Mediawatch looks at how our media covered the struggle to contain the Delta variant -- and how media reports of Covid clusters in Auckland this week sparked racist responses and claims that the reporting itself made the problem worse.

Mediawatch's weekly catchup with Nights. This week Colin Peacock chats to Bryan Crump about the media in the middle as reports about Covid clusters spark racist reactions - and offshore opinions about our elimination strategy raise hackles here. Also: a big name in TV journalism signs of suddenly - and Facebook tries a little transparency for once.

Media react to level 4 lockdown and the dawn of Delta; the Taliban takeover in Afghanistan.

Mediawatch's weekly catch-up with Lately. Colin Peacock talks to Karyn Hay about the media back in Covid-emergency mode; a business editor slapping down Covid complainers - and a truly clueless TV game show.

The first comprehensive IPCC stocktake of the global climate trends for years was easy to read and its confronting conclusions were clear. But after hitting front pages and headlining bulletins the day it landed, it didn’t make much of an impression on our media - or prompt much political debate.

A proposed walk and cycle bridge over the Waitematā provoked a furious media backlash over the goverment's wasteful spending. Why don't roading projects get the same treatment?

Unknown cyber-criminals sent stolen information to the media to pile on pressure to pay a ransom. RNZ subsequently aired a scoop sourced from it before a court ordered all media to dump the dodgy data. The Privacy Commissioner tells Mediawatch RNZ was unethical and he wants action - but RNZ insists the public interest was well served.

Landmark climate report lands - but makes little mark on media; double standard in bike bridge backlash; RNZ challenged on turning stolen data into news.

Mediawatch’s weekly catch-up with Lately. Colin Peacock talks to Karyn Hay about what the media made of an Olympics that turned out better than many expected in Tokyo - or did it? National Party members overlooked in coverage of the conference; reports of an MP's social media slip-up that prompted criticism  - and a student lifts the lid on the far-right.

While Lisa Carrington struck gold and set records, Laurel Hubbard struck out in competition but still made history and headlines as our first ever transgender Olympian. She also won hearts and minds speaking sparingly, but with dignity to the media about the controversy surrounding her.