One woman became the unwilling face of a political cause she strongly opposed because her image was for sale online - and one outlet faked photos of a whanau to 'protect its mana.' What are the ethics of stock images? Also - 'gentle whispers' of political succession, and can the media claw back cash from AI crawling their content online?

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In this episode:

00:15 ‘Gentle whispers’ heard - and a tangerine suit seen - half a world away sparked speculation in the media this week about a spill for the PM and a succession for his finance minister.

06:22 Image problems - and the ethics of stock photography: one woman became the face of a political campaign she strongly opposed because her photo was for sale in a stock library - and a media outlet used AI to create a fake whanau for a piece about poverty.

23:05 Will a new bid to charge AI for crawling the web for content mean the media might be able - at last - to claw back cash from those harvest their stuff online? If so - how can it be done? Turns out it’s complicated . . .

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Guests: Corey Fuimaono, Tanmay Desai

If you have any thoughts for us - or ideas for us to follow up - get in touch. E-mail [email protected]. You’ll also find us @MediawatchNZ on X.

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RNZ's strategy to stop the loss of radio listeners sparks a strong reaction from pundits - and the listeners. Also - a political party proves a point using the official complaints process- and irritating ads for insurance.

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How the media handled controversy over recognising Palestine - two political opinion polls in a day. Also: RNZ prepping out a plan to stop the loss of listeners as a former news chief tells the top brass to make big changes and - do Kiwis believe the media deliver what they promise?

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In this episode:

1:16 The intense debate in the media this week over Palestinian statehood, sidetracked by party political rows about our government going slow on it - and a chorus of claims in the media that was just a gesture anyway.

16:18 How the media handled two political opinion polls in one day ‘predicting’ the next election outcome.

21:52 RNZ’s prepping a plan to try and claw back listeners lost by RNZ National - and a blunt review from its former news boss urges the top brass to make big changes.

27:13 Do New Zealanders think our media deliver what they promise? We ask the brains behind some new data on that - Storm Day from Accenture Song - and if it can help the media get the audience onside.

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Guests: Storm Day

If you have any thoughts for us - or ideas for us to follow up - get in touch. E-mail [email protected]. You’ll also find us @MediawatchNZ on X.

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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A crew of Al Jazeera journalists are assassinated in Gaza, two political polls in a day fire up the media, and an ad from Hobson's Pledge prompts a backlash - and a debate about ethical use of photos.

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The media graded NCEA as ‘not achieved’ after the government proposed dumping it this week. Headlines here called Trump’s 15 per cent tariff on our exports ‘a surprise.’ But was it? Also - the prospects for some of our most popular and enduring magazines, which are up for sale across the Tasman again.

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Public purse picking up part of the bill for local reality TV, RNZ tweaks Morning Report, Hayden Donnell goneburger from Mediawatch, Colin taught a French lesson.

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The headline-making secret visit of the FBI's top guy, the politics of paywave, and starvation in Gaza hitting home for news outlets. Also: the Marlborough Express folded this week after 160 years in print. What is lost when local news goes online-only? And is it a sign of things to come for others?

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Pressure goes on The Platform over a tweet from its founder, the government gets the media to cover an announcement of an announcement, and a polling company chief puts out a question on a whim - with interesting results.

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The bitter battle over butter prices topped the news agenda this week, prompting a ‘please explain’ from the finance minister to Fonterra. Are media are missing the main point? Also: pundits say Sky buying Three for $1 strengthens its on-screen sport play - but the cash Saudi Arabia’s suddenly splashing could change the big picture.

Read more about this episode of Mediawatch on the RNZ website

In this episode:

01:00 The price has been rising for months, but all of a sudden the bitter political battle over butter became bulletin-leading stuff this week. Did the media miss the point by zeroing in on this - and the political posturing?

17:25 Pundits reckon Sky buying Three strengthens Sky’s stranglehold on the top sport it sells to subscribers. But this week The Herald reported TVNZ bidding for next year’s FIFA World Cup and the upcoming Olympics as well. But globally, Saudi Arabia’s sticking stacks of cash into sport and broadcasting right now. A journalist who’s just seen that play out in the US says that could change the picture worldwide - and here:

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Guests: Liam Dann, Adam Leventhal

If you have any thoughts for us - or ideas for us to follow up - get in touch. E-mail [email protected]. You’ll also find us @MediawatchNZ on X.

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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Sky buys Three for $1. Also - a shake-up sport on screen, some commentary classics, the Frenchification of Emile Donovan - and was Wrexham FC in Welly the real thing?

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