, but those in the busin...

Sexist sports spray sparks startling sacking from 2021-07-11T09:10

A story about a little-known sports journalist losing a brand new job on a radio network that’s not even on air yet surged to the top of the ‘most-viewed’ lists on news websites this week. Why was ...

Mediawatch for 11 July 2021 from 2021-07-11T09:05

Afghanistan's war dropping out of sight; a sexist sports spray sparks a startling sacking; does star power trump media power in sport?

Midweek Mediawatch: A sport radio sacking from 2021-07-07T21:27

In this week's edition of Midweek Mediawatch, Hayden Donnell talks to Susana Leiataua about a sacking prompted by a sexist column, some illuminating commentary on proposed hate speech legislation, ...

Media turn up heat on hate speech from 2021-07-04T09:12

A discussion document on proposed hate speech laws generated plenty of discussion in the media - and spurious claims that merely insulting people could be criminalised. Some senior journalists seiz...

Putting victims at the centre of reporting from 2021-07-04T09:11

The media has sometimes been guilty of sidelining, shrugging off, or silencing sexual assault and harassment victims. Stuff's Kirsty Johnston talked to Mediawatch about how to centre those victims ...

Reporters stand in storm, confirm it's cold and wet from 2021-07-04T09:07

Most of us waited out this week's winter storm indoors, with heaters set to high. Not so the nation's journalists, who instead sought out the most miserable places in the country, and stood in the ...

Mediawatch for 4 July 2021 from 2021-07-04T09:05

Media turn up heat on hate speech; victim-cantered reporting; reporters weathering the storm.

Midweek Mediawatch - 30 June 2021 from 2021-06-30T16:05

Mediawatch’s weekly catch-up with Lately. Colin Peacock talks to Karyn Hay about new data on the media and misinformation in New Zealand - and a new podcast airing anxiety about China’s influence h...

Covid in the capital fires up media from 2021-06-27T09:12

How did our media react when a Covid case imported via the trans-Tasman travel bubble compromised this country’s long run without cases in the community?

New public media plan enters uncharted waters from 2021-06-27T09:10

The clock is ticking for the government’s proposed new public media entity. The next step is a business case and a new charter being drafted behind closed doors. But RNZ already has a charter that’...

Small screen ‘sex scandal’ drama? Old news, actually from 2021-06-27T09:07

The shock - horror response sparked by news of a publicly-funded ‘sex scandal’ TV drama was almost as stale as the decade-old affair it was based on.

Mediawatch for 27 June 2021 from 2021-06-27T09:06

Covid in the capital fires up media; government media plan enters un-chartered waters, more sport on air for free around the corner, angst over sleaze on screen is old news

More free-to-air sport around the corner from 2021-06-24T11:07

A new national radio network dedicated to sport will go live on air on Monday 19 July - just in time for the Tokyo Olympics. Australian-owned SENZ will fill a void left by the closure of NZME's Rad...

Midweek Mediawatch: A silent night from 2021-06-23T21:49

On this week's edition of Midweek Mediawatch, Hayden Donnell talks to Karyn Hay about media angst over the Ministry of Health's communications concerning the Covid case in the capital, sensitive an...

Hui over Christchurch terror attacks puts media under the spotlight from 2021-06-20T09:12

A counter-terrorism hui intended to help heal the wounds inflicted in Christchurch two years ago sparked a walk-out which hit the headlines. 

Running the numbers on the PM's media schedule from 2021-06-20T09:10

When Jacinda Ardern changed her media schedule earlier this year, it raised heckles from commentators who felt she was ducking scrutiny. But what have the changes actually meant?

Undeclared SponCon causing political and editorial headaches from 2021-06-20T09:09

The Herald's dedicated property section printed 64 articles under the banner 'Our New Auckland' without declaring they were sponsored by K?inga Ora, prompting NZME to review its processes on sponso...

Mediawatch for 20 June 2021 from 2021-06-20T09:06

Media under the spotlight at Christchurch hui, running the numbers on the PM's media diary; Undeclared SponCon causing political and editorial headaches.

Midweek Mediawatch - game of life and death from 2021-06-15T20:55

Mediawatch’s weekly catch-up with Lately. Colin Peacock talked to Karyn Hay about the launch of the new news channel labelled ‘Fox News for the UK,’ the bike bridge beat-up that’s still creating co...

Climate message cutting through from 2021-06-13T09:12

When the Climate Change Commission released its first blueprint for cutting our carbon emissions earlier this year, there were plenty of spurious stories about the end of gas-fired barbies and priv...

Too much heat makes transport fraught from 2021-06-13T09:10

The big budget for a new non-car harbour bridge in Auckland sparked a big 'bike-lash' in the media last week - and how we build and use our roads has become a huge wedge issue all around the countr...

Wrong numbers amplify anxiety over vaccine supplies from 2021-06-13T09:08

Against a backdrop of news reports about shortages and anger over delayed Covid-19 vaccinations, a Herald opinion piece this week claimed our supply would run dry within days. But swift fact-checki...

Mediawatch for 13 June 2021 from 2021-06-13T09:08

Climate message cutting through; too much heat makes transport fraught; wrong numbers dial up anxiety over vaccine supplies.

Midweek Mediawatch 9 June 2021 from 2021-06-09T20:29

Mediawatch’s weekly catch-up with Lately. Hayden Donnell talks to Karyn Hay about journalists hitting out at government spin and information  control - and unhappiness over the release of a major c...

For whom the bell trolls - cyclists from 2021-06-06T09:12

While record-breaking floods threatened to sweep away bridges in Canterbury, the inundation of the Auckland Harbour Bridge by cyclists  made headlines too - and sparked a big backlash on talk radio...

The Nimby photo formula from 2021-06-06T09:10

Stories about local issues, from housing developments to cycleway constructions, are nearly always illustrated the same way. Mediawatch asked a Voyager-winning photographer why angry people with th...

Mediawatch for 6 June 2021 from 2021-06-06T09:08

For whom the bell trolls - cyclists; the NIMBY photo formula; Aussie China crisis report falls flat.

Aussie China crisis report falls flat from 2021-06-06T09:07

Last week a comically overwrought ad for Australia’s 60 Minutes TV show hit headlines here, promoting an item suggesting ‘New Xi-land’ had gone soft in China. It aired across the ditch on TV this w...

Midweek Mediawatch - Eyes on the prizes from 2021-06-02T22:01

Mediawatch’s weekly catch-up with Lately. Colin Peacock talked to Susana Leiataua about who won what at journalism’s night-of-nights - and how it matters more to the companies than their journalist...

The Aussie outfit rebooting 24/7 sport on the radio from 2021-05-30T09:12

More than a year after Radio Sport shut down, an Australian outfit wants to set up a new national network here - and it's hired some big names to get it off the ground. But who is driving ...

The Australian outfit rebooting 24/7 sport on the radio from 2021-05-30T09:12

More than a year after Radio Sport shut down, an Australian outfit wants to set up a new national network here - and it's hired some big names to get it off the ground. But who is driving this acro...

A belated investigation into a skifield founder's Nazi past from 2021-05-30T09:09

Most of the media stories on Willi Huber focused on his work founding the Mt Hutt skifield. This month, North & South finally unravelled the other central event of Huber's life: his role in one of ...

Bob's big birthday's goes round the clock from 2021-05-30T09:09

Did you know Bob Dylan turned 80 this week?  You did if you were tuned in to RNZ National last Monday.

Mediawatch for 30 May 2021 from 2021-05-30T09:06

The Aussie outfits rebooting 24/7 sport on radio; a belated investigation into a skifield founder's Nazi past; Bob's big birthday goes round the clock.

Midweek Mediawatch: Who gets a voice? from 2021-05-27T09:46

In this week's episode of Midweek Mediawatch, Hayden Donnell talks to Karyn Hay about a run of bad headlines for radio networks, an AP journalist's controversial firing, and an about-turn in the me...

Media can make and break leadership in volatile times from 2021-05-23T17:10

A new analysis finds media coverage is more important than ever after Covid in shaping our perception of leaders’ success, trustworthiness  and transparency (or a perceived lack of them). But - as ...

Sportscaster's conduct put spotlight back on media culture from 2021-05-23T09:14

Newstalk ZB sports host Martin Devlin was back on air this weekend, after he apologised for lashing out at one junior colleague - and sending inappropriate messages and unwanted invitations to wome...

Poll piles pressure on party leader - but do we care? from 2021-05-23T09:12

Political reporters and pundits confidently claied the end is nigh for Judith Collins’ National Party leadership - following another opinion poll showing she’s not particularly popular right now - ...

Mediawatch for 23 May 2021 from 2021-05-23T09:06

Sportscaster's conduct put spotlight back on media culture; poll piles pressure on party leader - but do we care?; media make and break leadership in volatile times.

Midweek Mediawatch - Gaza, a gaffe and a brutal review from 2021-05-19T22:00

Mediawatch's weekly catch-up with Lately. This week Colin Peacock talks to Karyn Hay about the media targeted in Gaza live on TV - and the Gaza crisis spilling over into sport on screen. Also - an ...

Shocking news reveals southern reporting cutbacks from 2021-05-16T09:13

That shocking knife attack in Dunedin’s central city this week came out of the blue - but the coverage also revealed the ranks of reporters there are thinning out. One major TV broadcaster had to c...

Crown Law takes aim at Newsroom from 2021-05-16T09:10

An online investigation that exposed Oranga Tamariki tactics - and prompted five inquiries and significant changes in policy and practice at the agency - is now being investigated by the Police. Th...

Access all areas? The past and future of community broadcasting from 2021-05-16T09:09

The Access Radio movement is 40 years old and today 12 stations broadcast locally and online. Some fill local gaps left by stations hooked into national networks - and some produce programmes up fo...

Host takes a swing at slack media - but misses from 2021-05-16T09:09

Top-rating talk host Mike Hosking apologised recently after he slammed political reporters for missing a big story  - and a colleague publicly pointed out he was wrong.  It didn’t stop Mike Hosking...

Mediawatch for 16 May 2021 from 2021-05-16T09:06

Shocking news reveals southern reporting cutbacks; Crown Law takes aim at Newsroom; Access all areas? Community broadcasting turns 40; host takes swing at slack media - but misses.

Midweek Mediawatch - 12 May 2021 from 2021-05-13T07:32

Mediawatch’s weekly catch-up with Lately. This week Hayden Donnell talks to Karyn Hay about a magazine telling the full story of an SS soldier who became a "hometown hero" and a tourism pioneer her...

China’s PR intensifies as media focus falls on Uyghurs from 2021-05-09T17:12

China used to deny or ignore media queries about the human rights of the ethnic Uighur minority. But before our government debated its response in Parliament this week, China’s embassy held an invi...

Upping the game in women’s sport coverage from 2021-05-09T09:10

“Not good enough” was the verdict of Sport NZ boss Raelene Castle after a fresh analysis of thousands of sports reports across our media found women feature in only about one in seven. But offshore...

Mediawatch for 9 May 2021 from 2021-05-09T09:06

China's PR intensifies as media focus falls on Xinjang; the state of play in coverage of women's sport; more clarity on online polls.

Midweek Mediawatch: Return of Orewa, rabbits and The Apprentice from 2021-05-05T20:26

Mediawatch’s weekly catchup with Lately. This week Colin talks to Karyn Hay about the media unpicking the political strategy behind warnings of “separatism.” Also: ‘Bunny-pocalypse Now’ in the Sout...

Silver Lake buy-in to Silver Fern no silver bullet for media from 2021-05-02T09:13

To sell or not to sell a slice of the commercial rights to New Zealand rugby was the squabble that pre-occupied the sports media this week. But the media couldn’t agree on who has the power over th...

The news stories making readers dumber from 2021-05-02T09:10

News organisations often report the results of informal polls they carry out by embedding surveys in stories or on social media. Mathematically minded people argue that in doing so, they're misinfo...

Mediawatch for 2 May 2021 from 2021-05-02T09:06

Silverlake buy-in to silver fern triggers sports media; trust on media on the slide; online polls misrepresent public opinion.

Midweek Mediawatch 28 April 2021 from 2021-04-29T09:02

Mediawatch's weekly catch-up with Lately. This week Hayden Donnell talks to Susana Leiataua about change at the top in the Herald's political coverage - sparked by a change for veteran political ed...

We’ve got trust issues - with news from 2021-04-28T21:03

New research shows New Zealanders' trust in the news media slipping, even when it comes to the news they choose themselves. That's obviously a bad news story for our media - but what can they reall...

Reporters finally have a nice day from 2021-04-25T09:11

On Monday, New Zealanders tuning into the news witnessed something rare: bulletins filled almost entirely with joy, relief, and even a bit of singing.

Coping with Covid chaos disrupting sport on screen from 2021-04-25T09:10

A core part of your business is screening the world’s sport to customers keen enough to pay for it. Then Covid stops almost all of it stone dead. What do you do? Mediawatch asks a Sky exec how they...

Mediawatch for 25 April 2021 from 2021-04-25T09:06

Coping with Covid chaos disrupting sport on screen; reporters finally have one nice day; following the flow of public money to the media and screen industry.

Following the money flowing to the media from 2021-04-24T09:12

Huge sums in subsidies will go to Amazon when a Lord of the Rings series is made here in the years to come. In the year just gone, a much more modest amount of public money was spent helping local ...

Midweek Mediawatch - Football fans v billionnaires, Popstars v Fair Go from 2021-04-21T21:00

Mediawatch's weekly catch-up with Lately. This week Colin talks to Karyn Hay about Prince Philip's funeral pulling in viewers, the emergency housing crisis coming into focus; football fans vs billi...

Directory inquiries: Does the Yellow Pages have a future? from 2021-04-18T16:09

Once a billion-dollar business, its critics claim the country’s most widely circulated publication is a redundant and wasteful throwback to pre-digital times. But now under new management, the Yell...

‘Dead leader walking’ a familiar line from media from 2021-04-18T09:12

Last weekend political pundits and presenters reckoned the leader of the opposition was ripe for rolling and her days in the job were numbered. But - as in the past - it was all based on rumours re...

Samoa election cliffhanger overlooked locally from 2021-04-18T09:10

After 23 years with one political party and one prime minister in charge, Samoa’s general election last weekend delivered a surprise neck-and-neck result. But it was barely reported in most nationa...

Mediawatch for 18 April 2021 from 2021-04-18T09:00

'Dead leader walking' a familiar line from media; Samoa's election cliff-hanger overlooked locally; Directory inquiries: Yellow Pages under pressure

Midweek Mediawatch: A disparity in coverage from 2021-04-15T09:54

Mediawatch's weekly catch-up with Lately.  This week Hayden Donnell talks to Susana Leiataua about a surprising statement from MediaWorks about reported allegations of misconduct by company staff -...

Pent-up travel demand bubbles up from 2021-04-11T09:12

A green light for a travel bubble with Australia was a good news story for people separated from loved ones - and businesses needing the cash of free-spending foreigners. But were the bubble-happy ...

Timing of Duke's death gives our media a headache from 2021-04-11T09:12

The media planned for the Duke of Edinburgh's death - but the timing of the announcement last night could hardly have been worse for firing up special coverage from scratch.

Cam Wallace - New broom fighting fires at MediaWorks from 2021-04-11T09:10

Cam Wallace has had a rocky start in charge at MediaWorks, the outfit that owns half the country's radio stations. Whistleblowers lifted the lid on a corrosive culture at the company that's now und...

Mediawatch for 11 April 2021 from 2021-04-11T09:00

Timing of Duke's death trick for our media; Cam Wallace - new boss fights fires at MediaWorks; pent up demand travel demand bubbles up in media.

Midweek Mediawatch - hold on to the rails from 2021-04-07T16:39

Mediawatch's weekly catch-up with Lately on RNZ National. Colin Peacock talks to Karyn Hay about claims a new train service is a "railway renaissance" or a slow train to nowhere. Also: Stuff beefs ...

Simon Collins - a lifetime in journalism from 2021-04-04T15:11

Long-serving reporter Simon Collins spoke to literally hundreds of people to cover major public issues. He also confronted his own bosses to defend journalism from cuts and compromises undermining ...

Public media plan moves forward behind closed doors from 2021-04-04T09:13

The government appointed eight people this week to oversee a business case which could be a blueprint for a new public media entity to replace TVNZ and RNZ - but the public won't see it before the ...

Local current affairs with a heavy Aussie accent from 2021-04-04T09:07

TVNZ recently launched its first new local TV current affairs show for years. But A Current Affair has a heavy Australian accent - and the local content revolves around TVNZ’s other entertainment s...

Mediawatch for 4 April 2021 from 2021-04-04T09:06

Public media plan moves forward - but behind closed doors; Simon Collins - a lifetime in journalism; local current affairs with a heavy Aussie accent.

Midweek Mediawatch: One step closer to fusion from 2021-04-01T08:05

Mediawatch's weekly catch-up with Lately. This week Hayden Donnell talks to Susana Leiataua about the latest move towards a new a public media behemoth, Judith Collins' rough ride on RNZ triggering...

Investor-economist alliance dominates media's housing response from 2021-03-28T18:10

A  squadron of investors and economists blitzed the airwaves following the government's big housing announcement, often drowning out other voices.

Clamour to cancel TVNZ's top popular cop show from 2021-03-28T09:13

A single tweet sparked bulletin-leading calls to scrap one of our most enduring and most-watched local TV shows this week. Many arguing whether the show was racist or not also admitted they don't w...

Even more public money for journalism? from 2021-03-28T09:09

Last month the government announced $55m of public money will be made available for “at risk” public interest journalism over the next three years. But a recently-released cabinet paper has another...

‘Trashy’ TV report from Australia “an error” from 2021-03-28T09:06

A news report showing restrained 501-ers being herded onto a repatriation flight while being harassed by an Aussie TV reporter raised hackles here because an Australian minister called it “taking o...

Mediawatch for 28 March 2021 from 2021-03-28T09:06

Clamour to cancel top cop show; investors and economists dominate media response to housing announcement; much-admired reporter retires;  more millions for public interest journalism; trashy Aussie...

Midweek Mediawatch - mean streets, mean tunes from 2021-03-24T10:43

Mediawatch's weekly catchup with Lately. This week Colin Peacock talks to Karyn Hay about reports that the streets of the capital are increasingly unsafe and unpleasant- especially for women. Also ...

Mediawatch for 21 March 2021 from 2021-03-21T09:10

One nation under Cup delirium; bid to boost censors' powers; Preferred PM? Don't ask me.

Battle against online harm beefs up censor's power from 2021-03-21T09:09

The government wants to beef up the chief censor’s power to root out harmful and hateful stuff online - but opposition politicians and internet freedom advocates say this is an overreach which coul...

Preferred PM? Don’t ask me from 2021-03-21T09:07

TVNZ and its pollsters will only call you on your mobile from now on - and the first poll under the new rules delivered a telling result in response to one of its key questions.

Total eclipse of the news from 2021-03-21T09:07

As the crowd went wild after the big win on the water on Wednesday, so did much of the media - triggering a total eclipse of the news. 

Midweek Mediawatch: A nationwide delirium from 2021-03-18T09:36

In this week's Midweek Mediawatch, Hayden Donnell talks to Karyn Hay about the media's delirious coverage of Team NZ's America's Cup win, a trashy bit of Australian reporting, and Google's latest m...

Claims of cancel culture and media bias get political from 2021-03-14T17:42

Against a backdrop of gripes about ‘cancel culture’ in the media, the National Party’s broadcasting spokesperson has warned bias, balance and political influence need to be addressed - and news med...

A week of media meltdowns from 2021-03-14T09:10

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern's decision to dump her weekly interview with Mike Hosking and Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's interview with Oprah sparked a series of media meltdowns this week.

Mediawatch for 14 March 2021 from 2021-03-14T09:00

Claims of cancel culture and media bias get political; National's broadcasting spokesperson Melissa Lee; media meltdowns and overreactions over the PM's media policy - and Oprah's chat with the rog...

Midweek Mediawatch - PM drops Mike Hosking from 2021-03-10T21:48

Mediawatch's weekly catch-up with Lately. This week Colin Peacock talks to Karyn Hay about the PM upsetting Newstalk ZB by giving a longstanding Monday slot a swerve and further fallout from NZME's...

Scramble to cover tsunami and earthquake emergency from 2021-03-07T09:13

The scramble to cover the tsunami alerts and evacuations on Friday - after the much of the nation was shaken awake by a swarm of hefty quakes - was seat-of-the-pants stuff. But it threw up some mem...

Covid-19 blame game and comms strategy questioned from 2021-03-07T09:12

Mediawatch looks at how the blame game played out in the media over the latest Covid cluster and the rulebreakers - while the previously-praised Covid communications strategy was called into questi...

Broadcast bosses quizzed about bias - but not the big picture from 2021-03-07T09:08

The bosses of state-owned RNZ and TVNZ fronted up to MPs for their annual review at Parliament this week. The government’s proposal to replace both of them by 2023 is the big issue for both of them...

Mediawatch for 7 March 2021 from 2021-03-07T09:06

Scramble to cover tsunami and earthquake emergency; Covid blame game and comms strategy questioned; Broadcast bosses quizzed about bias - but not the big picture.

Midweek Mediawatch: Broadcast bosses grilled on balance and bias from 2021-03-04T08:49

In this week's Midweek Mediawatch, Hayden Donnell talks to Karyn Hay about RNZ and TVNZ's bosses getting grilled by MPs about balance, bias and biting the hand that feeds (but not much about the pr...

Ten years after: Marking a major milestone in Christchurch from 2021-02-28T17:32

Commemorating the anniversary of the deadly Canterbury quake was a huge undertaking for the media this week. 

Coverage of MIQ martyr raises red flags from 2021-02-28T09:11

Lucinda Baulch became an MIQ martyr and a cause celebre for Covid sceptics when she refused a Covid test and was held for a second stint in MIQ. The media reported her reasons for refusal in detail...

Facebook refriends Australia after face-off over news from 2021-02-28T09:10

Last week Facebook turned off Australian users’ access to news over a looming law change to make them pay to distribute it. This week news is back in their feeds after a face-off with the governmen...

It's newsworthy, I swear from 2021-02-28T09:07

When Simon Bridges called the Speaker "a twat" in Parliament, media pondered whether this unparliamentary insult was fit to print  - and broadcast. They all decided it was - with one surprising exc...

Mediawatch for 28 February 2021 from 2021-02-28T09:07

Covid cases spark Saturday night scramble for media; MIQ martyr raises red flags10 years after - marking a major milestone in Christchurch; Facebook re-friends Australia after face-off over news; i...

Midweek Mediawatch - curious case of the MIQ martyr from 2021-02-23T19:43

Mediawatch's weekly catch-up with Lately. This week Colin talks to Karyn Hay about a Covid campaigner getting the oxygen of publicity. Also: 'Novax' Djokovic being a sore winner, a mindblowing radi...

Taking it up a level (and down again) from 2021-02-21T09:12

How did the media break last Sunday’s sudden news of a change to Covid-19 alert levels? And how did they cover the response, the science behind it and the decision to shift back down again - just a...

Mediawatch for 21 February 2021 from 2021-02-21T09:10

Taking it up a level - and down again; Facebook backs away from news across the Tasman; private correspondence vs public interest.

Private correspondence vs the public interest from 2021-02-21T09:08

The New York Times revealed texts telling the truth about Ted Cruz’s trip to Mexico this week to widespread acclaim. But Meghan Markle had a big win in court against a paper that published one of h...

Facebook backs away from news across the Tasman from 2021-02-18T12:53

News editors in Australia woke up to shock news that Facebook is effectively cutting itself off as an avenue for sharing their stories - after years of building a pre-eminent position as a digital ...

Midweek Mediawatch - Framing Britney from 2021-02-18T08:48

Mediawatch's weekly catch-up with Lately. This week Hayden Donnell talks to Karyn Hay about Google cutting deals with Australian news media which will mean millions more dollars for journalism, mor...

Telco unveils ethical advertising policy amid talkback turmoil from 2021-02-14T14:08

Vodafone was quick to pull advertising from Magic Talk after a recent racist outburst sparked outrage. Now it’s gone further, launching an Ethical Advertising Policy, described by one media outlet ...

Turbulent times for travel - and Air New Zealand from 2021-02-14T09:10

Some positive press for our national airline and its boss last week was overwhelmed this week by harsh headlines about a controversy it should have seen coming. Meanwhile, the push to kickstart int...

Mediawatch for 14 February 2021 from 2021-02-14T09:06

Turbulent times for travel - and Air New Zealand; public purse to bankroll more news; telco rolls out ethical ad policy amid talkback turmoil

Public purse to bankroll more of our news from 2021-02-11T14:39

The government has pledged $55 million for a new fund for public interest news and journalism - the biggest single boost in media funding for many years. Media companies countrywide will compete fo...

Midweek Mediawatch - talk radio turmoil from 2021-02-11T08:21

Mediawatch's weekly catch-up with Lately. This week Hayden Donnell talks to Karyn Hay about another host leaving the troubled network Magic Talk after John Banks' recent dumping - while another spr...

Climate blueprint release annoys reporters, confounds broadcasters from 2021-02-07T09:12

A blueprint to bring down our carbon emissions by 2050  - and change the way we all live - came out this week. There was excellent media coverage of the detail but some journalists complained they ...

Talkback toxicity problem bigger than Banks, say critics from 2021-02-07T09:10

After the sacking of John Banks for racist blurts on air last week, critics are questioning the health of today’s talkback radio. It pulls a crowd and airs important issues, but can the bosses and ...

Media milk sensitivity over suspicions of special treatment from 2021-02-07T09:08

Against the backdrop of anger over denying MIQ to a terminally-ill Kiwi in Japan - while the Wiggles got a fast-track through the border from Australia - a story about special arrangements for a to...

Piling on pressure for a costly ‘miracle’ drug from 2021-02-07T09:07

Last year Newshub put its weight behind a campaign to fund a treatment for cystic fibrosis from the public purse even though the cost was sky-high and the US-based maker never applied to register i...

Mediawatch for 7 February 2021 from 2021-02-07T09:06

Big climate blueprint challenges reporters - and confounds broadcasters; talkback toxicity bigger than just Banks, say critics; piling on pressure for a costly drug; Media milk sensitivity over sus...

Midweek Mediawatch: News that’s fit to print - and not from 2021-02-03T15:09

Mediawatch's weekly catch-up with Lately.This week Colin Peacock talks to Karyn Hay about two stories pulled by publishers this week, Covid vaccine scepticism confronted on talk radio, how close St...

R?tana keeps politicians and press at bay from 2021-01-31T17:06

The celebrations at R?tana in January are often described by media as the event that kicks off the political year. This year far fewer guests were invited - including mainstream media journalists -...

Media still covering house price rises as good news from 2021-01-31T11:00

Even in a spiralling housing crisis, record property price rises keep getting covered like they're good news. Can the media break its habit of speaking from the perspective of existing homeowners?

The story of summer (so far) from 2021-01-31T09:10

Mediawatch has been off the air since Christmas. What did we miss in the news while we were away? 

Mediawatch for 31 January 2021 from 2021-01-31T09:06

The story of a strange summer (so far); John Banks booted often racist blurts - and the talk radio dilemma; housing coverage highlights homeowners - not the 'have-nots; R?tana gives politicians and...

Banks’ blurts bring boot from broadcaster from 2021-01-27T19:48

MediaWorks has replaced former politician John Banks as a talkback host and apologised for his comments condemning "stone age" Maori culture and warning "these people will be coming through your ba...

2020 hindsight - media in the year of Covid-19 from 2020-12-20T09:10

It was the worst of times for the media industry but in spite of that, many people produced the work of their lives to give us crucial news-you-could-use in a crisis - as well as sorely needed ente...

Substack - the platform that boomed under Covid-19 from 2020-12-20T09:09

US news media took a beating from Covid-19 in 2020. Kiwi journalist and entrepreneur Hamish McKenzie runs a publishing platform-Substack - that boomed in 2020, giving journalists important audience...

Midweek Mediawatch 16 December 2020 from 2020-12-17T23:32

Mediawatch's weekly catch-up with Lately.This week Colin Peacock talks to Karyn Hay about a disputed and deleted (for now) documentary, a foreign-owned beer brand co-opting a patriotic protest for ...

Mediawatch for 13 December 2020 from 2020-12-13T09:06

Mediawatch looks at how our media companies weathered the storm of Covid-19 in 2020 - and how we've ended up with more independent and locally-owned outlets than we’ve had for years. The chief exec...

Please, no more stories about young people buying houses from 2020-12-11T19:34

As the housing crisis continues to spiral out of control, Hayden Donnell calls for a moratorium on stories about young first home buyers.

Midweek Mediawatch: The case for a media moratorium from 2020-12-09T18:08

In this week's Midweek Mediawatch, Hayden Donnell talks to Karyn Hay about the need for a ban on a certain type of housing story, a terrible prank played on TV1's Breakfast, and a Steinlager ad get...

Mediawatch for 6 December 2020 from 2020-12-06T09:06

Our biggest national news publisher said sorry to Maori this week for racism in its reporting spanning three centuries. Mediawatch asks some who have confronted media racism in the past - and been ...

Midweek Mediawatch: Real regional reality TV from 2020-12-02T12:28

Mediawatch’s weekly catch-up with Lately. This week Colin Peacock talks to Karyn Hay about a reality TV showing us real regional life. Also: another big name in newspapers confronting its racist pa...

Opposition potshots at the media messenger from 2020-11-29T09:12

The National Party’s AGM delivered mixed messages last weekend as the president claimed the media lined up against the party at election time - while former PM John Key said the poor performance  a...

News as a social enterprise? from 2020-11-29T09:10

People are used to getting news from public broadcasters paid for by taxpayers - or as a customer of commercial media organisations. But is news as a social enterprise an idea whose time has come? ...

Mystery animals beguile media from 2020-11-29T09:08

A Canterbury black panther, mysterious moose sightings in Fiordland - and big cats reportedly roaming rurally in the South Island. All of these have been reported by serious news outlets this past ...

Mediawatch for 29 November 2020 from 2020-11-29T09:08

Opposition potshots at the media messenger; Crux's bold bid to sell itself to its readers; the moose is out there? Mysterious animals beguile media.

Midweek Mediawatch - housing hell and capital city pile-on from 2020-11-26T11:36

Mediawatch's weekly catch-up with Lately: Hayden Donnell chats to Susana Lei'ataua about the new Metro adding momentum to the comeback of local magazines; stories of housing hell hogging headlines;...

Dodgy digital election ads: Does the watchdog need teeth? from 2020-11-22T16:38

The election was done and dusted weeks ago, but this week the advertising watchdog ruled another online election campaign ad was misleading. Mediawatch asks the Advertising Standards Authority: is ...

Bringing the chilling ‘teen terrorist’ tale to light from 2020-11-22T09:12

Last weekend the same startling scoop appeared in the papers of both major publishers: a teenager arrested for plotting a school massacre which was completely suppressed for nearly two years. Both ...

Epic interview with Trump’s Kiwi from 2020-11-22T09:10

New Zealander Chris Liddell  kept a low profile during his time on Trump’s team in the White House over the past four years. But last weekend TVNZ aired an hour-long chat with the man who’s now see...

Going in (pink) boots’n’all from 2020-11-22T09:07

While the All Blacks' defeat to the underdone underdogs from Argentina last weekend was unexpected the emotional media response was pretty predictable. The critics went in boots’n’all on the men in...

Mediawatch for 22 November 2020 from 2020-11-22T09:07

Bringing the chilling 'teen terrorist' tale to light; an epic interview with Trump's Kiwi can dodgy digital election ads be stopped?; critics cane defeated men in black - and pink boots

Midweek Mediawatch 18 November 2020 from 2020-11-18T06:54

Mediawatch’s weekly catch-up with Lately. This week: an old-school broadcaster cops a new media backlash as critics went in boots ‘n’ all against the men in Black (with pink boots). Also: North and...

Reporting the fact-free claims of Team Trump from 2020-11-15T16:09

Since losing the US election, president Donald Trump and his allies have mounted an evidence-free campaign to portray the vote as rigged. That's thrown the dysfunctions of the country's media ecosy...

Slim pickings - reporting the shortage of labour for fruit and veges from 2020-11-15T10:30

With borders closed, a severe shortage of people to pick fruit and vegetables could create serious shortages and high prices this summer. Politicians, growers and media personalities have all sound...

National’s sober new deputy from 2020-11-15T09:07

National Party leader Judith Collins revealed her front bench picks from its shrunken caucus this week. She elevated Dr Shane Reti to be her deputy - and his drinking habits were leading the bullet...

Mediawatch for 15 November 2020 from 2020-11-15T09:05

Slim pickings - reports of the looming fruit and veg crisis; how to report the fact-free claims of Team Trump; unexpected scrutiny of National's new deputy.

Midweek Mediawatch - covering an attempted coup from 2020-11-11T23:30

Mediawatch's weekly catch-up with Lately. This week, Hayden Donnell talks to Karyn Hay about how the US media cover the 'stolen election' claims from Team Trump that not only mislead and misinform ...

Trump v Biden turns into Trump v democracy from 2020-11-08T12:12

Media networks were at last able to name the winner of the 'Race to the White House' this morning after treading water for days. Meanwhile the sitting President gave them all a huge headache: how t...

Coverage of new Cabinet sparks debates over diversity from 2020-11-08T09:10

This week the PM picked the minsters to form the top tier of the new government - and said we should be proud to have the most diverse Cabinet we’ve ever had. That prompted some in the media to cla...

Rural women's stories for rural readers from 2020-11-08T09:08

The magazine scene is being rejuvenated by small publishers after the Covid crisis turned it upside down. Among the new titles launched in a difficult market is Shepherdess - made for rural women b...

Mediawatch for 8 November 2020 from 2020-11-08T09:00

Trump v Biden turns into Trump v democracy; coverage of new Cabinet sparks debates over diversity; rural women's stories for rural readers.

Midweek Mediawatch: truth sandwiches and the theatre of autocracy from 2020-11-04T22:48

Mediawatch's weekly catch-up with Lately. this week Hayden Donnell talks to Karyn Hay about the media coverage of a confusing, stressful and ultimately inconclusive US election. 

Political points, talking points, moot points from 2020-11-01T09:12

President Trump wants his Kiwi right-hand man in the White House to be the next head of the OECD, sparking political debate this week about whether New Zealand should endorse him. While parties sou...

New magazines for new times from 2020-11-01T09:10

Among thousands of women who lost jobs when Covid-19 hit were those who make our women's magazines. One was Sido Kitchin, former editor of Woman's Day and the NZ Woman's Weekly which closed down wi...

Mediawatch for 1 November 2020 from 2020-11-01T09:10

Job bid for Trump's Kiwi colleague; magazines bouncing back from Covid chaos; councilors restrict their own media opportunities.

Local councillors gagging themselves? from 2020-11-01T09:06

It's not unusual for local council bosses and mayors to try to control what councillors say when the media come calling. But one council’s elected representatives have created a code of conduct obl...

Midweek Mediawatch - celebs living their best life from 2020-10-28T22:17

Mediawatch's midweek catch-up with Lately on RNZ National. This week in the wake of Kim Kardashian's kaning for that tone-deaf 'private island' tweet, he looks at chats with celebrities and their r...

A new twist on fake news from 2020-10-25T17:07

A recent Newshub story about a Kiwi golliwog seller seemed to be standard outrage bait. But the journalist David Farrier says the story's actual origins are mixed up in a campaign of harassment aga...

Should we fear fake news in our politics? from 2020-10-25T09:10

Fears that foreign political consultants and fringe parties would turn Facebook followers and fake news into votes in the election proved unfounded. The major parties mostly ran a clean game online...

Dairy me: vegan promise comes back to bite broadcaster from 2020-10-25T09:03

In July, Duncan Garner promised to go vegan for a year if Labour was able to govern alone at the election. Following a flood of messages from people looking to hold him to account, he's keeping his...

Mediawatch for 25 October 2020 from 2020-10-25T09:00

Do we need to fear misleading online ads at election time?; hoax plays the media - and targets a journalist; prediction comes back to bite big name broadcaster; a green light for 'dickhead'?

Midweek Mediawatch 21 October 2020 from 2020-10-21T18:24

Mediawatch’s weekly catch-up with Lately. This week Colin Peacock talks to Karyn Hay about a post-election political exit interview that went global; the benefits of non-aligned political coverage....

Mediawatch for 18 October 2020 Election Special from 2020-10-18T14:10

This week Mediawatch - and some special guests - took a live look back at how the media covered election night on Saturday  - and some of the issues that arose during a long election campaign that ...

Midweek Mediawatch: Facebook's belated ban from 2020-10-15T09:55

On this week's Midweek Mediawatch, Hayden Donnell talks to Karyn Hay about Facebook's belated decision to ban QAnon and holocaust denial, and a documentary on New Zealand's most prominent conspirac...

Election 2020: Media policy slips down the queue from 2020-10-11T10:40

Vote-chasing political parties push policies on big ticket issues like tax, health and education in the run-up to an election, and plans for broadcasting and media are often left to the last minute...

Auckland levels out from 2020-10-11T09:12

Auckland’s return to Level One after cleaning out community transmission was a cause for celebrations - but not in certain circles of the media who criticised the timing.

Media tools to help us pick out policy from 2020-10-11T09:09

You want to use your vote to back the sort of policies that matter - or find out which parties pledges align with you. But parties making promises all at once, how do you weigh up what they’re all ...

Right wing and a prayer from 2020-10-11T09:07

Pictures of Judith Collins kneeling in prayer in church raised eyebrows last weekend - and accusations of using faith for electoral advantage. Media were criticised too for intruding on a private m...

Mediawatch for 11 October from 2020-10-11T09:06

Auckland levels out; Judith Collins at prayer prompt claims of politicising faith - and media intrusion; the media tools that pick through policy on our behalf; what's in political parties' manifes...

Midweek Mediawatch: debate over debates - and political parties 'faking it' from 2020-10-07T10:25

Mediawatch’s weekly catch-up with Lately. This week Colin Peacock talks to Karyn Hay about the latest debate in an election campaign testing people’s patience; two parties busted for faking their e...

Mediawatch for 4 October 2020 from 2020-10-04T09:11

Stuff adopts new code of ethics and practice; Anna Fifield swaps Washington Post for Dominion Post; the BBC’s Nick Bryant on lessons learned reporting Trump

Midweek Mediawatch: A day of debates from 2020-10-01T09:02

In this week's Midweek Mediawatch, Hayden Donnell talks to Karyn Hay about three debates: one horrible, one good, and one excellent. 

The dark news poetry of Stuff's push notifications from 2020-09-27T17:17

An anonymous artist is hiding somewhere in Stuff's social media team. Their works are usually no more than 50 words long. Their medium is the push notification.

A not-so-great debate from 2020-09-27T09:12

TVNZ's leaders debate on Tuesday night was a mostly bloodless affair - one that ended up being notable for what didn't take place than what did.

Lifting the lid on abuse in state care from 2020-09-27T09:10

Media revelations of alleged abuse at Auckland's Dilworth School came as a shock to many people, but not those who know the long history of abuse of children in state care around New Zealand, final...

Midweek Mediawatch - house prices up; columnists punching down from 2020-09-23T20:09

Mediawatch’s weekly catch-up with Lately. This week: The 'big debate' debate, a revealing political poll, more Patrick Gower and more weed; some unpleasant fallout from a broadcasting complaint; cr...

Political football from 2020-09-20T09:12

The government got blamed for dropping the ball on Rugby Championship hosting last week by insisting on strict quarantine. This week it moved to make sure Bledisloe Cup games happen here, prompting...

School sports streaming stoush still simmering from 2020-09-20T09:10

The Herald recently lifted the lid on  divisions over a deal that’s allowed Sky TV to screen school-age sports since late last year. Critics claim it commodifies kids’ sports - and one high-profile...

Watchdog runs the numbers on Covid death claims from 2020-09-20T09:09

This week the broadcasting watchdog upheld a complaint that comments about Covid-19 death rates by Newstalk ZB’s Mike Hosking were misleading - and highlighted “the importance of data literacy” in ...

Mediawatch for 20 September 2020 from 2020-09-20T09:08

Political football; school sport screening stoush still simmering; watchdog runs the numbers on Covid death claim; gentle Judith eclipses Crusher.

Crusher Collins eclipsed by gentler Judith from 2020-09-20T09:07

When she became the National Party leader in July, many in the media reckoned combative Crusher Collins guaranteed a confrontational contest for Election 2020. Now some seem disappointed she's show...

Midweek Mediawatch: A maelstrom of misinformation from 2020-09-16T20:05

On this week's Midweek Mediawatch, Hayden Donnell talks to Karyn Hay about who's responsible for Facebook comments, and how the media should cover peddlers of misinformation.

A closer look at a 'good news' survey from 2020-09-13T09:12

When a prestigious publisher said New Zealand was the second-safest country in the whole Covid-stricken globe, it was no surprise that made headlines here - and it was touted as evidence that we’re...

Could China become a western news desert? from 2020-09-13T09:10

The Australian media’s last news journalists in China quit the country in a hurry this week. For the first time in nearly 50 years there’s no-one from across the ditch covering this critical countr...

A call for less news from 2020-09-13T09:10

Many reporters say they're experiencing burnout as they grapple with the endless demands of a 24/7 news cycle in sparsely resourced newsrooms. Journalist Tess Nichol says saving journalism might me...

Mediawatch for September 3 2020 from 2020-09-13T09:06

A closer look at a 'good news' survey; doing less with more in post-Covid journalism; foreign reporters leaving China.

Midweek Mediawatch: Lame Tame name games - and still munted from 2020-09-08T20:14

Mediawatch’s weekly catch-up with Lately. This week Colin talks to Karyn Hay about two unusual interviews from young ‘James Tame’- and a personal perspective on a city still munted after all these ...

Unproven Covid 'cure' gets big dose of coverage from 2020-09-06T09:10

News of an effective and ready Covid-19 remedy made headlines this week with researchers here playing a big role.  Meanwhile media outlets in Australia - and one here - have backed a drug for headl...

Cracks in the team of 5 million? from 2020-09-06T09:09

This week the New Zealand Herald admitted a story about public resentment of Auckland's Covid-19 lockdowns didn’t quite fit the facts. But it wasn’t the only heavy headline lately about divisions r...

Mediawatch for 6 September 2020 from 2020-09-06T09:05

Reports of cracks in the team of 5 million; big dose of coverage for unproven Covid 'cure,' TVNZ News is not your 'mumma'; nationalisation phobia.

Midweek Mediawatch: A nation united from 2020-09-02T19:38

On this week's Midweek Mediawatch, Hayden Donnell talks to Karyn Hay about a couple of slip-ups at the Herald, a run-in between Magic Talk and the WHO and another 1pm press conference question that...

Dark money, democracy and the media from 2020-08-30T17:39

Warnings of possible overseas interference in our election haven’t made many headlines but UK-based journalist Peter Geoghegan says our media should be wary of 'dark money' and think tanks pushin...

Media spotlight survivors and victims as gunman faces justice from 2020-08-30T09:12

Many feared this week's sentencing of the 15 March gunman would become a pulpit for him to spread white supremacist dogma. But instead, the spotlight was on the righteous anger, resilience, compass...

Is the Covid crisis over for commercial media? from 2020-08-30T09:10

Six months ago, commercial media companies pleaded for government help and pundits warned their days could be numbered. Most cut costs, jobs and pay to stay afloat. But this week, two of New Zealan...

Mediawatch for 30 August 2020 from 2020-08-30T09:06

Justice being seen to be done in Christchurch; media companies bounce back from Covid crisis; 'dark money' and think tanks putting political issues on the media agenda; overwrought warnings of a st...

Ports proposal prompts ‘communist’ conclusions from 2020-08-30T09:05

One Auckland councilor’s proposal to offload half of a key public asset prompted a talk radio star to say the state takeover of major industries was imminent - drawing a puzzled response from the PM.

Midweek Mediawatch - Justice seen to be done from 2020-08-26T18:00

Mediawatch's weekly catch-up with Karyn Hay on Lately. This week Colin Peacock chats to Karyn about the tricky task of keeping the focus on the victims  - and not the killer or the crimes - during ...

A backlash over tough questions for Dr Ashley Bloomfield from 2020-08-23T09:12

Journalists are facing a backlash for asking tough questions of Dr Ashley Bloomfield. Are they being too harsh, or is the director general of health’s popularity prompting efforts to shield him fro...

Kea Kids News: 'kidsplaining' current affairs from 2020-08-23T09:07

Kids are almost absent in our news and current affairs. This week a service that breaks the mould is back - offering news on topics chosen by local kids and - crucially - reported and produced by t...

Conspiracy talk on talk radio from 2020-08-23T09:07

Amid concern about conspiratorial thinking destabilising our politics, Magic Talk’s Peter Williams this week raised the possibility the PM knew more than she was letting on when adjourning Parliame...

Mediawatch for 23 August 2020 from 2020-08-23T09:06

Reporters cop backlash for tough questions on Covid-19 response; Kidsplaining the news; conspiracy talk on talk radio.

Midweek Mediawatch: Calls for accountability meet angry backlash from 2020-08-20T09:43

On this week's episode of Midweek Mediawatch, Hayden Donnell talks to Karyn Hay about an angry backlash over Ashley Bloomfield being asked a pointed question, and some sympathetic coverage for a Na...

Covid’s comeback sparks calls for more transparency from 2020-08-16T09:06

The breaking news no-one wanted to hear this week upped the pressure on the government and officials to make more information public - and more quickly. Meanwhile critics have cast doubt on whether...

Covid-19: Confronting the deluge of conspiracies over the latest lockdown from 2020-08-16T09:06

The announcement that Auckland was going into lockdown for a second time was met with a deluge of conspiracy theories and misinformation, including from several prominent political figures. That "i...

Merv’s moment&Paula’s callers - politicos on talk radio from 2020-08-16T09:04

One political player made headlines this week calling in to talk radio posing as someone else - while MP Paula Bennett was handed the mic on a talk radio network for the week.

Mediawatch for 16 August 2020 from 2020-08-16T09:00

Covid's comeback sparks demand for more transparency; confronting the deluge of Covid-19 conspiracies; Merv's moment & Paula's callers - politicos on talk radio

Midweek Mediawatch: Breaking bad news from 2020-08-12T21:55

Mediawatch's weekly catch-up with Lately. This week Colin talks to Karyn Hay about how the media broke the bad news from Auckland - and Paula Bennett's talkback debut and confronting cranky Covid c...

'Hit and Run' runs its course from 2020-08-09T15:47

It’s three years since ‘Hit and Run’ first put Operation Burnham in the headlines, throwing light on a situation that unfolded far from the public gaze.  The official report is out after a long and...

MPs on the way out strike back at media from 2020-08-09T09:10

Politicians’ conduct has sparked stacks of media condemnation lately amid a surge of scandals and sudden resignations. But two MPs quitting politics this past week took a swipe at the media on the ...

Controversial campaign for costly new drug from 2020-08-09T09:07

Newshub has put its weight behind a campaign to fund a “miracle drug” for cystic fibrosis patients from the public purse. But are its viewers getting the full picture?

Mediawatch for 9 August 2020 from 2020-08-09T09:00

MPs on the way out take a swing at the media; Operation Burnham report delivers verdict on 'Hut and Run'; new media campaign for a costly drug

Contradictory polls create confusion from 2020-08-02T09:12

Two more TV opinion polls energised political reporters this week and put the opposition on the defensive. This created lots of drama but was it news voters can use?  

North&South takes new direction under new management from 2020-08-02T09:10

A giant German company pulled the plug on our best and biggest magazines in April, casting out many of the nation’s best journalists. Now two journalists from Germany living here are determined to ...

Mediawatch for 2 August 2020 from 2020-08-02T09:08

Bold poll claims create confusion; survey of post-Christchurch attack coverage reveals 'unprecedented' response; North & South magazine under new management.

Research looks at media's 'unprecedented' response to the March 15 attacks from 2020-08-02T09:07

The New Zealand media's "unprecedented" refusal to name or focus attention on the killer behind the March 15 terror attacks may have paved the way for gun control legislation, according to new rese...

Midweek Mediawatch MPs exit with swipes at the media from 2020-07-29T18:15

Mediawatch's weekly catch-up with Lately. This week Colin Peacock talks to Karyn Hay about two MPs' parting shots at the media, John 'last of the lions' Lewis' advice for journalists, a particularl...

Sudden surge of scandal pushes bigger issues into the background from 2020-07-26T09:12

A sudden surge of MPs quitting - some in disgrace - dominated political reporting this week, pushing pre-election policy into the background and painting a poor picture of Parliament. 

Ad industry confronts diversity deficit from 2020-07-26T09:11

Some well-known ads from years gone by employed crude racial stereotypes which would cause a outcry if they were aired today. But is advertising and marketing any more diverse than in days gone by?...

Big bill for Covid communications from 2020-07-26T09:07

The Unite to Fight COVID-19 campaign has been lauded as highly effective and the PM said it was crucial to crushing the curve so quickly. But it wasn’t cheap. 

Bauer finds buyers for return of the mags from 2020-07-26T09:07

Bauer Media says some of the nation’s most important magazines will be back within weeks now that new buyers have been found. But four months after it shut down the likes of New Zealand Woman's Wee...

Mediawatch for 26 July 2020 from 2020-07-26T09:06

Sudden surge of political scandals pushes bigger issues into the background; ad industry confronts its diversity deficit; Bauer finds buyers - but what next?

Midweek Mediawatch: Anger over MP's mental health smokescreen from 2020-07-22T20:46

In this week's Midweek Mediawatch, Hayden Donnell talked to Robert Kelly about the outcry over mental health used as a smokescreen for an MP's bad behaviour, complaints about the editorial decision...

Bolts from the Blues from 2020-07-19T09:12

Turbulent times at the top of the National Party as Todd Muller quit - clearing the way for a new leader who has excited political reporters and pundits a lot more.

RNZ’s ‘toddler steps’ towards diversity from 2020-07-19T09:10

The Black Lives Matter movement has prompted many institutions - including media - to re-examine their own records on race and diversity.  Four years ago RNZ made a long-term commitment to high-qua...

Mediawatch for 19 July 2020 from 2020-07-19T09:05

Bolts from the Blues; RNZ's 'toddler steps' towards diversity; Mike's mistake boosts Maori party campaign .

Broadcaster and NZME apologise to John Tamihere from 2020-07-19T08:00

NZME broadcaster Mike Hosking apologised on air this week for "reckless" claims about John Tamihere and Wh?nau Ora funding. It was part of a confidential settlement which the M?ori Party's co-lead...

Midweek Mediawatch: the story of the Blues from 2020-07-15T18:01

Mediawatch's weekly catch-up with Lately. This week Colin Peacock talks to Karyn Hay about some uncool capital cringe, confusing 'most read' lists - and the pursuit of politicians going into overdr...

Walkergate revives Dirty Politics vibes from 2020-07-12T09:12

A universally-condemned leak of Covid-19 patients' personal data for political purposes - by an MP and a big-name pundit - prompted the media to ask if 'Dirty Politics' was back - or had ever gone ...

Kiwi kids screening out local media from 2020-07-12T09:10

Kiwi kids use a lot less Kiwi media than they used to. New research shows its Netflix, YouTube and TikTok engaging their eyeballs big time these days. If our kids screen out our local media, what d...

Where has all the clickbait gone? from 2020-07-12T09:07

Under new ownership, Stuff has stopped farming its stuff out on Facebook and it's hiring several senior journalists. Another part of the mission to win the trust and respect of readers is a rejigge...

Mediawatch for 12 July 2020 from 2020-07-12T09:06

'Walkergate' revives Dirty Politics vibe; Kiwi kids screening out local media; where has all the clickbait gone?

Midweek Mediawatch - ethical conundrums from 2020-07-09T12:22

Mediawatch's weekly catch-up with Lately. This week Hayden Donnell talks to Karyn Hay about the ethical minefield facing reporters charged with telling the story of the Covid-19 patient data leak, ...

Breaking for the borders from 2020-07-05T09:12

There are more than 10 million Covid cases around the world and climbing - and more than half a million dead so far.  New South Wales won’t take flights from neighbouring Victoria right now. But th...

Forcing the issue of race at the Herald from 2020-07-05T09:09

The Herald published a column this week questioning its own record on race. Teuila Fuatai explains why she felt she had to call out the paper that commissioned her.

Safety on a slippery slope from 2020-07-05T09:08

The capital's daily paper highlighted the tragic consequences of a dangerous job on Tuesday. On Wednesday, it minimised the risks of another one when highlighting motorists' frustration.   

Mediawatch for 5 July 2020 from 2020-07-05T09:06

Breaking for the border; forcing the issue of race at the Herald; slippery slope of safety.

Midweek Mediawatch 1 July 2020 from 2020-07-01T18:04

Mediawatch's weekly catch-up with Lately. This week Colin talks to Karyn about Newshub serving up a scoop with fish battering Winston Peters - and two politicians who sought out the media spotlight...

Cut-through for the climate in the times of Covid-19 from 2020-06-28T15:10

Stuff published the first edition of its climate change initiative The Forever Project in late March - the very day we went into lockdown. Understandably, it didn't make much impact but this week i...

Mediawatch for 28 June 2020 from 2020-06-28T12:17

Quarantine coverage prompts 'calm down' call from critics; cut-through for the climate in the times of Covid-19; 'Influence'- the inside story of a global PR firm destroying its own reputation   

Quarantine coverage prompts 'calm down' call from critics from 2020-06-28T09:10

More details emerge over isolation and quarantine failures at the border, raising urgent questions about the risk of further transmission COViD-19. But the media also raised the level of alarm prom...

Behind the scenes of an epic PR fail from 2020-06-28T09:10

The documentary film Influence lifts the lid on how one of the world’s biggest PR companies - Bell Pottinger - destroyed itself when its unethical conduct in South Africa was exposed. Mediawatch as...

Midweek Mediawatch: Reporters criticised for being too critical from 2020-06-25T07:51

Mediawatch's weekly catch-up with Lately. This week Hayden Donnell talks to Karyn Hay about a new semi-secret start-up for journalism in Canada, more movement from former makers of Bauer magazines ...

The journalists who helped save New Zealand's health response from 2020-06-21T09:12

The government has taken urgent steps to overhaul the systems in place at the country's managed isolation facilities. Journalists' persistent, tough reporting on failures at those facilities helped...

M?ori media rejig creates confusion, meets resistance from 2020-06-21T09:10

A 'one-stop-shop' for M?ori news based at M?ori Television is proposed in a controversial report on the future of M?ori media.

Mediawatch for 21 June 2020 from 2020-06-21T09:06

This week Mediawatch looks at how the media lifted the lid on startling failures in Covid-19 quarantine.Also: new developments in a major review of Maori media - and claims its critics have misunde...

Midweek Mediawatch - Covid's compassionate comeback from 2020-06-17T18:00

Mediawatch's weekly catch-up with Lately. This week Colin talks to Karyn Hay about a Fawlty woke joke that turned out not to be a Major, some deep and troubling stuff from Stuff - and how the comeb...

'Arms Down' demands win the day from 2020-06-14T09:10

This week, the police canned its controversial Armed Response Teams after plenty of critical coverage in the media - much of it drawing parallels with George Floyd’s killing in the US and the condu...

Freedom or fear? Mixed messages on Level One from 2020-06-14T09:08

This week's move down to Level One was heralded by the media here and overseas as a major achievement - and the welcome return of more freedom in our daily lives, including sport with fans in  the ...

Shit Towns vs Poo Towns in name change showdown from 2020-06-14T09:07

A dispute is brewing between the popular Facebook page 'Shit Towns of New Zealand' and The Rock over the station's weekly segment 'Poo Towns of NZ'.

Mediawatch for 14 June 2020 from 2020-06-14T09:06

'Arms Down' call wins the day; controversial proposal for Maori news 'one stop shop' returns; freedom or fear - mixed messages on Level One; Shit Towns v Poo Towns showdown.

Proposed single M?ori news service alarms journalists from 2020-06-12T01:18

A long-awaited and overdue official report on the future of M?ori media has raised fears among journalists that a ‘one-stop-shop’ for M?ori news may reduce the range of reporting in order to save m...

Midweek Mediawatch: A revolt at The New York Times from 2020-06-10T21:55

In this week's edition of Midweek Mediawatch, Hayden Donnell talks to Karyn Hay about a revolt inside the New York Times newsroom, and questions whether New Zealand media should be stricter about t...

Reporters cop it in the land of the free-for-all from 2020-06-07T09:10

Journalists covering the US protests have been targeted by militarised police officers and actual military police alike - and in some places, the protesters themselves. Many blame Trump’s ‘enemy of...

The end of history from 2020-06-07T09:09

When Bauer Media shut down on 1 April, it wiped out just about every documentary photography job in the country. Now concerns are being raised over how New Zealand’s visual history will be document...

New York Times staff revolt over column not fit to print from 2020-06-07T09:07

A controversial column in the New York Times headlined “Send in The Troops” prompted a staff backlash at the prestigious paper before bosses decided  - a little to late - it was not fit to print

Mediawatch for 7 June 2020 from 2020-06-07T09:06

Reporters cop it in land of the free-for-all; prestigious paper's staff in revolt over article not fit to print; the end of history: documentary photography in peril without publishers.

Midweek Mediawatch - caught in the Black Lives Matter crossfire from 2020-06-03T13:02

Mediawatch's weekly catch-up with Lately. This week Colin talks to Karyn Hay about reporters caught in the crossfire and others copping blowback from the upheaval in the US - and musical echoes of ...

$1 deal paves the way for staff stake in Stuff from 2020-05-31T09:10

This week the CEO of this country’s biggest news producer - Stuff - pulled off a $1 deal to take the company off the hands of Aussie owners who didn’t want it. She says she wants Stuff's staff to t...

The other disease we’re trying to eradicate from 2020-05-31T09:08

Two years ago the government said we had "one shot" at wiping out Mycoplasma Bovis, echoing its later stance on Covid-19. It also learned from communications failures in its handling of the cattle ...

Mediawatch for 31 May 2020 from 2020-05-31T09:08

This week Mediawatch looks at how the boss of our biggest national news company is about to become its owner - and she wants staff to take a stake in it too. Also: how efforts to eradicate a major ...

Return of the mags riles regular readers from 2020-05-31T09:05

Popular weeklies Woman’s Day and New Idea were among a whole host of top titles closed down last month by Bauer Media. Lately they’ve reappeared in the shops as Aussie editions with a little bit of...

Midweek Mediawatch - tough time for Todd's team from 2020-05-28T07:54

On this week's Midweek Mediawatch, Hayden Donnell talks to Bryan Crump about some tough interviews for National's incoming leadership team, a new owner's big plans for Stuff, and journalist joy at ...

Bridges rolled after polls pile on the pressure from 2020-05-24T09:12

The return of TV channels’ political opinion polls piled the pressure on the National Party’s leader and kickstarted Friday’s move to replace him. Covid-19 has changed many things in politics and p...

Prominent pundit pulls back over Muller link from 2020-05-24T09:08

Prominent political pundit Matthew Hooton has withdrawn from commentary for the time being because of a conflict caused by his link to the successful leadership bid of National MPs Todd Muller and ...

Mediawatch for 24 May 2020 from 2020-05-24T09:05

Bridges rolled after polls pile on the pressure; Prominent pundit pulls back over Muller link; Media on the block vulnerable to vultures.

Media on the block vulnerable to vultures? from 2020-05-20T06:30

NZME’s bold bid to buy its biggest rival for $1 foundered in the High Court this week. But Stuff - our biggest publisher of news - is still on the block along with the nation’s most popular magazin...

A lonely M?ori voice at the Covid-19 briefings from 2020-05-17T09:07

You might not know his face, but you probably remember his voice. M?ori Television’s Heta Gardiner has been one of the most memorable contributors to the daily Covid-19 briefings

Mediawatch for 17 May 2020 from 2020-05-17T09:05

Media merger saga turns into bitter court battle; no Budget relief yet for under-pressure news media; a lonely M?ori voice at the Covid-19 briefings.

NZME's play for Stuff goes to court - again from 2020-05-14T18:18

The long-running saga of the mega-merger of our two biggest news publishers is heading for the High Court - not for the first time. Last time round, NZME and Stuff were fighting for the right to ge...

No relief for under-pressure commercial media in Budget from 2020-05-14T16:28

Spending on broadcasting and public media has been boosted by $25m over four years in Budget 2020, but there was nothing in it to ease the plight of commercial news media companies.

Media health claims fuel push to ease the lockdown from 2020-05-10T09:12

With Monday's decision on Level 2 looming, some in the media are pushing hard to loosen the lockdown, claiming it is killing jobs now and will kill more New Zealanders in future.

The forgotten media crisis from 2020-05-10T09:08

As politicians rush to provide help to TV, radio, and online news, magazine sector representatives say they're being left out of the discussion.

Radio ‘roadblock’ interview sparks racism complaints from 2020-05-10T09:06

A confrontational radio interview about iwi-run roadside checkpoints this week prompted complaints of racism. Broadcaster Sean Plunket condemned one iwi’s actions as “separatism,” asked an iwi lead...

Mediawatch for 10 May 2020 from 2020-05-10T09:00

Health fears fuel media push for lockdown move; our last current affairs magazine left in print; radio 'roadblock' interview sparks complaints.

Eyes on NZ on Air under new management from 2020-05-03T09:10

Struggling news media companies hope the funding agency New Zealand on Air will bankroll more of their journalism, in addition to the local dramas and documentaries for TV it has funded from the pu...

Great taste of Threedom from 2020-04-29T21:08

Some people couldn’t wait to get a fast-food feed ASAP after the level 3 switch - and the media copped criticism for wall-to-wall on-the-spot coverage of the frenzy. But reporters went beyond the p...

Struggling media get takeaways from government from 2020-04-26T09:10

On Thursday media companies learned some will take away more than others from the government's first targeted Covid-19 crisis package. Meanwhile, the minister of broadcasting has signaled he'll fol...

Return of party politics puts leaders under pressure  from 2020-04-26T09:08

For weeks our political news has centred on the fight against Coronavirus. But this week pre-Covid concerns emerged in the media to create political headaches for Winston Peters and Simon Bridges

Media ramp up news of going down a level from 2020-04-26T09:07

Last Monday's announcement on moving off alert level 4 was a major event for the media. In normal times people aren't so interested in a PM's press conference co-starring top cops and public servants.

Mediawatch for 26 April 2020 from 2020-04-26T09:00

Media ramp up news of going down a level; media companies get COVID-19 takeaways from government; return of political problems for two party leaders.

Increasing media resistance to the deification of Dr Ashley Bloomfield from 2020-04-22T18:08

A song has been written about him. People have penned paeans to his extreme competence. But the media is starting to resist the deification of Dr Ashley Bloomfield.

Entrepreneurial expat journalist urges media to look beyond ads from 2020-04-20T09:20

?The Kiwi co-founder of a successful digital publishing business in the US says the chaos of our media’s current crisis obscures an opportunity to break their dependence on dwindling volumes of ads...

Anti-lockdown push gets media traction - and pushback from 2020-04-19T09:10

While some saw this week's announcement of guidelines for COVID-19 Alert Level 3 as a good sign, many with a mouthpiece in the media saw it as proof the government had over-reacted here with Level ...

Mediawatch for 19 April 2020 from 2020-04-19T09:06

Media make the case for emergency help; expat entrepreneurial journalist proposes an ad-free future; trouble with COVID 19 numbers

News bosses grapple with the collapse of their funding model from 2020-04-16T09:45

Media executives used yesterday's Epidemic Response Select Committee to criticise government for advertising with Facebook and Google instead of them. Lurking behind the anger and appeals for help ...

Media make the case for emergency help from 2020-04-15T17:14

News media representatives set out the crisis their industry faces to Parliament’s Epidemic Response Committee on Wednesday before the government finalises a package of measures to help them surviv...

Media beat the drum to roll back lockdown - and sound the alarm from 2020-04-12T09:10

Even before the first hints we had “turned a corner” with Covid-19, pundits were pumping up the volume on calls to loosen the lockdown and get more shops and businesses open again. But others in th...

'Your money or your life' from 2020-04-12T09:08

The lockdown designed to save lives has also damaged livelihoods by slowing the economy to a crawl. Some pundits and politicians are now warning in the media that health can’t always be the top pri...

Covidiots and corona clowns from 2020-04-12T09:07

David Clark had a bad week, only just clinging on as health minister after breaking the rules he announced to the country. But he wasn't the only 'Covidiot' squirming under the media spotlight late...

Surge of support for crisis-hit media from 2020-04-12T09:07

Good journalism costs money to produce but adverting has fallen off a cliff during the COVID-19 crisis and some companies that sponsor media outfits may cut back too. But the founder of a service t...

Mediawatch for 12 April 2020 from 2020-04-12T09:07

Media beat the drum to roll back lockdown - and sound the alarm; media debate lives vs. livelihoods in COVID-19 response; surge of support for crisis-hit media; COVIDiots and corona clowns.

Speaking truth to Bauer: a wretched week for media  from 2020-04-05T09:10

As local media companies scrambled to stay in business this week, the giant German publisher of our most important magazines pulled the plug on them - and about 250 jobs - with no warning.  It clai...

‘Essential service’ exclusion riles local papers from 2020-04-05T09:08

This week the government tweaked a controversial call that meant some local newspapers couldn’t be delivered during the lock-down. But some are still unable to print important local news at a time ...

Mediawatch for 5 April 2020 from 2020-04-05T09:06

Mediawatch looks back at a week in which the Covid-19 crisis hit the media hard. Radio Sport went off air, a government ban on magazines angered publishers - and one of them pulled the plug on our ...

Covering a country under lockdown from 2020-03-29T09:12

Our media have plenty of ‘emergency journalism’ experience after several major disasters and crises in recent years. But covering the whole country going into lockdown was a new one - and in spite ...

Sports news in sport-free world from 2020-03-29T09:10

While Covid-19 has created vast volumes of politics, business and health news in recent days, the sports news has been all about the absence of sports events - and filling the bulletins and channel...

Mediawatch for 29 March 2020 from 2020-03-29T09:10

How the media covered the country into lockdown; delivery ban piles pressure on publishers; sports news in a sport-free world.

Lockdown delivery ban piles pressure on publications from 2020-03-28T15:53

Community newspaper and magazine publishers say a sudden move to stop them delivering print editions during the Covid-19 lockdown will leave many of New Zealand’s poorer and more vulnerable people ...

Midweek Mediawatch with Hayden Donnell from 2020-03-25T22:50

Stuff and NZME making cost-cutting moves as Covid-19 crisis bites.

Media strive to adapt to ‘the new normal’ from 2020-03-22T09:12

The media are playing an important role conveying essential information during the COVID -19 crisis, even as their people work at a distance from each other and the economic upheaval clouds their f...

Amateur epidemiologists crash Covid-19 coverage from 2020-03-22T09:10

Timely, accurate media reporting could be life-saving during the COVID-19 crisis. So why is so much coverage still being given to people with no scientific or medical expertise?

Mediawatch for 22 March 2020 from 2020-03-22T09:06

How our media are adapting to 'the new normal' of COVID-19; amateur epidemiologists crash coronavirus coverage; travel industry trauma hits media cmapaigns.

Midweek Mediawatch: gearing up for the new normal from 2020-03-18T13:43

Mediawatch's weekly catch up With Karyn Hay on Lately. This week he talks to Karyn about the ethical dilemmas reporting the spread of COVID-19; coping with the sports void and Jurgen Klopp - the CO...

Marking an awkward anniversary from 2020-03-15T09:10

Major media organisations rolled out lots of commemorative coverage to mark one year since the atrocity in Christchurch. It honoured those who died - and those who survived but have suffered - and ...

COVID-19 clampdown squeezes the media from 2020-03-15T09:10

Tough new measures announced yesterday to counter COVID-19 pleased pundits who had pleaded for action in recent days. But the effects could also change the game for media in the long run. Meanwhile...

Mediawatch for 15 March 2020 from 2020-03-15T09:06

Marking an awkward anniversary; COVID-19 clampdown squeezes the media.

Midweek Mediawatch: How not to cover Covid-19 from 2020-03-11T19:18

In this week's Midweek Mediawatch, Hayden Donnell talks to Karyn Hay about the perils of both-sides journalism during the Covid-19 crisis, a weird on-air monologue from Kerre McIvor, and some sligh...

Pillar of Australian journalism falls from 2020-03-08T09:10

Hundreds of media jobs will go across the Tasman when Australia’s national news agency AAP closes in June - and some working for its offshoots here will be affected too. Mediawatch asks its long-se...

Stuff's #MeToo campaign two years in from 2020-03-08T09:10

Stuff added momentum to the #MeToo movement in 2018 with a campaign urging people who’d suffered sexual harassment and abuse to come forward and tell their stories to journalists. Some critics cond...

Mediawatch for 8 March 2020 from 2020-03-08T09:00

A pillar of Australian journalism falls; Stuff's me to campaign two years in; contradictory coverage of climate and coronavirus

Midweek Mediawatch 4 March 2020 from 2020-03-04T18:00

Mediawatch's weekly catch-up with Lately. This week Colin talks to Karyn Hay about a chilling picture of the White Island rescue risks, RNZ's ads riling the rest of the media, more on Critic's camp...

BusinessDesk follows the money - and wants yours from 2020-03-01T09:11

BusinessDesk was an independent agency supplying the media with news and commentary for more than a decade. Now it’s offering “world-class coverage of NZ business and how the world works” for $250 ...

Whistleblowing law keeps media out of the loop from 2020-03-01T09:10

Some big issues of public interest have been revealed down the years by employees tipping off reporters. Major wrongs have been righted by the media applying the fabled ‘disinfectant of sunlight’. ...

Mediawatch for 1 March 2020 from 2020-03-01T09:08

Panic-buying hits headlines after first coronavirus case; whistleblowing law keeps media out of the loop; BusinessDesk pledges to 'follow the money' - and wants some of yours.

Horror headlines amplify the anger from 2020-02-23T09:11

The deaths of Hannah Clarke and her children at the hands of husband with a history of violence were so shocking that many reports warned people in advance the details were distressing. But breathl...

Under-pressure Peters turns on media from 2020-02-23T09:10

Just before Christmas, Winston Peters was telling reporters our news media were essential for a healthy democracy. Now he’s attacking them on social media for ‘fake news’ and bias against his party.

Jones vs Maihi case prompts calls for defamation law reform from 2020-02-23T09:10

Is defamation law an essential protection for reputations -- or handy tool for men and women of means to curb their critics? Hayden Donnell talks to a lawyer pushing for reform to allow us to expre...

Mediawatch for 23 February 2020 from 2020-02-23T09:10

Winston Peters strikes back at media; does defamation law protect reputations or is it a tool to curb critics?; horror headlines amplify the hurt; cricket commentary catastrophe.

What’s on the radio? It's not cricket from 2020-02-23T09:09

A bummer next summer for those who like the soundtrack of ball-by-ball cricket coverage: Radio Sport couldn’t cut a deal with NZ Cricket for the live rights to matches from next season. Whyzat?

Midweek Mediawatch 19 February 2020 from 2020-02-19T14:41

Mediawatch's weekly catch-up with Lately. This week Colin talks to Karyn Hay about tensions over 'those' photos of two journalists investigating NZ First, Breakfast burn-out, how a poke at the woke...

A model for RNZ’s new youth service? from 2020-02-16T09:20

RNZ’s planned new music-based outlet to hook younger people has been met with scepticism  - even scorn - during the current controversy over RNZ Concert. RNZ bosses and pundits have singled out Aus...

TVNZ chief faces future dilemma from 2020-02-16T09:10

Kevin Kenrick leads the broadcaster that pulls in the biggest audiences in the country and the most money from advertising. But TVNZ - like state-owned RNZ - will be folded into a new public media ...

Midweek Mediawatch 12 Februrary 2020 from 2020-02-12T20:54

Mediawatch's weekly catch-up with Lately. Hayden Donnell talks to Karyn Hay about a local music TV channel coming back from the dead, US media not feeling the Bern - and RNZ Concert / RNZ Music: th...

Mixed messages in media over coronavirus danger from 2020-02-09T09:12

Don’t panic, keep calm and carry on - or be very,very afraid? You could get plenty of all three kinds of advice in our media this week - and sometimes from the same outlets. 

RNZ changing its tune for music from 2020-02-09T09:10

RNZ’s planning a new music brand based in Auckland to hook younger people. But RNZ Concert will make way for it on FM and be reduced to an automated service with no human hosts. That has sparked a ...

Minister lifts the lid on public media plan - a little from 2020-02-09T09:10

The government's been criticised for making ts long-awaited plan for public broadcasting behind closed doors. This week the broadcasting minister Kris Faafoi lifted the lid a little, but the new pu...

RNZ set to cut back Concert and launch new youth service from 2020-02-05T13:55

In the biggest overhaul of its music services in years, RNZ is planning to gut its classical music station RNZ Concert and replace it on FM radio with music for a younger audience as part of a new ...

New public media plan still a work in progress behind closed doors from 2020-02-02T09:12

Cabinet has approved the idea of a new public service outfit to replace state-owned RNZ and TVNZ by 2023 - but they want more details from the broadcasting minister. So does the public and the rest...

100 not out: broadcast radio - the mass-media 'cockroach' from 2020-02-02T09:11

Organised broadcast radio is 100 years old this year - and it's not just alive, but still kicking pretty hard. Some say surviving and even outliving other media and technological changes make it th...

Gordon McLauchlan: 1931-2020 from 2020-02-02T09:09

Gordon McLauchlan - who died this week - cast a critical eye on New Zealand’s life (“boring”) and people (“smiling zombies”). He also zeroed in on our media and PR industry with wisdom gained durin...

End of Super Rugby’s golden weather? from 2020-02-02T09:06

Super Rugby kicked off earlier than ever before last Friday under the slogan 'Rugby Recoded'. Last year Sky TV broke the bank to retain the live rights but critics claim the competition's profile h...

Midweek Mediawatch 29 January 2020 from 2020-01-29T18:28

Hayden Donnell talks to Karyn about a mini-drama involving Sean Plunket, a revolt in the Washington Post newsroom, a Buzzfeed pioneer joining the MSM, and coronavirus coverage going bats.

Royals’ retreat prompts right royal pile-on from 2020-01-26T09:12

It was no surprise the Sussexes’ sudden decision to retreat from royalty and quit the kingdom fired up the hyperactive UK media - especially as they cited press pestering as a major reason. But hal...

Digging deep to fill the void from 2020-01-26T09:10

The Christmas / New Year news drought leaves media desperate for stories and talking points, often scraping social media for content and conflict. Mediawatch looks at some of the stuff that rose fr...

Mediawatch for 26 January 2020 from 2020-01-26T09:08

Digging deep and scraping social media to fill the summer news void; royals' retreat sparks right royal media pile-on; pre-empting the Facebook trolls.

Taking the high ground on the lowest comments from 2020-01-26T09:07

Prompted by crass comments in response to an online story about plus-size popstar Lizzo, the Herald warned its Facebook followers to stop and followed up with similar warnings on other stories. Is ...

Dan Eaton: journalist, thriller writer, intelligence bigwig from 2019-12-22T09:20

Dan Eaton is the author of No White Lies - a thriller involving a kidnapping, spies and dodgy journalism. He's also a former national affairs editor of The Press and the recently appointed director...

Cycle of outrage called out on talkback from 2019-12-22T09:12

To pump up interest in its transport policy the National Party spoon-fed the media part of it: police fining cyclists who spurn cycleways. But the prospect of Bike Force Raptor backfired when calle...

The awkward squad - confronting the media in 2019 from 2019-12-22T09:10

Mediawatch looks at political personalities who proved reporters wrong in 2019 - and as the summer silly season looms, we look back at the unexpected stars of the last one. 

Mediawatch for 22 December 2019 from 2019-12-22T09:10

Talkback callers call out plan for 'Bike Force Raptor'; Dan Eaton - former reporter, now author and intelligence bigwig; Bridges and Peters vs media - and the unruly stars of last summer.

Media probe risks and rewards of tourism from 2019-12-15T09:12

The media were in emergency mode once again this week when Whakaari / White Island erupted. They raised important questions about risks and rewards of tourism - and some got involved in the emotion...

On the brink? The state of our media in 2019 from 2019-12-15T09:10

Our Fourth Estate is "collapsing" according to Winston Peters. This week he set out what he wants as the coalition government ponders a new policy for the media - due to be unveiled any day now. Bu...

Mediawatch for 15 December 2019 from 2019-12-15T09:05

Media probe risks and rewards of tourism - and the emotional push for recovery; the state of our media in 2019; televising the Xmas party

Algorithmically turbo-charged journalism from 2019-12-08T09:18

Virtual newsreaders, stock reports and election results written up by algorithms, and news organisations dishing up articles based on what you've already clicked on are all examples artificial inte...

Cartoon controversy rocks the ODT from 2019-12-08T09:12

A deeply inappropriate cartoon in the Otago Daily Times sparked demonstrations at the paper's door this week as well as discontent among the paper's own people. It reminded editors potentially cont...

Mediawatch for 8 December 2019 from 2019-12-08T09:08

Cartoon controversy rocks the ODT; algorithmically turbo-charged journalism; political polls undermined by the undecided and the unresponsive.

Undecided and uninterested undermine poll conclusions from 2019-12-08T09:07

Political polling will intensify as the next election draws nearer, but when media draw conclusions look out for the crucial cohort who say they don’t know, don't care or won't tell the pollsters w...

Midweek Mediawatch: compassionate coverage vs crass cartoon from 2019-12-03T08:17

Mediawatch's weekly catch-up with Lately. Colin Peacock talks to Karyn Hay about BoJo's no-shows in the UK; Air NZ's 'expert trolling,' casual racism forgiven - and how compassionate coverage of Sa...

Mediawatch for 1 December 2019 from 2019-12-01T10:23

This month the government will decide how to fund public broadcasting in the future – and ponder replacing RNZ and TVNZ with a brand new organisation. This week Mediawatch looks at how Australia, I...

Midweek Mediawatch 27 Nov 2019 from 2019-11-27T22:40

Mediawatch's weekly catch-up with Lately. Jeremy Rose is leaving RNZ at the end of the year and this will be his last appearance on Lately. He talks to Karyn Hay about the future of the media and s...

Do cunning and clever ads cut through? from 2019-11-24T09:12

The Otago Daily Times got a boost this week when British band Coldplay took out 15 cryptic ads to promote its new album. Meanwhile, our biggest publisher of papers is giving away ad space to reward...

Travel bucks the trend bringing big bucks for print media from 2019-11-24T09:10

Newspapers have been shrinking for years along with the advertising that pays the bills - but travel is bucking the trend in a big way. Ads for tours and trips often make up the majority of the ads...

Dreamliner engine trouble eased with airline media handouts from 2019-11-24T09:08

Air New Zealand hands out lollies before landing. This week its handouts to the media softened bad news for passengers about more engine trouble for its Dreamliners.

Mediawatch for 24 November 2019 from 2019-11-24T09:06

On Mediawatch: Air New Zealand's engine trouble; travel bucks the trend bringing in big bucks for papers; Coldplay cracked it, but do clever newspaper ads really cut through?

Midweek Mediawatch 20 November 2019 from 2019-11-20T21:00

Mediawatch's weekly catch-up with Lately. Colin Peacock talks to Karyn Hay about Stuff Circuit's latest headline-making investigation, big calls on our 'dying' small towns; a long-serving young MP ...

Immigration row sparked by Shane Jones captivates the media from 2019-11-17T09:10

Shane Jones’ low blow at the Indian community over partnership visas was followed up by others looking to score political points or to condemn him. But while the politics of it all preoccupied the ...

Ian Cross: editor, broadcast boss, critic and conscience from 2019-11-17T09:08

Former public broadcasting boss and Listener editor Ian Cross died earlier this month aged 93 leaving behind a lasting legacy in New Zealand journalism. He also presided over the creation of TVNZ a...

Mediawatch for 17 November 2019 from 2019-11-17T09:08

Retail politics on immigration via the media; government tp ponder proposal for single public broadcaster; Ian Cross: editor, broadcast boss, critic and conscience.

Government ponders proposal for public media from 2019-11-14T17:00

RNZ has revealed the government will soon consider a proposal to disestablish state-owned broadcasters TVNZ and RNZ and create a brand new public media organisation. Mediawatch looks at a plan form...

Midweek Mediawatch 13 November 2019 from 2019-11-13T22:30

Mediawatch's weekly catch-up with Lately. Jeremy Rose talks to Karyn Hay about The Guardian's new New Zealand and Pacific offerings, media coverage of the political turmoil in Bolivia, and the blos...

Murder trials reported in distressing detail from 2019-11-10T09:12

It's been almost impossible to avoid distressing details in the news this week from two big murder trials in which young women were the victims - but one detail withheld is the identity of one of t...

TVNZ's local content play from 2019-11-10T09:10

As the government ponders its policy for the media, state-owned TVNZ has got a green light to put millions of dollars into ”betting big on local content”. This week it unveiled its programmes for 2...

Cautionary tales about your digital data from 2019-11-10T09:08

As Facebook faces legal pushback in the US for exploiting users’ data, three reporters here produced eye-opening cautionary tales of online intrusion into people’s most private stuff for commercial...

Mediawatch for 10 November 2019 from 2019-11-10T09:00

Murder trials reported in excruciating detail - except one; TVNZ's local content play; 'Facebook thinks I'm pregnant' - cautionary tales about sharing digital data

Midweek Mediawatch 6 Nov 2019 from 2019-11-06T12:50

Mediawatch's weekly catch-up with Lately. Colin Peacock talks to Karyn Hay about New Zealand on Air feeding the big public media policy debate - and discovering people still hate ads; a pair of (mo...

Should our leaders be more 'out there' in the media? from 2019-11-03T09:10

A media monitoring company reckons leaders who are ‘out there’ more in the media reap rewards when the news turns bad for them.  But would it be better for the rest of us if they stuck to their kni...

Royal revelations prompt a pile-on from 2019-11-03T09:08

Even before it screened here, the latest fly-on-the-wall royal TV documentary prompted a pile-on from pundits here who are hostile to Meghan and Harry. 

Mediawatch for 3 November 2019 from 2019-11-03T09:05

The end of the World Cup is nigh; should our leaders be more 'out there' in the media?; royal revelations prompt a pile-on

Mediawatch Midweek: Facebook news; social media ads, and; warship "spotted" in Wellington from 2019-10-30T22:30

Mediawatch's weekly catch-up with Lately. This week Jeremy Rose talks to Karyn Hay about Facebook's latest foray into news; Indonesia's use of Twitter to spread fake news about West Papua; and a Ch...

End of the World Cup from 2019-10-29T13:17

England won it fair and square and it's only a game - but our media found much more to say about last weekend's semi final to fill out acres of space in the papers and hours of airtime. 

The big blaze on TVNZ's doorstep from 2019-10-27T09:13

The big blaze in Auckland broke out right on TVNZ's doorstep and it pulled out all the stops to get compelling coverage on the air - even after evacuating its own newsroom on Wednesday. But news sh...

TV sell-off prompts political response from 2019-10-27T09:10

MediaWorks' move to cut off its TV arm has swung the spotlight onto the government's plans for broadcasting. Politicians sent out distinctly mixed messages this past week ranging from staged schade...

History behind a paywall - and on screen for free from 2019-10-27T09:10

You paid for a TV programme about how modern New Zealand was built - and you have to pay again to see the earlier episodes behind a paywall.  Meanwhile, Parliament TV is screening stuff from the ar...

Oiling the wheels of questionable science from 2019-10-27T09:09

One of the most listened to items on the RNZ website this week was titled: "Is omega-6 fat making us sick?" But anyone wanting to know the answer to that question would be best advised to do more t...

Mediawatch for 27 October 2019 from 2019-10-27T09:07

Blaze breaks out on TVNZ's doorstep; MediaWorks TV sell-off turns political; alarming oil claims get an airing; history behind a paywall - and on screen for free.

Midweek Mediawatch: TV faces the fire from 2019-10-23T17:00

Mediawatch's weekly catch-up with Lately. Colin Peacock talks to Karyn Hay about a delicately disrespected political biography in the UK - and while pundits and Paul Henry write off free-to-air TV,...

Rugby TV deal creates claims of conflicts from 2019-10-20T09:11

Sky and NZ Rugby sprang a surprise this week making a unique deal for TV rights with no bids from any other broadcaster. It's raised questions about conflicts of interest - and compromises in cover...

Mediawatch for 20 October 2019 from 2019-10-20T09:05

MediaWorks TV on the block; comedy cuts point to bigger TV problems; rugby TV deal creates claims of conflicts and compromise

MediaWorks TV on the block - what next? from 2019-10-18T17:00

Broadcasting company MediaWorks intends to sell off its television operations, putting TV channels Three, ThreeLife, the joint-venture Bravo and news service Newshub in limbo - and hundreds of jobs...

Mediawatch Midweek 16 October 2019 from 2019-10-16T22:22

Mediawatch's weekly catch up with Lately. This week Jeremy Rose talks to Karyn Hay about a new series of in-depth interviews with indigenous leaders; the latest long-form journalism offering from B...

MediaWorks comedy cuts point to bigger TV problems from 2019-10-16T17:45

Broadcaster MediaWorks is cutting key local TV comedies. Mediawatch says it’s a further sign of the company’s deepening problems and wider troubles in free-to-air television. And it is also a heada...

Comedy cuts point to bigger TV problems from 2019-10-16T17:45

Broadcaster MediaWorks is cutting key local TV comedies. Mediawatch says it's a further sign of the company's deepening problems and wider troubles in free-to-air television. And it is also a heada...

Sports rights storm gathers steam from 2019-10-13T09:12

A typhoon over Tokyo scrapped Rugby World Cup games this weekend – while the scrap over who will screen our favourite sports here in the future intensified.

News in and out of North Korea from 2019-10-13T09:10

Korean-American journalist Jean Lee had one of the trickiest jobs in world journalism - running the first international news bureau in North Korea. Since then this former news blackspot has become ...

Mediawatch for 13 October 2019 from 2019-10-13T09:00

Sports rights storm intensifies; news in and out of North Korea

The fire this time: reporting climate now from 2019-10-06T09:20

Recent weeks have seen the most concentrated climate change coverage in New Zealand's history but it was still eclipsed by coverage of the Rugby World Cup.

Keith Ng: reporting Hong Kong from 2019-10-06T09:19

New Zealand Herald journalist Keith Ng recently returned from covering the protests in Hong Kong and he tells Mediawatch being a Cantonese speaker was invaluable.

Mediawatch for 6 Oct 2019 from 2019-10-06T09:00

Covering Climate Now saw all of New Zealand's major media companies upping their environmental coverage but it was still eclipsed by the rugby World Cup and New Zealand Herald journalist Keith Ng o...

Was Spark's streaming drama a storm in a tech teacup? from 2019-09-29T09:12

Was Spark Sports streaming fail just a one-off blip? Or game over for our titanic telco and sport on screen - and a knockback for digital innovation? Would politicians arriving at the breakdown rea...

Giving Amazon a break from 2019-09-29T09:09

Amazon Prime’s announcement of a Lord of the Rings TV series to be made here was big news in the media - as was the huge tax break it is likely to get. It’s part of a business model that means Amaz...

Mediawatch for 29 September 2019 from 2019-09-29T09:05

Was Spark's streaming drama a storm in a tech teacup?; giving Amazon a big break.

Midweek Mediawatch: big paybacks; small paychecks from 2019-09-25T18:28

Mediawatch's weekly catch-up with Lately. Colin Peacock talks to Karyn Hay about big paybacks for Amazon Prime - but small paydays; Three's joint On Weed and a case of sub-optimal optimisation.

Petrol price 'horror' trumps horror of war from 2019-09-22T09:22

A drone attack on a Saudi Arabian oil well earlier this week saw journalists resort to words like "horror" and "nightmare" but they weren't referring to the hundreds of thousands who experts say wo...

Expert says PR needs an ethical upgrade from 2019-09-22T09:09

People point the finger at politicians, platforms and the news media for the spread of fake news and misinformation, but an expert tells Mediawatch the PR industry’s role usually goes under the rad...

Councils' Christmas party “cash splash” backlash from 2019-09-22T09:08

With local elections looming, Newshub crunched the numbers on local councils “splashing cash” on Christmas parties for staff.  It turned out to be a drop in the bucket, and the online exclusive bac...

Mediawatch for 22 September 2019 from 2019-09-22T09:08

Press panic over Spark RWC streaming; petrol prices trump war worries and climate crisis; expert urges PR ethics upgrade; Christmas party 'cash splash' backlash.

Sparks fly over streaming the RWC from 2019-09-20T14:30

We haven't been this twitchy about tech since Y2K. Spark took a gamble by buying the World Cup broadcast rights and offering live streaming coverage to subscribers. It's sparked a flood of sceptica...

Mediawatch Midweek: More reasons to be cheerful from 2019-09-18T22:20

Mediawatch's weekly catch-up with Lately. Jeremy Rose talks to Karyn Hay about Bangladesh's decision to grant legal personhood to its 700 rivers and a New York court case that could do the same for...

Stumbling blocks: filtering extremism from the net from 2019-09-15T09:10

The billionaire boss of Twitter - who flew in this week to update the Christchurch Call - couldn't keep his own account free of extremist stuff from hackers recently. Six months after social media ...

Media asking who knew what and when from 2019-09-15T09:10

Labour’s leaders were pressed on 'who knew what and when' after serious allegations against a staffer were aired again in the media this week - and why they didn't act sooner. The media have also b...

Mediawatch for 15 September 2019 from 2019-09-15T09:09

Labour's 'who knew what and when' scandal; blocking extremism from the internet six months after Christchurch; Te Wiki o Te Reo Maori embraced by media - but what about the other weeks

Time to bring back RNZ's te reo M?ori news? from 2019-09-15T09:05

The mainstream media is embracing te reo Maori like never before but for fluent te reo Maori speakers things have gone backwards on RNZ since Te Wiki o Te Reo Maori was first launched in 1975.

Midweek Mediawatch: reporters open up and anonymity angst from 2019-09-11T18:00

Mediawatch's weekly catch-up with Lately. Colin Peacock talks to Karyn Hay about On Weed - a Patrick Gower joint in a blaze of publicity and some cases of journalists opening up with mixed results:...

Mixed messages and health news we can really use from 2019-09-08T09:10