RNZ
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.
Be sure to visit the podcast's website and support the creator: www.rnz.co.nz
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Episodes
Midweek - BSA binned, Voyager sinned, Tame's empty chair & Brown's beefs 06.05.2026 23:23
Government moves to bin the BSA, Voyager awards bin sponsor, Jack Tame's empty chair & Wayne Brown says 'don't go there' Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details
India FTA & butter chicken blurts, TVNZ’s political pressure, stadium rocks rugby 02.05.2026 41:04
Our FTA with India’s a big deal, but how did our media deal with blurts from opponents - as well as our changing place in a fast-changing world? Also: TVNZ under political pressure - and a new stadium spark rugby joy while the Warriors spark worry. Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details
Midweek - Political tension at TVNZ, PM skips Breakfast, the power of noise & silence 29.04.2026 26:19
TVNZ's political editor under scrutiny - as PM skips Breakfast. Also: Piers Morgan vs Russell Brand in pauses & York City vs Rochdale full noise. Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details
PM calls time on ‘soap opera’, Microsoft urges NZ to embrace AI, dodgy weather on TV 25.04.2026 40:01
Reports National MPs might roll their leader sparked a frenzy that prompted the PM's ‘put-up-or-shut-up’ vote. When he won, he told media to shut up too. Fair enough? Also: Microsoft’s main man’s urged NZ to embrace AI while an expert warns our media have a lot to lose - and dodgy weather on TV. Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details
Midweek - vote of confidence, TVNZ+ upgrade, dogs on screen 22.04.2026 23:05
Who's happy after the PM's 'put up or shut up' showdown? Also: TVNZ tweaks its on-demand offering, sheepdogs on screen, one dodgy weather show and one dodgy song. Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details
News trust up after years of slumps, storm before the calm 18.04.2026 36:48
Trust in the news is up again after years of decline, the latest annual survey says. But it als says trust in social media is up and more of us tune out the news more often. What’s going on? Also: Vaianu wasn’t as deadly as the media warned. Did they get it wrong? Read more about this episode of Mediawatch on the RNZ website New Zealanders' trust in news is up after years of slumps In this ep...
Midweek - Breakfast battles, trust up, Welly woe, piggybacking on others' content 15.04.2026 25:57
Over-egged media battle at breakfast-time, piggy-backing on others’ content, chronicling the capital's crisis, a surprise bump in trust in our news. Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details
Reporting Trump’s outrageous outbursts, Petrolhead & motoring media adapt to fuel fears 11.04.2026 46:48
Some say he's unhinged. Others reckon outrageous utterances are part of his media management. How should media handle the stuff Trump says? Also: public figures cutting loose in long podcasts - and is it the best or worst of times for a publication called Petrolhead? Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details
Midweek - Trump outburst outrage, Aussie soldier's fall from grace, Phillips doco revelations 08.04.2026 22:00
Outrageous outbursts from Trump - again. Also: revealing details of the documentary about the Police pursuit of Marokopa fugitive Tom Phillips, and a huge fall from grace for a former soldier who took on the Aussie media - and Emile's sweary save. Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details
Midweek - BSA extends reach, a bad week for Big Tech, breakfast with Tova and an easter chocolate ban. 01.04.2026 25:57
The BSA has decided it has jurisdiction over digital outlets like The Platform - hosted by former-RNZer Sean Plunket - sparking heated debate. US Courts find Instagram and YouTube caused harm to children, what does that mean? And a look at Tova O'Brien's Breakfast debut. Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details
Who’s winning the war, where the ad money goes, Chathams spending scandal 28.03.2026 40:28
The bulk of the big money advertisers spent in our media goes offshore to big online operators. What’s the future for the ad industry here? Also: mixed messages about when the war will end in Iran, and startling spending in the Chathams that hit the headlines too late. Read more about Mediawatch on the RNZ website In this episode: 1:01 Who’s winning the war that’s fouling up the flow of our fuel?...
Midweek - media v Hegseth, TVNZ defamation win, SNL from USA to UK. peas piffle 25.03.2026 20:06
The media chalk up a win in the Pentagon - maybe. Also: TVNZ's comprehensive court win over co-governance campaigner, some bold journalism from newspapers in the South Island, SNL in the UK, Emile's sweary surprise save. Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details
Reporting shortages & petrol panic, privacy v the right to speak out 21.03.2026 39:01
Reporting shortages without prompting petrol panic. Also: a social media post about the Labour Party leader ended up as headline news - in spite of denials and no-one knowing what’s really true. Does the right to tell a story override others’ right to privacy - or the public interest? Read more about this episode of Mediawatch on the RNZ website In this episode: 00:50 How the media reacted to the...
Midweek - political leader obsession, Trump v BBC, athletics aesthetic reboot, feijoas are bad 18.03.2026 23:41
Why are so many stories zeroed in on political party leaders? Also: Trump's wild claims about the BBC, Post and Press online makeover, TVNZ's aesthetic athletics reboot, feijoas must go. Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details
The polls that pressure politics, Country Calendar’s Coro Street-level staying power 14.03.2026 38:21
The media piled on after one poor poll result, piling more pressure on the PM. Who calls the shots as third parties get in in the act with news media? Also: is Country Calendar current affairs, documentary or reality TV? Or all of the above? And what explains its Coro-level loyalty and longevity? Read more about this episode of Mediawatch on the RNZ website In this episode: 0:47 One poor poll resu...
Covid quibbling, Iranian opinion and history, ‘Peter Bassett’ update 11.03.2026 19:18
Another Covid inquiry prompted plenty of pandemic pointscoring - but not so much on the plan for the next one. Also: who speaks for Iranians - and who is Peter Bassett? Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details
War in the Middle East, political criticism & influence concerns at home, PM still PM 07.03.2026 42:38
It’s war in the Middle East again, stretching media already stressed by conflict - and nonsense from leaders is not helping. Also: questions about newsrooms’ vulnerability to influence from outside and their inside media companies; poll prompts a flurry over the PM, Country Calendar at 60. Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details
Midweek - War breaks out in Iran; PM fluffs his lines; TVNZ's interference fears 04.03.2026 19:39
Coverage of war breaking out on Iran, influencers' soft power picture shattered, the local angles including a PM punished for fluffing his lines. Also - TVNZ's crime reporting fallout prompt claims of editorial interference. Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details
Govt moves on rough sleepers, reporting Wellington woes, mystery blogger 28.02.2026 34:28
The government’s moved on rough sleepers and beggars downtown - by giving the police power to move them out of town. How did the media handle that this week? Also: reporting Wellington's bad news; political ad rebuke - and who’s ‘Peter Bassett’? Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details
Midweek - Andrew image explodes, goalie's grief goes global, The Press looks back, PM's soc-med scorn, 25.02.2026 22:39
'That' image of Andrew becomes one of world’s most-reproduced images ever - and a local goalie's grief went global too. Also - The Press looks back on 15 years after the quake; the PM's social content copping extreme scorn Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details
Immigration issue amped up, ceiling for streaming, over-the-top umbrella 21.02.2026 34:28
Anti-immigration political parties have been boosted in many countries. Now NZ First forcing the issue onto the news agenda. Also: is streaming eating itself? And why did one friendly umbrella gesture end up heavily analysed in our media? Read more about this episode of Mediawatch on the RNZ website Learn more: Mediawatch: Immigration amping up in election year | RNZ News In this episode: 0:55 Imm...
Midweek - terrorist's identity conundrum, private functions go very public & AI on ice 18.02.2026 21:50
Judgments media made reporting the recent court hearing featuring mass-murderer Brenton Tarrant. Also: how two private functions at one private club ended up being very public - and AI accusations on ice at the Winter Olympics. Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details
Infrastructure anxiety hits headlines again, AI slop feeds fake news flood 14.02.2026 36:35
Solid and liquid sewage is streaming into the sea in the capital, as the government says we need to import gas to ease energy shortages. Flaky infrastructure is an election year issue again - but are the media seeing the big picture as well as the political one? Also: the battle to stop AI ripping off real New Zealand news and flooding Facebook. Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details
Midweek - WaPocalypse now, FLOTUS film flop, 'enshitification' outbursts, sweary hero 11.02.2026 21:11
Turmoil at one of the great names of US media - The Washington Post. Also: the FLOTUS film flop, the sweary hero of our Winter Olympics, an outburst of 'enshitification' Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details
Bad language on the air & AI in our newsrooms 07.02.2026 35:14
Surveys say we don't yet trust AI in our news, but a new report shows our newsrooms are all using it - even if they’re not telling us. Another report says we’re more bothered by bad language on air than we have been in the past. But what kind of stuff really offends us? Read more about this episode of Mediawatch on the RNZ website In this episode: 1:32 More people worldwide are getting news from s...
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