Mediawatch

The new plan to stop RNZ National losing listeners - and a harsh review of the network’s capability and culture. How’s RNZ’s boss handling this - and what listeners really want? Also - rude words that sparked complaints but didn't break the rules.Read more about this episode of Mediawatch on the RNZ websiteIn this episode:00:48 RNZ National’s been losing listeners for years, and now they have a new plan to stop the slide, sparked by a harsh review of the network’s capability and culture.09:50 RNZ’s CEO and editor-in-chief Paul Thompson explains changes being made at RNZ and responds to the report by former news chief Richard Sutherland.In an earlier version of this interview, it was stated that Sutherland’s report recommended RNZ hire a new high-profile presenter- and that “presenter change at Morning Report" was listed in it later under the heading ‘Easy Wins.’ In fact, the report listed ‘“Morning Report presenter move” under the heading ‘Early Wins’. This referred to Sutherland's recommendation that both Morning Report’s presenting roles move to Auckland, along with more of its production. Sutherland’s report didn’t propose changing presenters of any programme.27:50 More from Paul Thompson about the current political environment for the media, RNZ operating with reduced budget, the pressure to prove that people trust RNZ - and how he responds to senior politicians who say they don't.40:50 Media watchdogs have ruled that two rude words that recently appeared in the media did not break the rules.Learn more: RNZ’s high-stakes National plan | RNZ NewsGuests: Paul ThompsonIf you have any thoughts for us - or ideas for us to follow up - get in touch. E-mail mediawatch@rnz.co.nz. You’ll also find us @MediawatchNZ on X.Follow Mediawatch and listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or any podcast app to make sure you never miss an episode.Find more RNZ Podcasts at the new section of the RNZ website at rnz.co.nz/podcastsGo to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

TVNZ launches its first paid-for product, NZME announces a $400k loss and the composition of its new editorial board - and RNZ's listenership snakes upward for the first time since 2022.Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

One woman became the unwilling face of a political cause she strongly opposed because her image was for sale online - and one outlet faked photos of a whanau to 'protect its mana.' What are the ethics of stock images? Also - 'gentle whispers' of political succession, and can the media claw back cash from AI crawling their content online? Read more about this episode of Mediawatch on the RNZ websiteIn this episode:00:15 ‘Gentle whispers’ heard - and a tangerine suit seen - half a world away sparked speculation in the media this week about a spill for the PM and a succession for his finance minister.06:22 Image problems - and the ethics of stock photography: one woman became the face of a political campaign she strongly opposed because her photo was for sale in a stock library - and a media outlet used AI to create a fake whanau for a piece about poverty.23:05 Will a new bid to charge AI for crawling the web for content mean the media might be able - at last - to claw back cash from those harvest their stuff online? If so - how can it be done? Turns out it’s complicated . . .Learn more:Guests: Corey Fuimaono, Tanmay DesaiIf you have any thoughts for us - or ideas for us to follow up - get in touch. E-mail mediawatch@rnz.co.nz. You’ll also find us @MediawatchNZ on X.Follow Mediawatch and listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or any podcast app to make sure you never miss an episode.Find more RNZ Podcasts at the new section of the RNZ website at rnz.co.nz/podcastsGo to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

RNZ's strategy to stop the loss of radio listeners sparks a strong reaction from pundits - and the listeners. Also - a political party proves a point using the official complaints process- and irritating ads for insurance. Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

How the media handled controversy over recognising Palestine - two political opinion polls in a day. Also: RNZ prepping out a plan to stop the loss of listeners as a former news chief tells the top brass to make big changes and - do Kiwis believe the media deliver what they promise?Read more about this episode of Mediawatch on the RNZ websiteIn this episode:1:16 The intense debate in the media this week over Palestinian statehood, sidetracked by party political rows about our government going slow on it - and a chorus of claims in the media that was just a gesture anyway.16:18 How the media handled two political opinion polls in one day ‘predicting’ the next election outcome.21:52 RNZ’s prepping a plan to try and claw back listeners lost by RNZ National - and a blunt review from its former news boss urges the top brass to make big changes.27:13 Do New Zealanders think our media deliver what they promise? We ask the brains behind some new data on that - Storm Day from Accenture Song - and if it can help the media get the audience onside.Learn more:Guests: Storm DayIf you have any thoughts for us - or ideas for us to follow up - get in touch. E-mail mediawatch@rnz.co.nz. You’ll also find us @MediawatchNZ on X.Follow Mediawatch and listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or any podcast app to make sure you never miss an episode.Find more RNZ Podcasts at the new section of the RNZ website at rnz.co.nz/podcastsGo to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

A crew of Al Jazeera journalists are assassinated in Gaza, two political polls in a day fire up the media, and an ad from Hobson's Pledge prompts a backlash - and a debate about ethical use of photos. Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

The media graded NCEA as ‘not achieved’ after the government proposed dumping it this week. Headlines here called Trump’s 15 per cent tariff on our exports ‘a surprise.’ But was it? Also - the prospects for some of our most popular and enduring magazines, which are up for sale across the Tasman again. Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

Public purse picking up part of the bill for local reality TV, RNZ tweaks Morning Report, Hayden Donnell goneburger from Mediawatch, Colin taught a French lesson.Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

The headline-making secret visit of the FBI's top guy, the politics of paywave, and starvation in Gaza hitting home for news outlets. Also: the Marlborough Express folded this week after 160 years in print. What is lost when local news goes online-only? And is it a sign of things to come for others? Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

Pressure goes on The Platform over a tweet from its founder, the government gets the media to cover an announcement of an announcement, and a polling company chief puts out a question on a whim - with interesting results.Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

The bitter battle over butter prices topped the news agenda this week, prompting a ‘please explain’ from the finance minister to Fonterra. Are media are missing the main point? Also: pundits say Sky buying Three for $1 strengthens its on-screen sport play - but the cash Saudi Arabia’s suddenly splashing could change the big picture.Read more about this episode of Mediawatch on the RNZ websiteIn this episode:01:00 The price has been rising for months, but all of a sudden the bitter political battle over butter became bulletin-leading stuff this week. Did the media miss the point by zeroing in on this - and the political posturing?17:25 Pundits reckon Sky buying Three strengthens Sky’s stranglehold on the top sport it sells to subscribers. But this week The Herald reported TVNZ bidding for next year’s FIFA World Cup and the upcoming Olympics as well. But globally, Saudi Arabia’s sticking stacks of cash into sport and broadcasting right now. A journalist who’s just seen that play out in the US says that could change the picture worldwide - and here:Learn more:Guests: Liam Dann, Adam LeventhalIf you have any thoughts for us - or ideas for us to follow up - get in touch. E-mail mediawatch@rnz.co.nz. You’ll also find us @MediawatchNZ on X.Follow Mediawatch and listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or any podcast app to make sure you never miss an episode.Find more RNZ Podcasts at the new section of the RNZ website at rnz.co.nz/podcastsGo to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

Sky buys Three for $1. Also - a shake-up sport on screen, some commentary classics, the Frenchification of Emile Donovan - and was Wrexham FC in Welly the real thing? Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

Campaigns targeting politicians in the media are getting more intense - and politicians are getting more multimedia with their own messages for the press. Are these the same old tactics using new tech? Or a new push to dodge media scrutiny and shape the story? Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

A media frenzy over Ray Chung's lurid email about Wellington mayor Tory Whanau, Stuff retracts a story about AI blood testing, and a former newsreader enters the Tāmaki Makaurau by-election.Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

The backers of the second official inquiry into the Covid response say it’s crucial for preparing us for the next pandemic - but the media mostly zeroed in on whether big-name politicians would show up. Also: TVNZ checking itself for bias, a fresh flurry of media French-ification; and do we need to brace for more ‘fiscal hole’ fury in Election 2026? Read more about this episode of Mediawatch on the RNZ websiteIn this episode:1:22 The backers of the second Royal Commission of Inquiry into the Covid-19 response said it was crucial to learning lessons for the future, as well as allowing people to have a say. But the media mostly zeroed in on whether big-name politicians would show up at hearings that are still six weeks away.17:03 Remember in the campaign for the last election - and the one before that - how the big political parties made big claims in the media about billion dollar-deep holes in each others’ policies? We might have to brace for more in 2026.32:50 TVNZ says it’s planning to check itself for bias. But why - and why now?37:21 A fresh flurry of French-ification in our media inspired by Les Bleus on tour.Learn more:https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/mediawatch/566737/mediawatch-pandemic-probe-media-focus-flipped-to-politiciansGuests: Dan Brunskill, economics reporter for Interest.co.nzIf you have any thoughts for us - or ideas for us to follow up - get in touch. E-mail mediawatch@rnz.co.nz. You’ll also find us @MediawatchNZ on X.Follow Mediawatch and listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or any podcast app to make sure you never miss an episode.Find more RNZ Podcasts at the new section of the RNZ website at rnz.co.nz/podcastsGo to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

The closure of more local newspapers, further fallout for the BBC and the ABC over editorial handling of Gaza, senior RNZ exec resigns - and peacock persecution. Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

Mediawatch looks at a sudden slew of stuff on screen about life at the coal face in health, hospitals and hospices. Is the up close and personal approach also political? Speaking of political . . . bosses at two big broadcasters have ended up in the gun this week over other peoples’ opinions about Israel and Gaza - and political leaders line up the media for more criticism. Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

A new podcast questions the 'lone wolf' narrative around the Christchurch terror attack, Newsroom asks some hard questions about the state housing sell-off, Stuff's TradeMe deal gets finalised - ZB's Hosking clashes with education minister on 'Māorification'Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

It was hard for media all around the world to work out what happened in the Middle East. But claims that WW3 and global recession might be upon us here were rolled back within a day. Also: Chat GPT’s been accused of lying, making stuff up and gaslighting a UK journalist and Google’s AI seems to be telling us what we want to hear. Is AI human after all? Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

The media’s difficulties sorting out the truth in the Middle East escalation,entrepreneur cites negative coverage selling her dating business, David Seymour taking on the media - again - and fundraising. Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details