Most of us waited out this week's winter storm indoors, with heaters set to high. Not so the nation's journalists, who instead sought out the most miserable places in the country, and stood in the middle of them.

Media turn up heat on hate speech; victim-cantered reporting; reporters weathering the storm.

Media turn up heat on hate speech; victim-cantered reporting; reporters weathering the storm.

Mediawatch’s weekly catch-up with Lately. Colin Peacock talks to Karyn Hay about new data on the media and misinformation in New Zealand - and a new podcast airing anxiety about China’s influence here. Also: a southern stalwart honoured by the ODT and a new talkback takedown on TV.

Mediawatch’s weekly catch-up with Lately. Colin Peacock talks to Karyn Hay about new data on the media and misinformation in New Zealand - and a new podcast airing anxiety about China’s influence here. Also: a southern stalwart honoured by the ODT and a new talkback takedown on TV.

How did our media react when a Covid case imported via the trans-Tasman travel bubble compromised this country’s long run without cases in the community?

How did our media react when a Covid case imported via the trans-Tasman travel bubble compromised this country’s long run without cases in the community?

The clock is ticking for the government’s proposed new public media entity. The next step is a business case and a new charter being drafted behind closed doors. But RNZ already has a charter that’s now under review  - and could mean more scrutiny of government's plan.

The clock is ticking for the government’s proposed new public media entity. The next step is a business case and a new charter being drafted behind closed doors. But RNZ already has a charter that’s now under review  - and could mean more scrutiny of government's plan.

The shock - horror response sparked by news of a publicly-funded ‘sex scandal’ TV drama was almost as stale as the decade-old affair it was based on.