Politics is a contest of ideas, but these days also a personality contest between leaders. Which came out on top in the political coverage during a week when the families of rival politicians were centre stage - as well as policies?

In a landmark decision this week The Court of Appeal created a new public interest defence in defamation cases. Mediawatch takes a look at what it means for the media.

It’s a common complaint that too much of the news is too grim and some people are - quite literally - turning off. Is there a better way to report news we can use? Stuff reporter Nicola Brennan-Tupara’s been to Europe to find out if CoJo could be the answer.

Contest of ideas - or personality?; media get more freedom from fear of defamation; Cojo: publishing the positives.

Big personalities clashed over a proposed charity concert in Auckland and both claimed other agendas were in play. The media reported the row with relish and some took sides. But there were bigger issues in the background.

Takeover terminates trans-Tasman media titan; stadium stoush grandstanding.

New Zealand's biggest news publisher Stuff will soon have a new owner. After more than 150 years in publishing, its Australian parent Fairfax Media will cease to exist after a mega-merger with entertainment company Nine. Mediawatch asks what might change under new management.

The world's biggest social media network has always insisted it's only a platform for news you can use and not a publisher. But under pressure over fake news, it's now hooking up with news media in new ways.

Two online provocateurs from Canada sparked debate about free speech and hate speech here without ever setting foot in the country or saying anything meaningful about New Zealand.

Social media can give the news media an almost unlimited number of eyeballs for stories. But they can also be used to target the media and put pressure on journalists. Mediawatch meets an award-winning editor fighting back against fake news and online attacks in the Philippines.