Mediawatch

Media go forensic on Andrew Bayly's ministerial resignation, the PM's ZB stumble, NZME's revealing annual results - & the real story of Golriz at PaknSave Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

Surviving 2025 in the intertwined industries of media and advertising. Should our government follow Australia’s media policy - and beware of billionaires? Also: decoding Destiny and the tricky task of luring Aussie tourists. Can the intertwined industries of media and advertising survive 2025 - and even thrive? That was the theme of a gathering in Auckland this week. One day later, the hosts of it confirmed 30 of its journalists jobs have gone. Our government says - again - its waiting to see what Australia’s government does when it comes to media policy. Mediawatch asks an Australian media expert if that makes sense - and if should media in both places beware of the billionaires. Also - this week our government unveiled a new slogan to tempt Aussie tourists across the Tasman. Everyone Must Go seems to have gone down well over there, if not here at a time when many Kiwis are going there for good. We look back at previous efforts to lure tourists across the Tasman. But tricky timing here when record-number of Kiwis have decided they must go over there for good. But some of the past efforts to attract Aussie visitors haven’t dated that well either: AUDIO: 23 feb 2025 TRAIL 02 champagne That;s later on in the programme But first - what happened after Destiny Church supporters disrupted Pride events in Auckland last weekend: Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

Big names at the Herald lose their jobs in a major news rejig, a Wellington ginger group getting a helping hand - and attracting Aussies in 1962. Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

How plans for wealthy foreign investors hit the headlines this week - and how did paid-for propaganda end up on a major news website? Also: two business journalists want to make the most out of much-needed money for important investigative journalism Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

Comedian Guy Williams' Waitangi run-in with David Seymour - and the Act leader's pushback at the Herald; a new video channel proposal by NZME - and new government plans to help local media. Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

Trump’s alarmed the world with trade tariffs, turning off aid and proposing to take over Gaza. But New Zealand’s had its own diplomatic dramas in the news - with the media in the middle of them. Also: new news outlets popping up to push back fear of 'news deserts.' Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

The 'fake news' from Israel that strained our relationship with the US - and a long-suppressed offender’s name finally comes out. Also: Tributes to the Jonah Lomu and Marianne Faithfull which missed the mark - and two reports on transport which didn’t. Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

Summertime - and the living is easy, the old Gerschwin song says. But he didn’t have to keep Kiwis tuned in during the summer news drought. Meanwhile the outside world has changed a lot since Christmas - and the media industry’s problems here haven’t taken a holiday either. Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

NZME's plan to cut nearly 40 staff including some big names, a s spiky editorial response to a reader questioning coverage - and a belated Mediawatch award for misinformation in 2024. Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

Mediawatch looks at how the media fared against the forces they faced in 2024 - and how one part of the media seems to be bucking the trend of decline. Also: Hayden Donnell's media Christmas wish. Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

Mediawatch’s not-very-prestigious and not-at-all coveted annual media awards - including biggest flip-flop; best and worst jingle and nickname; state-of-media analysis of the year, the awrd for pushing musical boundaries - and the Billy Connolly Trophy for a single animal making national news. Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

Mediawatch talks to two media bosses who’ve had the media’s economic headwinds blowing their hair back in 2024. What’s the state of the media now - and how might the state intervene in 2025? Also: how the government stepped in on two other businesses with big problems - racing and the ferries. Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

Media hype local football fever; Kim Hill vs BoJo; RIP Hutt Valley stalwart Nicholas Boyack; could Stuff could split itself up? Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

Australia’s world-first social media ban for under-16s was cheered on by many media - including some of ours. But it's also highlighted their own dependency on big tech. Meanwhile one TV broadcaster that went all-in on TikTok has found a huge new audience. But what are the risks? Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

PM's long-awaited appearance on Q+A, Atlas explored, Wellington ginger group's political contacts come to light, RNZ brought to book & Newshub's stuff survives on Stuff Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

The tale of two towns which face losing their local news. Also: a bid to change the law so parody and satire doesn’t run the risk of breaking it - and clear up who owns digital media.

Midweek - Treaty Principles Bill and TJ Perenara’s controversial haka stir debate; the latest public funding for current affairs and journalism and Three's local stuff for 2025.

This week’s Hīkoi mō Te Tiriti harvested heaps of headlines, hours of airtime and piles of print and pixels - media copped plenty of criticism for the coverage. Also: a deep-dive podcast that needed deep pockets - and warnings of ‘news deserts’ here.

Midweek - Accusations of bias and a lack of impartiatality in coverage of Hīkoi mō Te Tiriti. Also the Herald v David Bain, Facebook scam surge and problems for local magazines.

Why was an award-winning journalist dedicated to reporting abuse in state care briefly banned from the official apology for that this week? Also - NZME plans to close 14 local North Island papers, possibly leaving some towns without coverage.