Hayden Donnell

Pope Francis's death prompts breaking news weirdness, Winston Peters butts heads with RNZ, identical Aussie twins go viral with synchronised eye-witness account, a Wellington councilor's on-the-record… Audio

Jailed journalist Peter Greste tells Mediawatch about the worst times in his life up on the big screen in 'The Correspondent.' Also - the country's main Christian broadcaster Rhema is bucking the… Audio

An outdoor ad company buys the country's largest radio network, NZME launches a positive news campaign - and Hayden launches an unauthorised theme tune. Also - Green MP Benjamin Doyle speaks out about… Audio

Just two companies have carved up most of our grocery bills for years. The government says change is coming - but many in the media don't seem to believe it;s possible. Also - our media's slumping… Audio

Billionaire Jim Grenon's letter-writing spree as he tries to take control of NZME's board & a click-driven incentive scheme at the company. Also - more journalists are killed in Gaza & an… Audio

A Kiwi lifting the lid on Facebook's been gagged before she could talk to RNZ. Why? And what did she say before Meta called its lawyers? Also: news publishers' ownership in play & lifestyle… Audio

A new poll piles pressure on the PM and his party, the billionaire bidding to unseat NZME's board hits back at claims about his intentions, a Paddington clarification Audio

Concern over a sudden change of editorial direction at NZME as a billionaire bids for control. Also: reporting Wellington's water woes and a sudden rush of top-level resignations. Audio

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 Audio

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… Audio

Guy Williams' Waitangi run-in with David Seymour and the Act leader's pushback at the Herald, plus new government plans to help local media. Audio

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. Audio

Nearly 40 jobs are set to be cut at NZME, which runs the NZ Herald, BusinessDesk and Newstalk ZB news operation. Presenter of RNZ's Mediawatch programme Hayden Donnell spoke to Alexa Cook. Audio

Mediawatch looks at how the media fared against the forces against them in 2024 - and how one part of the media in one part of the country seems to be bucking the trend of decline. Also - Hayden… Audio

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 pushing musical… Audio

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. Audio

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

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… Audio