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Mediawatch

RNZ
New Zealand
RNZ
TVNZ
NZME
Wellington
Donald Trump
Broadcasting Standards Authority
Stuff
Auckland
Artificial Intelligence
RNZ National
Tom Phillips
Gaza
Media Ethics
Australia
Media
New Zealand Economy
Social Media
Local Journalism
Christopher Luxon

There's never a shortage of opinions on the media but Mediawatch looks at it all in detail for those keen to know more about the news - as well as those who work in media.

PublishesTwice weeklyEpisodes1017Founded20 years ago
Number of ListenersCategory
News

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Artwork for Mediawatch

Latest Episodes

The big debates are done, but the election onslaught rolls on - even on YouTube in the sauna. Also: Stuff urged to scrap regional news cuts, TVNZ staff walk out - and sentimental soundtracks in the news.

Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more det... more

Law and order was under the radar this election, until candidates campaigning at gang events hit the headlines. Also: both big parties want to ban social media for U-16s. A tech expert in the ‘NZ of the North’ says he has a better way.

Go to this e... more

YouTube

Almost all-election almost all-the-time as voting nears. Also, the gang visit scandal, Parents Alliance examined - and more journalists' jobs on the line.

Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

YouTube

Education became a hot topic as political parties pitched their election pledges at parents this week - and a new advocacy group pushed the issue in the media. Also: Australia pushes social media jeopardy back onto platforms & a sheep mascot scandal ... more

YouTube

Key Facts

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Recent Guests

Ole Vedder Hestas
Director of Rocket Brands and creator of the Spotlight social networking app
Rocket Brands
Episode: Gang angst and law & order red meat, ban social media or fix it?
Hayden Donnell
Journalist and former Mediawatch producer
The Spinoff
Episode: Pitching for parents, education in the election, mascot mess
Dylan Reeve
Writer, documentary maker, film editor and reality television producer.
Episode: Who wants to be a billionaire, reality TV check, award-wining oil scoop
Lucy Kramer
Reuters New Zealand correspondent and former journalist at Stuff and The Wall Street Journal.
Reuters
Episode: Who wants to be a billionaire, reality TV check, award-wining oil scoop
Phil Vine
RNZ producer and co-creator of The Reality Machine.
RNZ
Episode: Who wants to be a billionaire, reality TV check, award-wining oil scoop
Chloe Swarbrick
Politician observed in media coverage of protests and campaigns
Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand
Episode: Midweek - the campaign content pile-up picks up pace
Brent Impey
Chair of RNZ's board
RNZ
Episode: Overhangs hang over election, RNZ’s next chief, Phil Gifford
Nicky Hager
Author of Dirty Work, investigative writer
Independent author
Episode: Hager headlines, putting down the watchdog, regional news cuts, propaganda & pie prices
Jordan Williams
Executive Director, NZ Taxpayers Union
NZ Taxpayers Union
Episode: Hager headlines, putting down the watchdog, regional news cuts, propaganda & pie prices

Hosts

Colin Peacock
Host of Mediawatch with a long-standing role analyzing NZ media, often contributing investigative and editorial perspectives.
Susanna
Co-host specializing in media critique and editorial analysis, frequently contributing to coverage of NZ media dynamics.

Reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars from 350 ratings
  • Vital

    Shovelling against the tide ain’t easy, but Colin P does it well. If ever a show deserved funding to expand…

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    festooned13
    New Zealand2 months ago
  • Great podcast

    Love this podcast

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    Jason the Evangelist
    Australia5 months ago
  • Mediawatch is my sanity check

    The composure of the hosts, in these trying media times, is praiseworthy.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Elby One
    New Zealanda year ago
  • My favourite RNZ show.

    Podcast Addict
    5
    Scotty
    2 years ago
  • Regional news

    The programme today on news outlets in Whanganui was outstanding and so important. I’m a Wellingtonian looking forward to future programmes on more regional news outlets.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Mediawatch fan
    New Zealand3 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Listeners praise the show for its calm, rigorous analysis and open-minded critique of media systems.
Audiences value the practical, insider perspectives on newsroom dynamics and governance.
Fans appreciate the show as a reliable, sharp beacon for NZ media and global comparisons.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#222
New Zealand/Top Podcasts
Apple Podcasts
#49
New Zealand/News

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Gang angst and law & order red meat, ban social media or fix it?
Q: Would you say we should pursue that ban just to try and steer younger people away from those hyper-algorithmic environments where we know that things can get bad for them?
Hestas says he would keep the ban while major platforms remain unchanged, but adds that age limits alone are easy to circumvent. He presents Spotlight as a possible complementary approach.
Gang angst and law & order red meat, ban social media or fix it?
Q: Is the Australian plan, they've called it My Feed My Way, this concept of allowing users to opt out of the algorithm. Is that the key thing?
Hestas says platforms such as Meta are built around advertising and algorithms, making it difficult for young users to switch. He says age limits are hard to enforce and proposes Spotlight as an alternative with proactive moderation and no algorithms.
Who wants to be a billionaire, reality TV check, award-wining oil scoop
Q: What other things has this investigation uncovered and changed as a result of being exposed?
Kramer says the UK and Canada sanctioned Maritime Mutual, while a New Zealand investigation was ongoing at the time she last checked.
Who wants to be a billionaire, reality TV check, award-wining oil scoop
Q: Dylan, how do you define reality TV?
Reeve says the industry more often calls it unscripted television, while viewers apply the term reality. Many programmes are reality-adjacent, combining constructed situations with real people and events.
Pitching for parents, education in the election, mascot mess
Q: Do you have any sympathy for them? Because they've created a kind of New Zealand character, and you wouldn't, if you'd invested time, effort, money, and creative sweat in doing that, be all that happy with just people on the internet kind of being a bit obscene about it, and kind of wrecking your brand image?
Donnell says people can understand Kiwibank wanting to protect its copyright, but argues the bank took a broad approach that removed jokes as well as explicit material. He says the bank did not specify what harm the content caused.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About Mediawatch

What is Mediawatch about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A thoughtful, media-focused program that analyzes how news and current events are reported, framed, and consumed. Across recent episodes, the show maps the intersection of journalism, politics, technology, and policy, often spotlighting governance, trust in media, and the economics of publishing. Notable for its international and domestic comparisons, it frequently features industry experts, editors, and researchers to provide contextual insights on media integrity, platform dynamics, and the business side of journalism. The format tends to balance rigorous analysis with accessible storytelling, making it useful for listeners who want a clear sense of how media shapes public discourse and policy. A standout strength is its ability to connec... more

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Which podcasts are similar to Mediawatch?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Mediawatch:

1. Gone By Lunchtime
2. The Detail
3. At Large with Toby Manhire
4. Cross Party Lines
5. Saturday Morning

How many episodes of Mediawatch are there?

Mediawatch launched 20 years ago and published 1017 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact Mediawatch?

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What guests have appeared on Mediawatch?

Recent guests on Mediawatch include:

1. Ole Vedder Hestas
2. Hayden Donnell
3. Dylan Reeve
4. Lucy Kramer
5. Phil Vine
6. Chloe Swarbrick
7. Brent Impey
8. Nicky Hager

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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