Stories by Hayden Donnell
Audio and features
RNZ investigating Kremlin-friendly story edits
RNZ is investigating how online stories about the war in Ukraine, supplied by an international news agency, were edited to align with the Russian view of events. A staff member has been stood down… Audio
Digging out the facts on crime and punishment
Crime is set to be a big election year issue, with polls showing the public feels unsafe and the opposition claiming the government is 'soft' on offending. A pair of Herald journalists have tried to… Audio
Midweek Mediawatch - a potentially toxic election season
In this week's Midweek Mediawatch, Hayden Donnell talks to Mark Leishman about racist abuse of journalists and the potential for more of it in a toxic election campaign. Also: an eyebrow-raising Media… Audio
An hour of Gower
Three's new current affairs show Paddy Gower Has Issues walks a tonal tightrope - balancing comedic heckling and faux-serious investigations with in-depth reporting on important issues of the day. Audio
Midweek Mediawatch - putting a disaster in context
In this week's Midweek Mediawatch, Hayden Donnell talks to Mark Leishman about coverage putting the Loafers Lodge disaster in context - even in the midst of chaos and confusion, some impressive… Audio
Some broadcasters still shrugging off storm warnings
Some in the media learned the lessons of Cyclone Gabrielle and the Auckland Anniversary Weekend floods, just as the emergency management authorities have done - and they made a concerted effort to… Audio
Citizenship celebration turns sour in record time
For 22 years, media stories regularly bemoaned Kiwis treated as second class citizens across the ditch. This week, the problem finally got resolved, only for coverage to turn to fears of a 'Great… Audio
What’s the government’s post-merger media plan?
The government is beefing up RNZ’s budget after scrapping the new public media entity it planned over four years. But what’s the ‘broadcasting strategy for all New Zealanders’ the minister says he’s… Audio
Midweek Mediawatch - an unwanted Twitter tag
Midweek Mediawatch - Mediawatch's weekly catch-up with Nights. Hayden Donnell talks to Mark Leishman about Twitter tagging public broadcasters around the world - including RNZ - as 'government… Audio
Midweek Mediawatch - All the President's luggage
In this week's edition of Midweek Mediawatch, Hayden Donnell talks to Mark Leishman about Donald Trump getting arrested, trust in news falling again, a controversy involving a Cabinet minister and… Audio
Today FM goes up in flames after on-air explosion
The future of MediaWorks talk network Today FM and its news service are in doubt after a proposal to close the station prompted an on-air staff revolt. Today FM abruptly cut to pop music after… Audio
A muted media response to March 15
The media did little to mark the fourth anniversary of the March 15 terror attack, and some victims and their families say they are starting to feel forgotten. Audio
Climate policies burn on the bread and butter bonfire
Chris Hipkins won media plaudits for his political strategy after scrapping or deferring some of Labour's policy in his latest policy bonfire, including ones to reduce emissions. But a poll released… Audio
Midweek Mediawatch - transport reporting skids and u-turns
In this week's Midweek Mediawatch, Hayden Donnell talks to Susana Lei'ataua about some skids and u-turns in transport reporting, a growing glut of daily news podcasts - and a new online outlet for… Audio
Midweek Mediawatch - contested crime wave claims
In this week's edition of Midweek Mediawatch, Hayden Donnell talks to Susana Lei'ataua about the media covering claims of a post-Gabrielle crime spike that was questioned by Police; the fiery exit of… Audio
Climate minimisation still has a foothold in media
National MP Maureen Pugh was censured by her bosses and made to walk back her words after calling man-made climate change into question earlier this week. But similar sentiments still find a platform… Audio
Radio hosts fixate on schools closing as Gabrielle closes in
Cyclone Gabrielle buried homes and took lives, including those of rescuers, this week. But as it bore down on the country, front-rank hosts at Newstalk ZB played down the danger it posed… Audio
Midweek Mediawatch - Covering another catastrophe
Midweek Mediawatch - Mediawatch's weekly catch-up with Nights. Hayden Donnell talks to Susana Lei'ataua about some good journalism - and some ill-advised commentary - on Cyclone Gabrielle. And in… Audio
Supermarkets shaping the food price story
Recent media reports have blamed rising grocery prices on supermarket suppliers and even shoplifters. One business journalist is calling on the media to focus on the market power of our supermarket… Audio
Midweek Drongowatch: A woeful week in Wayne's world
In this week's rebranded Midweek Drongowatch, Hayden Donnell talks to Karyn Hay about a flood of criticism for Auckland mayor Wayne Brown, a pair of polls that perked up the political press pack -… Audio
Midweek Mediawatch: The year in review
In this week's edition of Midweek Mediawatch, Hayden Donnell recaps the big stories of 2022 and the questions they raise for 2023, and delivers his own personal worst of and best of list for the year… Audio
Turning a more sceptical eye on the tech titans
For years, Silicon Valley's stars have been able to drum up positive media headlines with their visions of a future tech utopia. In 2022, several of them ran into the hard wall of reality. Audio
Midweek Mediawatch: A good news story gone bad
In this week's edition of Midweek Mediawatch, Hayden Donnell talks to Karyn Hay about a media tussle with Pharmac, a so-called 'trainweck' interview by the broadcasting minister and two interesting… Audio
Anti-vax parents create media conundrum
One press conference question at a Prime Ministerial summit kicked off a wave of social media scorn this week - and even criticism and international headlines about sexism. But media made a better… Audio
Midweek Mediawatch: Follow the leader
In this week's edition of Midweek Mediawatch, Hayden Donnell talks to Karyn Hay about a blizzard of commentary about Christopher Luxon's performance, Chinese state-sponsored propaganda in the Herald… Audio