How did the media break last Sunday’s sudden news of a change to Covid-19 alert levels? And how did they cover the response, the science behind it and the decision to shift back down again - just as the arrival of the first vaccine doses fired up sceptics and social media - and kicked off a public campaign to get the facts out.

Taking it up a level - and down again; Facebook backs away from news across the Tasman; private correspondence vs public interest.

Taking it up a level - and down again; Facebook backs away from news across the Tasman; private correspondence vs public interest.

The New York Times revealed texts telling the truth about Ted Cruz’s trip to Mexico this week to widespread acclaim. But Meghan Markle had a big win in court against a paper that published one of her letters unlawfully. Critics claim  that case "puts manacles on the media" - and it could crop up in privacy cases here.

The New York Times revealed texts telling the truth about Ted Cruz’s trip to Mexico this week to widespread acclaim. But Meghan Markle had a big win in court against a paper that published one of her letters unlawfully. Critics claim  that case "puts manacles on the media" - and it could crop up in privacy cases here.

News editors in Australia woke up to shock news that Facebook is effectively cutting itself off as an avenue for sharing their stories - after years of building a pre-eminent position as a digital distributor. It's the tech giant's unilateral response to a government-backed move to prompt digital platforms to pay the makers of news they share among Australians - and it could have a huge impact around the world, as well as here.

News editors in Australia woke up to shock news that Facebook is effectively cutting itself off as an avenue for sharing their stories - after years of building a pre-eminent position as a digital distributor. It's the tech giant's unilateral response to a government-backed move to prompt digital platforms to pay the makers of news they share among Australians - and it could have a huge impact around the world, as well as here.

Mediawatch's weekly catch-up with Lately. This week Hayden Donnell talks to Karyn Hay about Google cutting deals with Australian news media which will mean millions more dollars for journalism, more Magic Talk fallout - and an eye-opening documentary about Britney Spears and the role the media played as she lost control of her own life.

Mediawatch's weekly catch-up with Lately. This week Hayden Donnell talks to Karyn Hay about Google cutting deals with Australian news media which will mean millions more dollars for journalism, more Magic Talk fallout - and an eye-opening documentary about Britney Spears and the role the media played as she lost control of her own life.

Vodafone was quick to pull advertising from Magic Talk after a recent racist outburst sparked outrage. Now it’s gone further, launching an Ethical Advertising Policy, described by one media outlet as as a “blacklist of hateful media”. How will it work? And is it a contradiction for a company supposedly all about connectivity?