A staff-elected board member at the ABC was credited by some with providing a steadying hand during last year's political interference scandal that saw the sacking of the Australian public broadcaster's chief executive and the resignation of its board chair. So, would New Zealand's publicly-owned media companies benefit from having a staff member at the top table?

Tip Top was scooped up by a global behemoth this week, sparking a mini-meltdown over a quintessential Kiwi company slipping offshore. But others insisted the media got the wrong end of the stick on that and rewrote ice cream history.

Tip Top was scooped up by a global behemoth this week, sparking a mini-meltdown over a quintessential Kiwi company slipping offshore. But others insisted the media got the wrong end of the stick on that and rewrote ice cream history.

The Christchurch Call and response; media staff at their companies' top table; flipping Tip Top gives media an ice cream headache.

The Christchurch Call and response; media staff at their companies' top table; flipping Tip Top gives media an ice cream headache.

This week on Mediawatch Midweek Jeremy Rose talks to Emile Donovan about the unmasking of an anonymous Russian social media commentator - who's been called the most important journalist in the country; the power of a signature - Milo vs Mirena; and media clashes with the alt-right.

This week on Mediawatch Midweek Jeremy Rose talks to Emile Donovan about the unmasking of an anonymous Russian social media commentator - who's been called the most important journalist in the country; the power of a signature - Milo vs Mirena; and media clashes with the alt-right.

“Let’s do this” was Labour’s slogan before the last election. Now some pundits reckon timidity could cost the party at the next one - and a lot could hang on when the PM says: "I do.”

“Let’s do this” was Labour’s slogan before the last election. Now some pundits reckon timidity could cost the party at the next one - and a lot could hang on when the PM says: "I do.”

In the middle of an intense election campaign, Australia’s public broadcaster has been looking for new leaders itself after a scandal that saw off its top executives last year. A veteran media watcher tells Mediawatch there’s lots to learn from the mess at the ABC and its efforts to address the "death of broadcasting".