Mike Hosking
When broadcasters and politicians don't mix
Mike Hosking's made the most of Jacinda Ardern's decision to ditch him - spinning it as her running for the hills. But what gave him unfettered access in the first place, and did he abuse the… Audio
Watchdog runs the numbers on Covid death claims
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 the… Audio
Ports proposal prompts ‘communist’ conclusions
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 5 August 2020
Mediawatch's weekly catch-up with Lately. This week Hayden Donnell talks to Karyn Hay about an incredible interview with Donald Trump - and a sudden dearth of Mike's Minutes on the Herald website.
Coming up
Midweek Mediawatch: Anger over MP's mental health smokescreen
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 decisions… Audio
Mike's mistake boosts Māori party campaign
NZME broadcaster Mike Hosking apologised on air this week for "reckless" claims about John Tamihere and Whānau Ora funding. It was part of a confidential settlement which the Māori Party's co-leader… Audio
The journalists who helped save New Zealand's health response
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… Audio
Mike Hosking's many contradictory takes on Covid-19
The nation’s most prominent talkback pundit has oscillated from opinion to directly-contradictory opinion with blistering speed during the Covid-19 crisis.
Taking transport stats for a ride
How we get around increasingly congested cities and towns has become a hot topic and paying for public transport is a an increasingly fraught political issue, especially as councils around the country… Audio
Broadcasters go OTT on CGT
There has been an overload of opinions about capital gains tax in the media lately from economists, lobbyists, politicians and business people who are part of the story. But plenty of the broadcasters… Audio
Have media made a mistake pushing online video prompted by Facebook's flaky figures?
The news media made a “pivot to video” partly because social media users couldn’t get enough of it. But Facebook eventually admitted its figures were flaky and now it is being sued by advertisers in… Audio
Backing for biking hits one-way traffic on air
Radio hosts know cyclists and cycle paths are a red rag to their frequently car-bound listeners. Mediawatch looks at how one broadcaster responded to research showing most Aucklanders support cycling… Audio
Reckons without research
Energetic editioraliser Mike Hosking angered nurses this week by inflating their employers' pay offer - just after telling the media off for "lapping up press releases." Audio
Transport plan sparks front page road rage
Labour's ten-year plan for transport had a lot in it for the media to explain, but coverage focused on political claims and counter-claims about tax, and complaints about pain at the pump over the… Audio
Summer camp scandal sparks flood of opinion
Labour's summer camp scandal triggered a flood of opinion in the media this past week. Much of it claimed political spin had overridden the rights of the victims, but the coverage and comment also… Audio
MeToo media campaign inundated with messages
Inspired by #MeToo campaigns abroad, broadcaster Alison Mau and publisher Stuff are urging New Zealanders to blow the whistle on sexual assault and harassment at work. Hundreds of women have… Audio
Claims of dirty politics in MP’s Snapchat story
A small story buried on page five of a paper last Sunday revealed MP Chris Bishop messaged youngsters online before the last election. The media questioned the MP’s conduct - but not the media's… Audio
Prime time presenters call it quits
Toni Street and Mike Hosking are quitting TVNZ’s Seven Sharp to spend more time with their families - and their respective radio networks. What next for a show that's often in the news because of its… Audio
Debatable benefits of head-to-head clashes
Three live Ardern v English debates in seven days pumped up coverage of the election campaign. The media picked out the leaders’ zingers, bangers and clangers, and they agonised over who won and who… Audio
Mike’s Māori Party misinformation mess
A “throwaway line” on TV has put pressure on TVNZ for its choice of opinionated presenter Mike Hosking to host its live pre-election election leaders’ debates. Audio