Mediawatch

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.

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.

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?

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?

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.

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?

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.

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.

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'

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?

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.

Debate’s raging over private and public provision of surgery - and sick leave surged to the top of the agenda all of a sudden, sparked by an unlikely source. Also: media minister grilled in Parliament's Scrutiny Week - and property piffle on TV

RNZ challenged over a troubling tale of a transgender teenager who died alone from anorexia, ZB's Ryan Bridge's performs a hot-take talk radio turnaround on the economy, Emile's voluntary redundancy hotline

Some local election hopefuls are already pitching policies publicly. Are media checking them out before putting them in the news? Also: an Aussie once in charge of our papers talks about where the media is heading - and a play about authoritarian over-reach in 1950s America echoes what’s happening now.

Coverage of the aggro in LA; media feel the heat from advocacy ads, why David Seymour snubs Morning Report, the controversy created by dangerous combat-type cash prize contests