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 as well as those who work in media.

Hosted and produced by Colin Peacock and Hayden Donnell

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All episodes:

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

Midweek: 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 backtracks on its 1 News website - and Colin meets football elite (sort of . . . )
New episode
TVNZ's Jack Tame among the Maga-people

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

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 the election here one year ago.
Back On Track? The New Zealand General Election of 2023.

Midweek: Sweating the small stuff

Midweek - 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's Cup win, and Health NZ’s $9200 on canapés
Defender Emirates Team New Zealand's co-skippers Peter Burling (L) and Nathan Outteridge (R) raise the America's Cup trophy during the trophy ceremony after winning the Louis Vuitton 37th America's Cup, in Barcelona on October 19, 2024.

WCC frenzy, dodging the news, scam ads scandal

Coverage of capital’s troubled city council - and claims the government could intervene. Also: news publishers respond to a survey showing more Kiwis dodging their news - and a surge in social media scam posts co-opting big names in news media.
The front page of Wellington's daily The Post on Wednesday after senior government ministers put pressure on the city's troubled Council.

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

Midweek - The government turns 1 (or does it?), a 'Chris-tastrophic' political poll (or was it), TVNZ news not on TV, RIP BBC Hardtalk.
TVNZ's Maiki Sherman with the results of a poll for the first anniversary of the 2023 election.

Online NZ news on the outer at TVNZ and Google

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 local news altogther. What’s going on?
Alphabet logo displayed on a laptop screen and Google logo displayed on a phone screen are seen in this illustration photo taken in Krakow, Poland on September 9, 2024. (Photo by Jakub Porzycki/NurPhoto) (Photo by Jakub Porzycki / NurPhoto / NurPhoto via AFP)

Midweek: Cuts, checks & a rude front page

TVNZ's plans to axe its news website, ministerial fact-checking from Q+A - and a rude front page from The Press.
Jodi O'Donnell, new TVNZ chief executive

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

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 new ‘feel-good’ weekly show. But do we really want feelgood news in not-so-good-times?
The front page of the ODT channels local anger about the u-turn on Dunedin Hospital.

Midweek: More TV cuts & a crime against broadcasting

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 ‘crime against broadcasting’ on RNZ National.
1973 The Dark Side Of The Moon cover art

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

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 15 years. Also: fallout from the murder trial that preoccupied the media for the past two months. * this programme discusses the issue of suicide and how it is covered by the media *
Scenes outside the court, after the verdict in the Philip Polkinghorne trial.

Bonus: Turning point for Australia’s ABC

Bonus episode
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 beast that’s also been a political football. Mediawatch asks its outgoing boss where it - and David Anderson himself - is heading.
The ABC's boss David Anderson answers questions on ABC TV last month about his decision to step  down at the end of the year.

Midweek: Polkinghorne preoccupation & problem podcasts 

The media’s Polkinghorne trial preoccupation - and the audience’s appetite; two problematic podcasts go offline - but for very different reasons
Pauline Hanna supporters speak to media outside Auckland High Court following verdict on 23 September 2024.

Politicians dodge interviews, local iwi revives local paper

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 it part of the problem? Also: the local iwi steps in to save the local paper in Wairoa.
RNZ/Reece Baker

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

Another threat to Trump's life as sad Springfield squirms under unwanted media spotlight. Also: pushbike pushback; big-money mistake on a new artwork; a fond farewell for pioneer of political broadcasting - and an MMA quiz fail.
The front page of the Springfield News-Sun.

Big city bad vibes & are media harming minorities?

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 minorities say discriminatory stuff is turning them off our media. But where is it coming from? And - fact checking claims about the legality of peeing in public.
The Weekend Post has launched the 'Capital Conversation' series to try promote ways to reverse the capital's current slump.

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