Reserve Bank chair's after-hours exit fails to blunt media interest, harsh spotlight on new political candidate, the farmer who survived a bolt from the boot, political reporter returns - and the return of The Mish.

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The new plan to stop RNZ National losing listeners - and a harsh review of the network’s capability and culture. How’s RNZ’s boss handling this - and what listeners really want. Also - rude words that sparked complaints but didn't break the rules.

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TVNZ launches its first paid-for product, NZME announces a $400k loss and the composition of its new editorial board - and RNZ's listenership snakes upward for the first time since 2022.

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One woman became the unwilling face of a political cause she strongly opposed because her image was for sale online - and one outlet faked photos of a whanau to 'protect its mana.' What are the ethics of stock images? Also - 'gentle whispers' of political succession, and can the media claw back cash from AI crawling their content online?

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In this episode:

00:15 ‘Gentle whispers’ heard - and a tangerine suit seen - half a world away sparked speculation in the media this week about a spill for the PM and a succession for his finance minister.

06:22 Image problems - and the ethics of stock photography: one woman became the face of a political campaign she strongly opposed because her photo was for sale in a stock library - and a media outlet used AI to create a fake whanau for a piece about poverty.

23:05 Will a new bid to charge AI for crawling the web for content mean the media might be able - at last - to claw back cash from those harvest their stuff online? If so - how can it be done? Turns out it’s complicated . . .

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Guests: Corey Fuimaono, Tanmay Desai

If you have any thoughts for us - or ideas for us to follow up - get in touch. E-mail mediawatch@rnz.co.nz. You’ll also find us @MediawatchNZ on X.

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Find more RNZ Podcasts at the new section of the RNZ website at rnz.co.nz/podcasts

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RNZ's strategy to stop the loss of radio listeners sparks a strong reaction from pundits - and the listeners. Also - a political party proves a point using the official complaints process- and irritating ads for insurance.

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How the media handled controversy over recognising Palestine - two political opinion polls in a day. Also: RNZ prepping out a plan to stop the loss of listeners as a former news chief tells the top brass to make big changes and - do Kiwis believe the media deliver what they promise?

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In this episode:

1:16 The intense debate in the media this week over Palestinian statehood, sidetracked by party political rows about our government going slow on it - and a chorus of claims in the media that was just a gesture anyway.

16:18 How the media handled two political opinion polls in one day ‘predicting’ the next election outcome.

21:52 RNZ’s prepping a plan to try and claw back listeners lost by RNZ National - and a blunt review from its former news boss urges the top brass to make big changes.

27:13 Do New Zealanders think our media deliver what they promise? We ask the brains behind some new data on that - Storm Day from Accenture Song - and if it can help the media get the audience onside.

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Guests: Storm Day

If you have any thoughts for us - or ideas for us to follow up - get in touch. E-mail mediawatch@rnz.co.nz. You’ll also find us @MediawatchNZ on X.

Follow Mediawatch and listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or any podcast app to make sure you never miss an episode.

Find more RNZ Podcasts at the new section of the RNZ website at rnz.co.nz/podcasts

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A crew of Al Jazeera journalists are assassinated in Gaza, two political polls in a day fire up the media, and an ad from Hobson's Pledge prompts a backlash - and a debate about ethical use of photos.

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The media graded NCEA as ‘not achieved’ after the government proposed dumping it this week. Headlines here called Trump’s 15 per cent tariff on our exports ‘a surprise.’ But was it? Also - the prospects for some of our most popular and enduring magazines, which are up for sale across the Tasman again.

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