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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TVNZ takes Stuff exec for next news chief - next year, the legacy of a long-serving cartoonist, mascots make a marketing comeback, Sky TV offside again with fans again for live foul-up

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Odds from Polymarket are popping up in our news, even though it's illegal here. But are prediction markets a legit source of news anyway? Also: head-to-head clashes between politicians, and with presenters, are heating up, but not always generating light.

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In this episode:

1:10 Media picking apart political bickering over delayed fuel tax.

5:50 Greens double down on misleading claims about MPs houses.

8:02 Act pushed back on media criticism of policy to put ‘reside’ back in ‘residency’ rules.

11:35 ZB host takes on Wellington mayor on Tiaki Wai rollout.

17:05 Polymarket predictions popping up in our news, six months after it became illegal for NZers to use.

23:11 Newsroom.co..nz senior business reporter Andrew Bevin on how prediction markets work and whether their odds are legit news or not.

Follow 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/podcasts

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Was the Capetown flyover a PR masterstroke or disaster? Also - netball's bounceback, animal ads & monkey media mascots and an election debate update.

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The two big political parties want to pull the plug on social media for teens. But will ‘fast-following’ Australia work? Also: TV broadcasters cite soccer in boosted financials - and Dolly’s death triggers sadness.

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Media amp up the 'Great Rugby Rivalry'. Also: RNZ ratings, NZME results, Whakaata Māori changes, Raw Politics returns.

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It’s a full time job these days working out who the audience is, what they want and if they might get it elsewhere. What does the the biggest survey yet of Kiwis' media habits tell them about us? Also: politicians twitch about media, big tech and tax.

Read more about this episode of Mediawatch on the RNZ website

In this episode:

Follow 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/podcasts

00:48 Politicians twitch over taxing big tech - and why media policy’s rarely a priority for political parties with an eye on elections.

10:02: The Empire Strikes Back? The latest WATA? survey shows ‘old’ local media more popular with more Kiwis, while previously fast-rising online offshore offerings are in retreat.

17:30 NZ on Air chief exec Cameron Harland says 2026 WATA? shows Kiwi media habits maturing into a balance of free vs paid, local vs global platforms. How does that influence where NZOA spends $100m a year of our money on content?

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