Advocacy ads & poll problems, do media manifest in manifestos?
Political parties and third parties seek to sway the vote - as polls preoccupy the media. Also: future of media debated, and do media manife...
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Mediawatch
Mediawatch looks critically at the New Zealand media - television, radio, newspapers and magazines as well as the 'new' electronic media.
Episodes
20 of 352 episodesMidweek - job cuts & a strike, members benefits, soundtracks in news
The big debates are done, but the election onslaught rolls on - even on YouTube in the sauna. Also: Stuff urged to scrap regional news cuts,...
Gang angst and law & order red meat, ban social media or fix it?
Law and order was under the radar this election, until candidates campaigning at gang events hit the headlines. Also: both big parties want...
Midweek - election debate deluge, gang scandal get legs, jobs on the line
Almost all-election almost all-the-time as voting nears. Also, the gang visit scandal, Parents Alliance examined - and more journalists' job...
Pitching for parents, education in the election, mascot mess
Education became a hot topic as political parties pitched their election pledges at parents this week - and a new advocacy group pushed the...
Midweek - debates & stalemates, culture war comparison, bring back KiwiBuck, BS ok?
Election debates keep on coming, platforming the 'major' and 'minor' leaders. Could a costings unit cut back the scraps? Also: did Nights an...
Who wants to be a billionaire, reality TV check, award-wining oil scoop
A random election debate question about extreme wealth struck a chord this week. Also: a local reporter’s role in an award-winning Reuters i...
Midweek - the campaign content pile-up picks up pace
The debates, the political panels, the interviews and ads and interactive innovations are all cranking up in intensity as general election v...
Overhangs hang over election, RNZ’s next chief, Phil Gifford
As the election campaign got underway officially, media seized on arguments about overhangs and vote-splitting dividing both sides. Also: RN...
Midweek - New RNZ chief, election 2026 is launched . . . officially
RNZ's named its next CEO as Jason Winstanley, a current Newstalk ZB stalwart. If you can't beat them, hire them? Also: official election lau...
Hager headlines, putting down the watchdog, regional news cuts, propaganda & pie prices
Critics complained there was no smoking gun. Supporters said it shone a light on a sinister spiderweb. How did the media handle Dirty Work?...
Midweek - Hagerpalooza, preppers' delight, Seymour on Report
What mark has Nicky Hager's 'Dirty Work' made 24 hours after a rock gig-like launch? Also - TVNZ doco spotlights Kiwi preppers, & Deputy PM...
Phillips report & the full story, retail politics
The fugitive Tom Phillips was huge news when the hunt for him ended tragically a year ago - and again with this week’s official report. But...
Midweek - Phillips report, CRL mania, election event angst, mascot wars
The Phillips report the media have been waiting for. Also: CRL is go, media mascot v mascot, live election event tension & the hyrox horror...
Political food fights, pondering the passing of journalism
The media seized on the politics of food this week, when the Greens floated state-owned supermarkets and 1News lifted the lid on emergency f...
Midweek - TVNZ's next news chief, cartoons & mascots, Sky sorry again
TVNZ takes Stuff exec for next news chief - next year, the legacy of a long-serving cartoonist, mascots make a marketing comeback, Sky TV of...
Political head-to-heads hot up, are prediction markets legit news?
Odds from Polymarket are popping up in our news, even though it's illegal here. But are prediction markets a legit source of news anyway? Al...
Midweek - plane crazy, animal ads & monkey mascots, debate update
Was the Capetown flyover a PR masterstroke or disaster? Also - netball's bounceback, animal ads & monkey media mascots and an election debat...
Parties pull plug on social media for teens, sports boosts broadcasters, Dolly dies
The two big political parties want to pull the plug on social media for teens. But will ‘fast-following’ Australia work? Also: TV broadcaste...
Midweek - rugby hype & outage outrage, ratings & results, Whakaata Māori
Media amp up the 'Great Rugby Rivalry'. Also: RNZ ratings, NZME results, Whakaata Māori changes, Raw Politics returns. Go to this episode on...