- 25 minutes 17 secondsMidweek - Stuff cuts, Nash exits & podcast profits, funflation & gigs gone to sh*t
What might new cuts at Stuff mean? Also - political candidates and a 'prominent sportsperson' suffer the spotlight, fun-flation & the unfortunate consequences at live gigs.
29 July 2026, 9:12 am - 39 minutes 3 secondsPolitical dignity deficits, Long Story Short & paying for podcasts
One sexist text to a podcasting politico had National gnashing their teeth, but it wasn’t the only political dignity deficit in the news this week. Also: are podcasts popular enough for people to pay enough for the makers to make a living here?
Read more about this episode of Mediawatch on the RNZ website
In this episode:
00:54 Coverage of Nash’s text going public - and other political dignity deficits
10:54 Midweek Mediawatch trail: golf vs football, sport obscures more war
13:30 Paul Henry quizzed on levelling up news media and big tech
16:49 Craig T Robertson on the global rise of podcasts - and start-ups upstaging big players.
22:45 Local podcaster Eugene Bingham on making a living from it and new service Long Story Short.
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
25 July 2026, 9:00 pm - 20 minutes 34 secondsMidweek - FIFA v golf, Argie aggro, more war, McGruers of Marton
World Cup v golf, Argentina v The World, US v Iran, Israel v Palestine- and a teary tribute to a Marton mainstay.
22 July 2026, 9:30 am - 39 minutes 59 secondsPaul Henry’s unveiling, Sam Neill stops the news, Stuff’s new local plan
ACT’s unveiling of Paul Henry triggered a media frenzy - and claims the shock jock might shirk the work it takes to make it in politics. Also: how Sam Neill’s shock death stopped the news & Stuff’s new digital bid to hook local news readers.
Read more about this episode of Mediawatch on the RNZ website
In this episode:
1:19 Sam Neill’s death shocked the media, but his depth and range were duly honoured.
13:46 The stage-managed Paul Henry announcement prompted a full-on media frenzy, followed by scepticism about his commitment.
25:48 Hosking misses the mark on political poll.
27:47 Stuff rejigs Neighbourly to push back at platforms.
30:00 Stuff’s masthead chief Joanna Norris on the NeighbourlyNews.co.nz plan
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
18 July 2026, 9:00 pm - 27 minutes 16 secondsMidweek - Sam Neill's depth & range, Henry & Binface capture media, podcasting the courts
Sam Neill's shock death jolted our media - but they admirably honoured his depth and range. Paul Henry and Count Binface candidacies captivates media, court news in podcast form.
15 July 2026, 9:21 am - 43 minutes 39 secondsPlatforms overtake news outlets, politics & media undermining trust
The biggest survey of news habits says more people now pick social media platforms than actual news media for news. And more of us are watching news on them rather than reading it. Also: claims that point-scoring, headline-hungry politicians undermine trust in news.
11 July 2026, 9:00 pm - 25 minutes 54 secondsMidweek - big defamation bill, NRL, FIFA, NPC & AI fake fans, Trump's red card reversal
Who pays the big bill for a 'wholly unsuccessful' defamation case? Also: Facebook whistleblower still gagged and NRL, NPC, FIFA on TV - but will Kiwis warm to AI rugby fans?
8 July 2026, 9:36 am - 36 minutes 7 secondsRNZ chair’s hot seat, Opportunity’s backlash, political tax tussles
The government wants more listeners, more efficiency and greater public trust from RNZ’s new chair and board. How will he respond, and what will change? Also: Opportunity’s backlash, and political tax tussles on social media.
5 July 2026, 7:56 am - 27 minutes 57 secondsMidweek - Gloriavale on screen again, editorials upgraded, World Cup pile-on, Mediawatch alarm update
Latest lid-lifting Gloriavale doco draws criticism - and viewers worldwide. Also: new Post leader upgrades its leaders, World Cup losers & winners, Mediawatch's alarming update.
1 July 2026, 9:15 am - 38 minutes 15 secondsOpportunity knocks, The Post’s Tracy Watkins
The media seized on the prospect of a new political party as ‘queenmaker’ - mostly off the back of one poll. Also: the outgoing editor of The Post Tracy Watkins on big changes under new leadership and in her 40+ years in journalism.
Read more about this episode of Mediawatch on the RNZ website
In this episode:
00:56 TV shows ‘big two’ support on the slide while minor parties prosper.
03:10 Media pump up Opportunity’s chances
13:30 The Post and Sunday Star-Times rings the changes under new leadership
17:48 Outgoing editor Tracy Watkins on her ‘pivot’ from The Post to PR, and 40 years in journalism.
21:30 How new editor Matthew Hooton and printing in Christchurch will change The Post
29:46 Criticising crisis-hit Wellington, and championing it
32:00: Tracey Watkins on minor parties on the up - and Opportunity overkill
36:00 Midweek - Scots score soccer soft power, sports chants good and bad, revamps and relaunches
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
28 June 2026, 1:48 am - 27 minutes 49 secondsMidweek - Sports songs & Scots' social media soft power, revamps & relaunches
A huge few days of sport preoccupied the media - including singing Scots' masterclass of social media soft power. Also, revamps and relaunches at RNZ, Herald and Stuff, a new news-ish podcast from The Spinoff - and an alarming moment on Mediawatch.
24 June 2026, 9:33 am - More Episodes? Get the App