As politicians rush to provide help to TV, radio, and online news, magazine sector representatives say they're being left out of the discussion.

A confrontational radio interview about iwi-run roadside checkpoints this week prompted complaints of racism. Broadcaster Sean Plunket condemned one iwi’s actions as “separatism,” asked an iwi leader if he was would take similarly strong action over child abuse in the area - and later joked about the absence of Aboriginal Australians from Tasmania.  ​ ​

A confrontational radio interview about iwi-run roadside checkpoints this week prompted complaints of racism. Broadcaster Sean Plunket condemned one iwi’s actions as “separatism,” asked an iwi leader if he was would take similarly strong action over child abuse in the area - and later joked about the absence of Aboriginal Australians from Tasmania.  ​ ​

Health fears fuel media push for lockdown move; our last current affairs magazine left in print; radio 'roadblock' interview sparks complaints.

Health fears fuel media push for lockdown move; our last current affairs magazine left in print; radio 'roadblock' interview sparks complaints.

Struggling news media companies hope the funding agency New Zealand on Air will bankroll more of their journalism, in addition to the local dramas and documentaries for TV it has funded from the public purse for years. Mediawatch asks its new CEO Cameron Harland if it wants that job - and how it’s adapting to Covid chaos disrupting all the broadcasters it supports.

Struggling news media companies hope the funding agency New Zealand on Air will bankroll more of their journalism, in addition to the local dramas and documentaries for TV it has funded from the public purse for years. Mediawatch asks its new CEO Cameron Harland if it wants that job - and how it’s adapting to Covid chaos disrupting all the broadcasters it supports.

Some people couldn’t wait to get a fast-food feed ASAP after the level 3 switch - and the media copped criticism for wall-to-wall on-the-spot coverage of the frenzy. But reporters went beyond the pent-up demand of mobile fast-food fans, uncovering breaches of level 3 rules that could have serious consequences.​

Some people couldn’t wait to get a fast-food feed ASAP after the level 3 switch - and the media copped criticism for wall-to-wall on-the-spot coverage of the frenzy. But reporters went beyond the pent-up demand of mobile fast-food fans, uncovering breaches of level 3 rules that could have serious consequences.​

On Thursday media companies learned some will take away more than others from the government's first targeted Covid-19 crisis package. Meanwhile, the minister of broadcasting has signaled he'll follow Australia's moves to make online plaforms like Facebook pay for news content they carry.