A green light for a travel bubble with Australia was a good news story for people separated from loved ones - and businesses needing the cash of free-spending foreigners. But were the bubble-happy media too keen to accentuate the positive when the likely benefits are far from clear?

Cam Wallace has had a rocky start in charge at MediaWorks, the outfit that owns half the country's radio stations. Whistleblowers lifted the lid on a corrosive culture at the company that's now under investigation - and talk radio hosts went rogue on issues of race and Covid-19. That's put deep dents in its reputation as it faces the future as 'radio without pictures.'

Cam Wallace has had a rocky start in charge at MediaWorks, the outfit that owns half the country's radio stations. Whistleblowers lifted the lid on a corrosive culture at the company that's now under investigation - and talk radio hosts went rogue on issues of race and Covid-19. That's put deep dents in its reputation as it faces the future as 'radio without pictures.'

Timing of Duke's death trick for our media; Cam Wallace - new boss fights fires at MediaWorks; pent up demand travel demand bubbles up in media.

Timing of Duke's death trick for our media; Cam Wallace - new boss fights fires at MediaWorks; pent up demand travel demand bubbles up in media.

Mediawatch's weekly catch-up with Lately on RNZ National. Colin Peacock talks to Karyn Hay about claims a new train service is a "railway renaissance" or a slow train to nowhere. Also: Stuff beefs up its business news; a tramping mag makes a fool of DoC - and a month after Jacinda turned Mike down, he says he doesn't want her back. Confused? You will be after this episode of Midweek Mediawatch.

Mediawatch's weekly catch-up with Lately on RNZ National. Colin Peacock talks to Karyn Hay about claims a new train service is a "railway renaissance" or a slow train to nowhere. Also: Stuff beefs up its business news; a tramping mag makes a fool of DoC - and a month after Jacinda turned Mike down, he says he doesn't want her back. Confused? You will be after this episode of Midweek Mediawatch.

Long-serving reporter Simon Collins spoke to literally hundreds of people to cover major public issues. He also confronted his own bosses to defend journalism from cuts and compromises undermining the quality of journalism.  As 45 years on the job come to an end, many reporters reckon we’ll never see another journalist like him (though he's not one of them).

Long-serving reporter Simon Collins spoke to literally hundreds of people to cover major public issues. He also confronted his own bosses to defend journalism from cuts and compromises undermining the quality of journalism.  As 45 years on the job come to an end, many reporters reckon we’ll never see another journalist like him (though he's not one of them).

The government appointed eight people this week to oversee a business case which could be a blueprint for a new public media entity to replace TVNZ and RNZ - but the public won't see it before the government decides the issue later this year. Why are RNZ's top brass backing an idea about which so little is clear?