Mediawatch

RNZ
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Nov 15, 2025 • 35min

BBC under pressure from outside - and within

One edit in one episode ended up at the epicentre of major crisis for the world’s biggest public broadcaster. Trump might take the BBC to the cleaners over it while media rivals crank up the damage to its reputation. But is the BBC’s real impartiality problem internal? Read more about this episode of Mediawatch on the RNZ websiteIn this episode:0:45: How the media responded to the shock news that the BBC’s boss and head of news quit after revelations of editorial failures - and President Trump threatening to sue for $1bn.17:20: Ex-BBC Panorama editor-turned-mediawatcher Roger Bolton on the BBC’s response to its problems, the media hostility BBC faces from rivals and claims of political influences at play within the BBC.32:02: Other big news this week: the shocking IPCA report that kept newsrooms and their lawyers busy; and Te Pāti Māori’s meltdown in the media.Learn more: Mediawatch: BBC under pressure from outside - and within amid edit scandal | RNZ NewsGuests: Roger BoltonFollow 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
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Nov 12, 2025 • 23min

Midweek - Shocker coppers, BBC bloodbath, Te Pāti Māori meltdown

Two top BBC bosses quit in wake of Trump editing scandal, Police top brass blasted by damning IPCA report, Te Pāti Māori meltdown prompts more media criticism.Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details
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Nov 8, 2025 • 42min

Saving the marriage between journalism and the people, Duke of Yuck

Surveys say our trust in the news is slipping seriously, but the latest one asks Kiwis why and what might get it back, and an RNZ editor’s new book zeroes in on how to repair the relationship. Also: the downfall of the ‘Duke of Yuck’ yields unexpected local angle. SHOW NOTESRead more about this episode of Mediawatch on the RNZ websiteIn this episode:0:58 The serious slide of New Zealanders’ trust in news, journalism - and the media general. The latest one asks Kiwis why they’ve lost trust and what might get it back.7:29 RNZ’s Tim Watkin on his new book ‘How to Rebuild Trust in Journalism.’ He sees the relationship like a marriage on the rocks - and the media are the cheating partner that needs come to terms with the fact the public just aren’t that into them any more.30:29 Melanie Bunce - the Kiwi director of the new Centre for Media and Democracy in London - says our high levels of news readership moderate the effect here, but warns that political actors are exploiting and amplifying distrust.36:52 Unexpected local angle on downfall of the ‘Duke of YuckLearn more: Saving the marriage of journalism and the people | RNZ NewsGuests: Tim Watkin, Melanie BunceFollow 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
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Nov 5, 2025 • 22min

Midweek - Police v Stuff, Dame Noeline's media blitz, NBR bails up its own customers

Police back away from taking Stuff to court - but issue a warning. Also: Dame Noeline Taurua blows the Silver Ferns saga open again with a media blitz on Monday, and NBR goes legal on its own subscribers.Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details
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Nov 1, 2025 • 38min

OTT on CGT, punching below our weight on media freedom, big rejig in Māori news

Labour bit the bullet on capital gains tax this week, but the political point-scoring was a zero-sum game. Also: a big rejig of Māori news & current affairs funding - and while our leaders have been on the world stage, we’ve been accused of punching below our weight on global media freedom. Read more about this episode of Mediawatch on the RNZ websiteIn this episode:00:45 The media have been telling us for years any political party offering a CGT is DOA at the polls. How did they react this week to Labour saying they’ll do that next year?8:00: New Zealand’s leaders have been talking up our country in Asia and in northern Europe this week, but this week we were cellar dwellers in a new ranking of develeped nations supporting media freedom around the world. New Zealander Melanie Bunce, director of the Centre for Journalism and Democracy in London, explains why.21:03 A big rejig of funding for Māori news and current affairs means less spent on the established TV news programmes and more on news from the regions and digital-first content, available via a new national news hub. Te Māngai Pāho’s The long-serving kaihautu Larry Parr explains the plan.Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details
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Oct 29, 2025 • 21min

Midweek - severe storms test media, netball keeps media at bay, AI gives voice to the dead

Severe storms bring the best out of media - but climate change mentions raise hackles. Also: netball's top-brass keep exasperated media out of their internal business - while the Silver Ferns do the business on the court, and RNZ's new podcast 'Nark' uses AI to give voice to the dead. Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details
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Oct 25, 2025 • 39min

Hearts and minds battle on ‘mega-strike,’ Talley's v TVNZ in court

Lawyers went toe-to-toe in court for weeks over a series of TVNZ news scoops about health and safety - and the broadcaster’s own newsgathering. What can we learn from this high-stakes defamation case? Also - the government fired up a confrontational PR campaign to tell the public this week’s ‘mega-strike’ was about politics, not pay. Did the media get the memo? Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details
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Oct 22, 2025 • 19min

Midweek - loud calls to call off the broadcasting watchdog, sorry - but not sorry

One complaint to the BSA has the PM claiming 'overreach' and his minister pledging reform - while politicians and lobby groups call for the watchdog to be put down. Paula Penfold ponders personal impact of reputation-ruining scoops.Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details
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Oct 18, 2025 • 42min

Pāti-political rift plays out in media, what counts as broadcasting and who decides?

The broadcasting watchdog has told alternative online outlet The Platform it can consider complaints about it - just like TV and radio. Part of the problem is out-of-date media laws. Mediawatch asks the media minister and his opposition counterpart: what counts as broadcasting these days? And how should it be accountable? Also: how Te Pāti Māori’s tensions played out very differently in different media. Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details
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Oct 15, 2025 • 21min

Midweek - Gaza ceasefire, Platform v watchdog, Metro moves, self-selected polls

Media coverage of the Gaza ceasefire, Platform's Plunket pushes back on broadcast watchdog, Metro magazine 'restructures' its full-time staff - and should self-selected polls be allowed in news? Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

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