Mediawatch for 10 March 2024
TVNZ has proposed big cuts to news that could leave the country with only one daily TV news bulletin and almost no current affairs on TV within weeks.
Surgery scoop sparks rows over equality and equity
enJune 24, 2023
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About this Episode
A scoop revealing that ethnicity is factored into Auckland-region surgery waiting lists sparked strong reactions against ‘race-based healthcare’ and claims that Māori and Pacific patients were “getting to the front of the surgery queue.” But it turned out to be nothing new - and the formula might actually mean patients’ ethnic background has less impact on waitlist positioning.
Recent Episodes from Mediawatch
Midweek Mediawatch - it's the end of the news as we know it?
In this week's edition of Midweek Mediawatch, Hayden Donnell talks to Emile Donovan about job cuts looming at TVNZ as its crosstown rival Newshub faces a shut-down. Also: coverage of Chris Luxon's terrible, no-good week - and Heavy Metal Morning Report.
Mediawatch: Apocalypse now?
For years news media bosses warned the creaking business model backing journalism would fail at a major local outlet. It finally happened this week when Newshub’s owners proposed scrapping it. Then TVNZ posted losses prompting warnings of more cuts to come there. Can TV broadcasters pull a crowd without news? And what might the so-far ambivalent government do?
Three no longer a hub for news
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TVNZ's losses point to media-wide strife
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Mediawatch
enFebruary 29, 2024
Midweek Mediawatch - Newshub's brutal 'proposal'
Midweek Mediawatch - Mediawatch’s weekly catch-up with Nights. Colin Peacock talked to Emile Donovan about the sudden and startling news of Newshub’s impending demise in a ‘proposal’ from the global owner. Also: is it wrong for journalists to use ‘big tech’ tools to scrub the sound of real people from reports - or bum notes at the Superbowl?
Welfare and immigration set for a 'reset'
The PM’s State of the Nation speech got the media’s attention when he said welfare needs reform. He didn't mention record-level immigration but that’s also been deemed unsustainable and set for a reset too. What did the media tell about these problems - and what’s at stake?
A lifeboat to keep news afloat?
Last week the great and good of New Zealand’s news media urged MPs to back a law change to make Google and Facebook pay them for their news. They say the income could be critical to the survival of journalism here. But the lobby group campaigning for better public media says there’s a better way to ‘send a lifeboat’.
Milking Kiwi Swifties' FOMO
As the biggest pop star on the planet packed out huge Australian arenas this week, the media here milked Kiwi Swifties’ anger over missing out. It also aired confusing blame-game claims about why Swift gave New Zealand a swerve in the first place - and where the big gigs might be held in future.
Mediawatch for 25 February 2024
Government 'resets' immigration and welfare; another way to make Google and Facebook to pay for journalism; media milk Kiwi Swifties' stadium FOMO.