Newstalk Zb
Scrutiny of candidates prompts pushback and claims of 'agendas'
Scrutiny of political parties' policies intensified this week - and so did the scrutiny of some candidates for seats in Parliament. When TVNZ reported some election candidates’ controversial past… Audio
The right to be wrong - even in a crisis
Dolphins mating in a prime-time TV documentary was deemed a breach of broadcasting standards this week by the broadcasting watchdog - but dismissing official information and experts on air during… Audio
Surgery scoop sparks rows over equality and equity
A scoop revealing that ethnicity is factored into Auckland-region surgery waiting lists sparked strong reactions against ‘race-based healthcare’ and claims that Māori and Pacific patients were… Video, 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
Claims and counter-claims on post-cyclone crime spike
Media on the ground in cyclone-hit communities found road-blocks and local people reporting looting, theft and threats backed up with firearms. Meanwhile police and politicians insisted there was no… 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
COP 27 climate coverage cop-outs
The latest global climate policy summit in Egypt failed to create binding agreements on emissions reduction. But COP 27 did pave the way for compensating countries bearing the brunt of climate change… Audio
Heated emissions from media on gas charging plan
Settling on a scheme to charge for agricultural emissions has taken 20 years of consultation, compromise and scientific research - and agriculture’s leading lobby groups were partners in the process… Audio
Punching above our Commonwealth weight?
The Kiwi contingent at the The Commonwealth Games headed home from Birmingham this week with a record number of medals. Patriots in the press were pumped up, but did we really punch above our weight… Audio
Mediawatch: A government in the gun over accidental generosity
The government came under fire over some misdirected cost of living payments this week, but the more enduring story might be who didn't get paid, rather than who did. Audio
Hospo's acute recruitment hassles hit headlines again
Hospitality's acute shortage of workers made headlines again this week after one minister told operators to up their game on pay and conditions. While bosses told media they can’t find workers no… Audio
Midweek Mediawatch: A sudden dose of empathy
In this week's Midweek Mediawatch, Hayden Donnell talks to Bryan Crump about the lessons ZB's Kate Hawkesby learned from a bad bout of Covid - and National leader Christopher Luxon squirming under the… Audio
A soothing scroll through Today FM's opinion section
Today FM is set to take on Newstalk ZB in a battle for talk radio supremacy. But in contrast to its controversy-courting crosstown rival, its website is demonstrating a surprisingly tranquil approach… Audio
Quest for certainty undercuts Omicron analysis
Everyone wants to know how bad our Omicron outbreak might get - and when. But experts running the numbers on that have copped flak in the media when scenarios they’ve been told to scope don't pan out.… Audio
Media angst and anger over ‘iwi checkpoints’
Waitangi Tribunal scrutiny of the government's Covid response this week revealed that advice which could have reduced Māori vulnerability had been rejected or ignored. But that was largely obscured in…
Coming up
Alert level angst not leveling off on radio
Another Monday, another review of alert level condition for Auckland and other areas this week - along with ample evidence in the media that the change can’t come soon enough for Aucklanders who are… Audio
Midweek Mediawatch: The blame game
Mediawatch’s weekly catch-up with Karyn Hay on Nights. This week Hayden Donnell talked to Karyn about the media blame game as the country moves away from elimination - and an explosive live on-air… Audio
Midweek Mediawatch: A good 1pm press briefing gotcha
In this week's Midweek Mediawatch, Hayden Donnell talks to Bryan Crump about an incisive question at the daily 1pm press briefing, a backlash against NZME's premium product; Hilary Barry's sweet treat… Audio
Confused claims of Covid-compromised cancer care
A new campaign is urging people with possible symptoms of cancer to get a diagnosis - and never mind the lockdown. This week two media outlets claimed 'almost half of new cancers' went undetected… Audio
Midweek Mediawatch: Opining on elimination
Mediawatch's weekly catch-up with Bryan Crump on Nights. This week Hayden Donnell talks to Bryan about media angst over whether ‘elimination’ is still our Covid strategy - and the Herald aiming high… Audio