Education became a hot topic as political parties pitched their election pledges at parents this week - and a new advocacy group pushed the issue in the media. Also: Australia pushes social media jeopardy back onto platforms & a sheep mascot scandal goes global.

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Election debates keep on coming, platforming the 'major' and 'minor' leaders. Could a costings unit cut back the scraps? Also: did Nights and Hayden Donnell's Kiwibank scoop give Jon Oliver the wrong idea about NZ radio? Do our culture wars rate, and is BS OK on air?

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A random election debate question about extreme wealth struck a chord this week. Also: a local reporter’s role in an award-winning Reuters investigation of illicit oil shipping, and a new RNZ series runs the rule over reality TV.

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The debates, the political panels, the interviews and ads and interactive innovations are all cranking up in intensity as general election voting looms.

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As the election campaign got underway officially, media seized on arguments about overhangs and vote-splitting dividing both sides. Also: RNZ’s next boss unveiled, and the light touch and depth of the late Phil Gifford.

In this episode:

1:06 Election campaigns kick off with a storm of slogans, swearing, disputed tax attacks & a TV poll complicating the picture.

10:12 Debates on left and right about engineering an overhang.

14:36 Who is the next boss at RNZ, Jason Winstanley?

19:50 RNZ board chair Brent Impey on the announcement - and his track record at top-rating Newstalk ZB.

32:02 Remembering Phil Gifford - and the ‘Loosehead Len’ legacy

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RNZ's named its next CEO as Jason Winstanley, a current Newstalk ZB stalwart. If you can't beat them, hire them? Also: official election launch parties kickstart a campaign already well under way - and Colin can't sew.

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Critics complained there was no smoking gun. Supporters said it shone a light on a sinister spiderweb. How did the media handle Dirty Work? Also: journalism jobs at risk in the regions, the plan to scrap the broadcasting watchdog, propaganda & pie prices

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What mark has Nicky Hager's 'Dirty Work' made 24 hours after a rock gig-like launch? Also - TVNZ doco spotlights Kiwi preppers, & Deputy PM buries his boycott of Morning Report

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The fugitive Tom Phillips was huge news when the hunt for him ended tragically a year ago - and again with this week’s official report. But can our media tell the full story even now? Also: a new media lab with a journalist-in-residence - and retail politics colliding with the politics of retail.

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The Phillips report the media have been waiting for. Also: CRL is go, media mascot v mascot, live election event tension & the hyrox horror

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The media seized on the politics of food this week, when the Greens floated state-owned supermarkets and 1News lifted the lid on emergency food grant refusals. Also: who pays when journalism dies? And does it really matter if it does?

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