Mediawatch

There's never a shortage of opinions on the media but Mediawatch looks at it all in detail for those keen to know more about the news - as well as those who work in media.

Hosted and produced by Colin Peacock and Hayden Donnell

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All episodes:

Midweek - Stuff/Trade Me & NZME, video pivot, power of the edit

Stuff/Trade me marriage, NZME settles board stoush. Also - teething troubles at the Herald’s new show, the pivot to video - and the power of the edit in politics.
New episode
Stuff Group chief executive Sinead Boucher and TradeMe chief executive Anders Skoe.

Run It runs straight into trouble, changing climate for climate coverage

The state of climate change reporting in a changed political climate - and a time when the media have their own existential emergency. Also - how the Run It Straight went from social media phenomenon to national news media controversy.
The event saw two men retiring due to knocks to the head, one slumping to the ground and appearing to have a seizure. Photo: Andrew Cornaga / Photosport

Midweek - Herald streaming, RNZ National falling, 'Deputy Dave' deep dives

The Herald's new streaming news show, RNZ National listeners tuning out, David Seymour's political past under the spotlight.
Ryan Bridge launches the new streaming show Herald Now on Monday.

Budget 2025, vanguard v rearguard on AI, social media legal pushback

The media make a big deal of the Budget every year, even though the big money’s already been announced. But what was in it for the media this year? Also: vanguard vs the rearguard on AI in the media; political push-back on social media and more bad language - and the perils of cold-calling folks live on air.
The Budget was front-page news for all the papers on Friday, but the big money had already been announced or signaled.

Midweek: Vance wins, Winston heckled, Stuff vs Stuff

After days being berated for deploying the c-word, Andrea Vance was named political journalist of the year. Meanwhile Stuff took on Stuff, and Winston Peters' pre-Budget announcement went off the rails at a railway station
Andrea Vance receives her award for political journalist of the year.

Pay equity, dead c-word strategy & c-bomb fallout, AI in BBC news

Coverage of the outcry sparked by the sudden change to legislation for pay equity claims - and how one rude word in one newspaper column derailed the debate. Also - AI at the BBC: how the world’s biggest broadcaster is using AI in news and programmes.
The c-bomb heard around the media.

Midweek - Stuff's C-bomb rocks the House, NZME truce, social media ban boosted

Midweek - Sunday Star Times C-bomb dropped on ministers rocks the House, and the issue that sparked it - gender pay equity. Also - the government's move to ban social media for under-16s got big backing this week - and the possible truce in the NZME boardroom battle.
The column last Sunday that caused a storm in the House - eventually.

Sudden surge of concern about social media, NZME compromise, sport on screen

An entire generation's grown up with little regulation of their digital world. But this week there was a sudden surge of political concern about social media for teens. Also: NZ Rugby’s in the red even though its income from TV's topped $100m. But netball’s got no broadcaster beyond this year for its top comp. Is it a warning for sports that need TV money to pay players?
The PM and National MP Catherine Wedd on TikTok announcing her Members Bill to restrict use of social media platforms to people over 16.

Midweek - Compromise at NZME, politics podcast self-destructs, email scoop angst

A new compromise candidate emerges to lead NZME - along with some undisclosed outsourcing. Also: 1News scoop about Erica Stanford's emails draws fire from talk radio, a politics podcast podcast's sudden self-destruction - and NZ climbs media freedom ladder by default.
Steven Joyce

Bootcamp calls based on bad stats, election assumptions, NZME boardroom battle update

Media assumptions about election outcomes were upended in Canberra and Canada this week - and guessing the result of upcoming ones in Wellington and the Vatican suddenly seem risky. Is picking political winners now a fool’s game? Also: cranky calls for military service based on bad stats - and the latest on that bitter boardroom battle at NZME.
Supporters for Canada's Prime Minister and Liberal Party leader Mark Carney celebrate as results are announced during an election party in Ottawa.

Doco lifts the lid on Destiny, Pope farewelled, US media party falls flat

A controversial documentary series by TVNZ’s John Campbell - which didn’t quite kick off like it was meant to. Also: 'Peoples Pope' farewelled, US media's annual White House party fall flat.
John Campbell's new five-part documentary on Destiny Church.

The health of health reporting; Peters' RNZ 'threat,' media freedom’s dark day

The health sector throws up stories of serious crisis almost daily, but journalists find hard data hard to get. Also: media freedom worries increasing around the world - and Winston Peters' 'threat' to RNZ.
Rachel Thomas leaves the job of health reporter at The Post pondering the problems of reporting the crisis-hit sector.

Midweek: surreal Pope coverage, spiky RNZ interview, identical eye-witnesses

Pope Francis's death prompts breaking news weirdness, Winston Peters butts heads with RNZ, identical Aussie twins go viral with synchronised eye-witness account, a Wellington councilor's on-the-record outburst - and a housing headline excluding renters
Pres. Trump acknowledges the death of Pope Francis with the First Lady and the Easter Bunny.

Jailed journo’s life on screen, Christian broadcaster beats the slump

Jailed journalist Peter Greste tells Mediawatch about the worst times in his life up on the big screen in 'The Correspondent.' Also - the country’s main Christian broadcaster Rhema is bucking the trend of media contraction - even though its target market's shrinking and appealing to a broad church is tough in these polarised times.
The Correspondent, starring Richard Roxborough as the jailed journalist Peter Greste.

Midweek: Polk folk, Facebook whistleblower faces US Senate, lobbying lid-lifting

Does TV doco Polk live up to the hype - or live down to the claims of tabloid clickbait? Also - further feedback on 'trust in news', new unofficial register lifts the lid on lobbying a little.
A big call from Three, the broadcasters of the three-part doco series 'Polk'

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