RNZ: Mediawatch

Holding ministers to account and also amplifying their spending statements without scrutiny; two editors in Asia holding the line on media freedom; update on advocacy ad angst.

Midweek Mediawatch. 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. Also - Australian media go rogue on Raygun, and more Newshub TV talent scooped up by Stuff.  

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 need to be ready for the fake AI content that's undermining news? Also: further fallout from a controversial advert run by The New Zealand Herald.

In this week's edition of Midweek Mediawatch, 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 coverage of the government's benefit sanctions announcement - and a cynical PR move by the All Blacks.

Mediawatch looks back at the media in the middle of political rows about race relations - and why Maori journalists want an apology over a controversial advocacy ad in the Herald. Also: how social media amplified anger over the riots in the UK - and boxing at the Olympics.

Midweek Mediawatch - Mediawatch's weekly catch-up with Nights. This week Colin Peacock talked to Todd Zaner about reactions to the revelation the Herald used artificial intelligence to write editorials and what was revealed by coverage of the National Party's AGM last weekend. Also - some standout Olympic media moments - and unexpected acapella jingles. 

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 technology creates news content. Also: how the media jumped the gun over our lack of medals at the Olympics - and an unconvincing complaint about the All Blacks spurning our media.

In this week's Midweek Mediawatch, Hayden Donnell talks to Emile Donovan about the Herald using AI to write an editorial - and delves into the media's disappointment over our lacklustre Olympic medal count so far. Also - peeling back layers of health bureaucracy and a very personal challenge to a reality TV show. 

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. 

Midweek Mediawatch - Mediawatch's weekly catch-up with Nights. 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 Inquiry into Abuse in State Care. Also Colin also looked at a revealing local report about a local high school - and something he got wrong about his own primary school days.  

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's despair. 

Midweek Mediawatch - Mediawatch's weekly catch-up with Nights: Hayden Donnell talks to Emile Donovan about TVNZ Breakfast getting dragged into the Trump shooting debate, some NZME criticism from NZME, TVNZ's exclusive interview with isolated Green MP Darleen Tana - and Hayden apologises for mixing up his memes.

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 broke, Colin Peacock a look at the week's news and media live on Sunday Morning with Hayden Donnell - including how it panned out in the first week of Stuff's ThreeNews, a change for TVNZ's Re:News, a significant change in the government's stance on affordable housing - and horoscopes in the news.

Midweek Mediawatch - 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 local democracy reporting's financial reprieve. Also: the unhealthy obsession with the world's most famous footballer - and Emile gives Mediawatch the (remixed) gift of music. 

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 bulletin by Stuff launched in its place. Mediawatch takes a look at its debut - and asks the question: what do people want from the 6pm TV news these days anyway?

Midweek Mediawatch - Mediawatch's weekly catch-up with Nights. 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 money from Big Tech. Also  - the end of Newshub coming closer - and another round of concerning closures in the media in local newspapers, the once-mighty Sunday News and at Newstalk ZB.   

While our government ponders policy to help news media companies cope with their crumbling business models, millions of us get our news first from Facebook, Google and even TikTok. It's the same in Australia - and this week our friends at the ABC ask if public interest journalism can survive on these online networks - or without them. And if serious news outlets slip into obscurity, what would that mean for our public life? 

In this week's edition of Midweek Mediawatch, 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 grab bag of media business news.

Pundits have predicted the death of old-fashioned newspapers for years - but they're still here. 

In this week's Midweek Mediawatch, Hayden Donnell talks to Emile Donovan about an emerging media consensus over our malfunctioning Air Force aircraft, how rude words slipped though in music on RNZ - and a huge few months at Stuff.

How the media copped criticism for reporting allegations of personal data misused for political purposes - and the struggle to get meaningful responses from official sources. Also: the popularity of an ultra-long local podcast contradicts assumptions about short attention spans - and how one journalist's trip to his local cafe ended up as national news.

Midweek Mediawatch - Mediawatch's weekly catch-up with Nights. Colin Peacock talks to Emile Donovan about more moves between broadcasters, more new podcasts - but fewer Prime Ministerial press conferences. Also: TVNZ makes football fans happy.

Regional reporting cut back for NZME's new national focus; sports news that was too late - and too early; the controversy over cancer treatment funding missing from the Budget,can we trust surveys of our media which say we don't trust them?

In this week's edition of Midweek Mediawatch, 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 the news and even our contemporary history  - and a slight directed at the Ōtaki Today.

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 incomplete houses.

Midweek Mediawatch - Mediawatch's weekly catch-up with Nights. 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 awkward moments at this year's national journalism awards and an awkward confrontation between a rugby coach and a reporter; an outlet devoted to the music of the dead - and who gets struck by lightning?

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 has secured the future of two important medical magazines in tight times - and looks at coverage of the A-League scandal that's posed some awkward questions with reputations at stake.

Midweek Mediawatch: Hayden Donnell and Emile Donovan apologise poetically to a small Tararua seaside settlement inadvertently insulted by RNZ online. Also: Stuff launches crime podcasts you pay for - while another new podcast hit a hitch this week; ScarJo's lawyers 1, Chat GPT nil. 

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.

Midweek Mediawatch - 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 criticism for its handling of the redundancies and closures. Also: a complaint against a newspaper's controversial coverage of roading and new offerings from RNZ.  

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

Midweek Mediawatch: Hayden Donnell talks to Emile Donovan about new hires for the upcoming Stuff-Newshub 6pm bulletin. Also - TVNZ and the journalists' union face off over job cuts while the outgoing boss of TV channel Three took a swipe at its state-owned rival; and a fringe online radio station's set to return after raising money from its listeners. 

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

Midweek Mediawatch: 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 court. Also: a new political poll causes ructions; a century-old newspaper folds - and a spurned sportsman's great save on camera.

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.

In this week's edition of Midweek Mediawatch, Hayden Donnell talks to Emile Donovan about the departure of broadcasting minister Melissa Lee - and the arrival of the next one Paul Goldsmith. Also: a controversial TV interview with the Israeli ambassador - and some truly startling stuff in a Stuff illustration.

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 two editors about the latest survey showing another alarming slump in New Zealanders' trust in the news.

Midweek Mediawatch - Midweek Mediawatch - Colin Peacock talks to Emile Donovan about Stuff leaping into uncharted waters by taking on Newshub at 6. Also: TVNZ going 'beyond broadcasting,' NZ Post and NZME add to predictions of print's demise; recognition for a one-man band in Southland - and Colin's mistaken identity mix-up . . .again.

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 fights back

Midweek Mediawatch - 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 TVNZ means more than 300 journalists' jobs will go by midyear - and TV news and current affairs will shrivel. Also: the latest report on trust in the news media reveals a further decline - and listeners' questions about what it all means. 

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 tomorrow. Meanwhile a decision on alternatives to a proposal to close Newshub in June is expected tomorrow from its owner Warner Brothers Discovery.

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 attention.