Mediawatch

Trust in news slump stalls, Canada pushes back

12 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Another year - another drop in trust in the news here, according to the biggest annual survey of it. But the slump seems to have stalled and some outl...

Midweek: MediaWorks bought up, Herald goes positive, Green MP speaks out, fake wolf news

09 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

An outdoor ad company buys the country's largest radio network, NZME launches a positive news campaign - and Hayden launches an unauthorised theme tun...

Duopoly apathy, ad income slump, local paper paper row

05 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Just two companies have carved up most of our grocery bills for years. The government says change is coming - but many in the media don't seem to beli...

Midweek: Green in the gun, NZME update, Stuff falls foul of BSA

02 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Green MP's social media spark controversy - and claims the media ran shy of the story. Also: NZME's bitter battle for control rumbles on, and the broa...

Green shoots and dire data, NZME angst, easiest scoop ever

29 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Are media confusing us with claims of green shoots in the economy at the same time as headlining more dire data? Also: the epic security fail at the t...

Midweek: NZME board battle goes postal

26 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Billionaire Jim Grenon's letter-writing spree as he tries to take control of NZME's board & a click-driven incentive scheme at the company. Also - mor...

Lid-lifting Kiwi gagged over Facebook, NZME/Stuff in play, The Listener & lifestyle journalism

22 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

A Kiwi lifting the lid on Facebook's been gagged before she could talk to RNZ. Why? And what did she say before Meta called its lawyers? Also: news pu...

Ownership angst, lunch fatigue, Bongino bombast & Newsom niceness

19 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Rivals appeal to NZME shareholders as Stuff carves its chief's one share into a million. Also: MAGA-powered podcasters control the zone - and have we ...

Media question PM’s position, integrity initiative dovetails with media

15 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The PM’s got plenty on his plate right now - including media hinting his time is up in the top job. Is that true - or fair? Also: a new move to use ...

Midweek: Poll angst, NZME upheaval

12 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

A new poll piles pressure on the PM and his party, the billionaire bidding to unseat NZME's board hits back at claims about his intentions, a Paddingt...

NZME’s billionaire power play; a rash of resignations, Welly water woe

08 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Concern over a sudden change of editorial direction at NZME as a billionaire bids for control. Also: reporting Wellington’s water woes and a sudden ...

Midweek: Ever-present Pres, billionaire buy-ins, NZ life 50 years apart

05 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Midweek: The ever-present US President makes the most of set-piece media events. Also -billionaires seeking stakes in our media & rights to air rugby ...

China crisis, defending against defunding, school food fight

01 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Chinese warships in the Tasman Sea promp big calls to bump up the budget for defence ASAP. Also - the super-heated headlines about factory-to-school l...

Midweek: A messy ministerial resignation

26 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Media go forensic on Andrew Bayly's ministerial resignation, the PM's ZB stumble, NZME's revealing annual results - & the real story of Golriz at Pakn...

Surviving 2025 & following Australia’s lead, decoding Destiny, luring tourists

22 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Surviving 2025 in the intertwined industries of media and advertising. Should our government follow Australia’s media policy - and beware of billion...

Midweek - Herald exodus & video plan, capital visions, attracting Aussies

19 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Big names at the Herald lose their jobs in a major news rejig, a Wellington ginger group getting a helping hand - and attracting Aussies in 1962. Go t...

Golden visas, risky recommended content, deep pockets for deep journalism

15 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

How plans for wealthy foreign investors hit the headlines this week - and how did paid-for propaganda end up on a major news website? Also: two busine...

Midweek: D Seymour v Herald, Guy Williams & more

12 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Comedian Guy Williams' Waitangi run-in with David Seymour - and the Act leader's pushback at the Herald; a new video channel proposal by NZME - and ne...

Sudden surge of diplomatic drama & local news fightbacks

08 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Trump’s alarmed the world with trade tariffs, turning off aid and proposing to take over Gaza. But New Zealand’s had its own diplomatic dramas in ...

Midweek: Foreign 'fake news,' name suppression, entertainers (mis)remembered

05 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The 'fake news' from Israel that strained our relationship with the US - and a long-suppressed offender’s name finally comes out. Also: Tributes to ...

Summertime - and the living’s uneasy for media

01 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Summertime - and the living is easy, the old Gerschwin song says. But he didn’t have to keep Kiwis tuned in during the summer news drought. Meanwhil...

Midweek: New year, new layoffs

29 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

NZME's plan to cut nearly 40 staff including some big names, a s spiky editorial response to a reader questioning coverage - and a belated Mediawatch ...

Facing the pressure & bucking the trend in 2024

21 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Mediawatch looks at how the media fared against the forces they faced in 2024 - and how one part of the media seems to be bucking the trend of decline...

Midweek: The Mediawatch Awards for 2024

18 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Mediawatch’s not-very-prestigious and not-at-all coveted annual media awards - including biggest flip-flop; best and worst jingle and nickname; stat...

Media under the sinking lid in 2024

14 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Mediawatch talks to two media bosses who’ve had the media’s economic headwinds blowing their hair back in 2024. What’s the state of the media no...

Midweek: Kiwi Clasico; BoJo v KiHi; RIP Nicholas Boyack; Stuff split?

11 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Media hype local football fever; Kim Hill vs BoJo; RIP Hutt Valley stalwart Nicholas Boyack; could Stuff split itself up? Go to this episode on rnz.c...

If you can’t beat social media, join it. Or ban it?

07 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Australia’s world-first social media ban for under-16s was cheered on by many media - including some of ours. But it's also highlighted their own de...

Midweek: Luxon appears at last

04 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

PM's long-awaited appearance on Q+A, Atlas explored, Wellington ginger group's political contacts come to light, RNZ brought to book & Newshub's stuff...

Two towns’ news under pressure, copyrights and wrongs

28 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

The tale of two towns which face losing their local news. Also: a bid to change the law so parody and satire doesn’t run the risk of breaking it - ...

Midweek: Tiriti talk, TJ’s haka, funding for factual stuff in 2025

27 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Treaty Principles Bill and TJ Perenara’s controversial haka stir debate; the latest public funding for current affairs and journalism and Three's lo...

Hīkoi hōhā, news deserts fears, deep-dive deep-pocket podcast

23 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

This week’s Hīkoi mō Te Tiriti harvested heaps of headlines, hours of airtime and piles of print and pixels - media copped plenty of criticism for...

Midweek: Hīkoi bias claims, Herald v Bain privacy, mag strife

20 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Accusations of bias and a lack of impartiatality in coverage of Hīkoi mō Te Tiriti. Also the Herald v David Bain, Facebook scam surge and problems f...

Reporter's ban from Crown apology; local papers on the block

16 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Why was an award-winning journalist dedicated to reporting abuse in state care briefly banned from the official apology for that this week? Also - NZM...

Midweek: Hikoi hits the road, news cuts, foreign football flashpoint

13 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Hikoi hits the road; Seymour vs TVNZ; TV news cuts latest and how sketchy reports of a foreign football flashpoint sparked a diplomatic incident. Go t...

Trump triumph and the media message, Australia & Malaysia rein in social media

09 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

“It’s their media world now. We just live in it” - what news media are taking away from the Trump triumph; Media message from Trump’s triumph,...

Midweek: He's back

06 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

The epic media coverage of an epic US election that's put Trump back in charge. Also - more grim news from TVNZ; and warnings from Crux and NZ Geograp...

Stuff boss joins ginger group, NZ Geographic’s bold survival strategy

02 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Could the boss of the country’s biggest news publisher joining a local ginger group alongside political figures compromise her own company's coverag...

Midweek: Hitting the ground reckoning in the US, a backtrack and some u-turns

30 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Kiwi journalists in the US ramp up election reflections - and some politicians here too. US papers cop it for u-turns on backing Harris; TVNZ backtrac...

A look ahead to the US election & a look back at ours

26 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

A look at how US media have coped with the controversial campaign for the upcoming election there - and we look back at how our media fared covering ...

Midweek: Sweating the small stuff

22 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Fallout from RNZ's scrapped Anika Moa podcast featuring former Labour MP Kiri Allan, intervention in the WCC, the lack of excitement about the America...

WCC frenzy, dodging the news, scam ads scandal

19 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Coverage of capital’s troubled city council - and claims the government could intervene. Also: news publishers respond to a survey showing more Kiwi...

Midweek: The govt turns 1, RNZ's web surge, RIP BBC Hardtalk

16 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

The government turns 1 (or does it?), a 'Chris-tastrophic' political poll (or was it), TVNZ news not on TV, RIP BBC Hardtalk. Go to this episode on rn...

Online NZ news on the outer at TVNZ and Google

12 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

TVNZ’s signaled more cost-saving cuts and started by scrapping its online news site next year. Meanwhile Google’s threatening to cut ties with loc...

Midweek: Cuts, checks & a rude front page

09 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

TVNZ's plans to axe its news website, ministerial fact-checking from Q+A - and a rude front page from The Press.Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for mo...

Hospital ‘blowout’ sparks big backlash; feel-good news for bad times

05 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

The controversial call to cut back the rebuild of Dunedin Hospital - and how local media helped drive a big backlash. Also: Patrick Gower’s got a ne...

Midweek: More TV cuts & a crime against broadcasting

02 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

What Colin learned watching TV the old-fashioned way, and news of more cuts to come at two TV broadcasters. Also: online changes at Stuff - and a ‘c...

Trial trauma & mental health on-air, ABC boss on public media pressures

28 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Mediawatch talks to the boss of Australia’s public broadcaster the ABC - and the producer of a show putting mental health in the frame for the past ...

Bonus: Turning point for Australia’s ABC

28 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

A year ago our former government torched its plan for a joined-up public broadcaster more like Australia’s one. But the ABC is a billion-dollar beas...

Midweek: Polkinghorne preoccupation & problem podcasts 

25 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

The media’s Polkinghorne trial preoccupation - and the audience’s appetite; two problematic podcasts go offline - but for very different reasons ...

Politicians dodge interviews, local iwi revives local paper

21 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Our media put politicians’ feet to the fire in the name of accountability - but some won't front up in the first place. Is the way they’re doing i...

Midweek: Trump targeted as Springfield suffers, pushbike pushback, sculpture snafu

18 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Another threat to Trump's life as sad Springfield squirms under unwanted media spotlight. Also: pushbike pushback; big-money mistake on a new artwork...

Big city bad vibes & are media harming minorities?

14 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Bad news about bad vibes in our big cities right now - and Wellington's woes in particular. Also: new research for the broadcasting watchdog says some...

Epic show for new epoch in te ao Māori, road rage, toast-gate

07 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

How the epic broadcast to mark a new epoch in te ao Māori was made at Tūrangawaewae Marae, media focus on small stuff in big bucks plan for roads; '...

Holding to account, holding the line on media freedom

24 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Holding ministers to account - but also amplifying their spending statements without scrutiny; two editors in Asia holding the line on media freedom; ...

Midweek: Guns in the gun, Raygun & TV guys' new jobs

21 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Colin Peacock talks to Emile Donovan about a lid-lifting Sunday paper scoop about gun crime - and a minister in the spotlight over gun law reform. Als...

The good & bad of AI in news, advert aggravation

17 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Mediawatch looks at how the news media are using artificial intelligence these days. What is AI technology good for? What is it bad at? And do media n...

Midweek: Herald denies Hobson's Pledge

14 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Hayden Donnell talks to Emile Donovan about the Herald backing away from running another ad from Hobson's Pledge, a question going begging in the cove...

Mediawatch for 11 August 2024

10 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Mediawatch looks back at the media in the middle of political rows about race relations - and why Maori journalists want an apology over a controversi...

Midweek: AI, the IOC & an AGM

07 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Colin Peacock talks to Todd Zaner about reactions to the revelation the Herald used AI to write editorials - and what was revealed by coverage of the ...

Mediawatch for 4 August 2024

03 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Mediawatch looks at a controversy over the use of AI artificial intellgince the New Zealand Herald - and asks if readers should be told when AI techno...

Midweek: Punching below our weight

31 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Hayden Donnell talks to Emile Donovan about the Herald using AI for an editorial - and he delves into the disappointment over our lacklustre Olympic ...

Mediawatch for 28 July 2024

27 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Mediawatch looks at how the media reacted to the Abuse in State Care report - and the role the media played in bringing the issue to light. Go to this...

Midweek: Biden's bolt blindsides media

24 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Colin Peacock talked to Emile Donovan about how the media handled the news that Joe Biden had thrown in the towel - and the final report from the Inqu...

Mediawatch for 21 July 2024

20 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Mediawatch looks at what our media made of the government's new emissions plan - and how best to cover global climate change without pumping up people...

Midweek: Breakfast gets cooked

17 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Hayden Donnell talks to Emile Donovan about TVNZ Breakfast getting dragged into the Trump shooting debate, some NZME criticism from NZME, TVNZ's exclu...

Mediawatch for 14 July 2024

14 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Mediawatch looks at how our media reacted to the shocking news of the attempt on Donald Trump's life in Pennsylvania. And shortly before that news bro...

Midweek: False gods of sport

10 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Colin Peacock talked to Emile Donovan Stuff making a solid start with ThreeNews on TV; the British media making a meal of their landslide election and...

Mediawatch for 7 July 2024

06 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Last Friday the curtain came down on Newshub at 6 - and more than 30 years of nightly news made at the TV channel Three. But the next day the new 6pm ...

Midweek: Suprise bill backing & more concerning closures

03 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Colin Peacock talked to Emile Donovan about the government backing a law change - which they once slated in opposition - to help the media get more mo...

Mediawatch for 30 June 2024

29 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

While our government ponders policy to help news media companies cope with their crumbling business models, millions of us get our news first from Fac...

Midweek: A PM forced to dish his own plaudits

26 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Hayden Donnell talks to Emile Donovan about the prime minister becoming his own hype man, a strange malfunction in RNZ's push notifications, and a gra...

Mediawatch for 23 June 2024

22 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Pundits have predicted the death of old-fashioned newspapers for years - but they're still here. This week Mediawatch looks at a new history of New Ze...

Midweek: Plaintive plane complaints

19 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Hayden Donnell talks to Emile Donovan about an emerging media consensus over our malfunctioning Defence Force aircraft, how rude words slipped though ...

Mediawatch for 16 June 2024

15 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

How the media copped criticism for reporting allegations of personal data misused for political purposes - and the struggle to get meaningful response...

Midweek: New jobs, more podcasts, fewer post-cabs

12 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Colin Peacock talks to Emile Donovan about more moves between broadcasters, more new podcasts - but fewer Prime Ministerial press conferences. Also: T...

Mediawatch for 9 June 2024

08 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Regional reporting cut back for NZME's new national focus; sports news that was too late - and too early; the controversy over cancer treatment fundin...

Midweek: Changing stories on cancer drugs

05 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Hayden Donnell talks to Emile Donovan about the government's latest reason for not funding 13 cancer drugs, a mammoth loss expected at TVNZ, AI faking...

Mediawatch for 2 June 2024

01 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Long-running bid to make big tech pay for news hits a snag - so what happens next?; stories based on stats sliced from surveys; shock horror over inco...

Midweek: New live news & music of the dead

29 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Colin Peacock talks to Emile Donovan about Duncan Garner's new live morning show - and an old name for a new 6pm TV news show. Also - a couple of awk...

Mediawatch for 26 May 2024

25 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

New Zealand's big awards for journalists were given out this week at a time when many are losing their jobs. Also - Mediawatch talks to an editor who ...

Midweek: Justice for Herbertville

22 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Hayden Donnell and Emile Donovan apologise poetically to a small Tararua seaside settlement inadvertently insulted by RNZ online. Also: Stuff launches...

Mediawatch for 19 May 2024

18 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

A long-running plan to reform the oversight of our media has come to a sudden halt; how public toilets suddenly became political this week.Mediawatch ...

Midweek: TVNZ's cuts hit the screen

15 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Colin Peacock talks to Emile Donovan about Fair Go and Sunday coming to a sad but dignified end this week at TVNZ, as the broadcaster itself copped cr...

Mediawatch for 12 May 2024

11 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Pre-budget teasers increase exposure - and scrutiny; Green MP under pressure over conduct; bid to backstop local news; Gaza coverage attract complaint...

Midweek: StuffHub takes shape

08 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Hayden Donnell talks to Emile Donovan about new hires for the upcoming Stuff-Newshub 6pm bulletin. Also - TVNZ and the journalists' union face off ove...

Mediawatch for 5 May 2024

04 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

One opinion poll prompts intense political pushback; new report urges sweeping changes to media, law and funding - and fast; Wairoa Star closes after ...

Midweek: Polls, papers and a post-match snafu

01 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Colin Peacock talks to Emile Donovan about an MP taken to task about his knowledge of the arts - and a TV producer taking on a funding agency in cour...

Mediawatch for 28 April 2024

27 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

New media minister rolls in after PM's surprise reshuffle; TV news and current affairs on the way down here, but highly competitive across the Tasman....

Midweek: Another broadcasting minister down

24 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Hayden Donnell talks to Emile Donovan about the departure of broadcasting minister Melissa Lee - and the arrival of the next one Paul Goldsmith. Also:...

Mediawatch for 21 April 2024

20 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Stuff is taking over Newshub's 6pm TV news. A bold move for an outfit that's never been a broadcaster before. Will it work? Also: Mediawatch talks to ...

Midweek: Stuff's bold TV play

17 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Colin Peacock talks to Emile Donovan about Stuff leaping into uncharted waters by taking on Newshub at 6. Also: TVNZ going 'beyond broadcasting,' NZ P...

Mediawatch for 14 April 2024

13 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

End of TV news as we know it? TVNZ cuts back and Newshub closes down. Newshub's news boss responds; the minister plays for time; a former minister fig...

Midweek: Little light at the end of the TV news tunnel

10 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Colin Peacock talks to Emile Donovan about an historic day - not in a good way. The confirmation of the closure of Newshub and more cuts confirmed at ...

Fair Go and daily news bulletins to close at TVNZ

08 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

TVNZ has confirmed Fair Go - on air for 47 years - and news shows Midday and Tonight will cease next month. The future of Sunday will be confirmed tom...

Mediawatch for 7 April 2024

06 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

We talk to an editor keeping an eye on where public money for public services ends up and the government's new political action plan gets the media's ...

Midweek: Chunking out some decision gates

03 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Hayden Donnell talks to Emile Donovan about the government's new chunked-out action plan, a new channel coming to the ThreeNow app - and why media com...

Mediawatch for 31 March 2024

30 Mar 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Gabrielle review lessons for media; Dolphin drama fires up media.Mediawatch looks at how dolphins stalled the Sail GP regatta last Sunday and fired up...

Midweek: Kate, Coutts, murder in Moscow

27 Mar 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Colin Peacock talks to Emile Donovan about the dolphin drama that divided the nation (and the media) last weekend - and royal revelations that oversha...

Mediawatch for 24 March 2024

23 Mar 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Mediawatch looks at the fallout from Winston Peters' criticism of the media in his State of The Nation speech.Mediawatch looks at the fallout from Win...

Midweek: Rod Oram; state of the Winston

20 Mar 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Hayden Donnell talked to Emile Donovan about Winston Peters attacking the news media in his State of the Nation speech - and the death of Rod Oram, a ...