Stories by Colin Peacock

Analysis - Mediawatch looks at the background to the state broadcaster reducing scope and scale and asks if the scrapped media merger was a missed opportunity.

Mediawatch - Local media helped drive the backlash to the u-turn on rebuilding Dunedin Hospital. But can they campaign on issues while also reporting them fairly?

Coverage of the trial blurred the lines on reporting suicide - and raised questions about how mental health can be aired in a healthy way.

Mediawatch looks at a string of bad news about bad vibes in our big cities - with one in particular being singled out.

As one Māori monarch was farewelled and a new one appointed this week, it was aired in perhaps the longest multimedia coverage of any event in this country's history. Video

Some media queried how the $33b national transport plan will be funded. Others highlighted aspects that barely dent the budget.

This week RNZ and TVNZ both put out statements about public trust, transparency and how they make their news. On Mediawatch we ask the top editor from each one if they are feeling the heat over the…

For years, the most comprehensive survey of Kiwis’ media habits has shown local media losing ground to offshore invaders. This year it says we’re ‘settling down’ and local media may be ‘stabilising’…

The New Zealand Herald copped criticism for using AI to create editorials recently, while the chair of the ABC in Australia has urged it to use AI for news more.

Mediawatch hears how AI has been…

The week began with a former PM warning we need to take the heat out of race relations in politics - but it ended with a lot more of that. The media were right in the middle of it - and Māori…

A New Zealand Herald editorial written with the help of artificial intelligence has raised questions about how our media should use the technology for journalism - and how much their consumers should…

Abuse and neglect that went on for decades under the radar was front-and-centre in the headlines this week after the royal commission's report on abuse in state care came out. Mediawatch asks one…

Midweek Mediawatch - Mediawatch’s weekly catch-up with Nights. Colin Peacock talked to Emile Donovan about how the media handled the news that Joe Biden had thrown in the towel - and the final report…

Mediawatch looks at how our media reacted to the shocking news of the attempt on Donald Trump's life in Pennsylvania. And shortly before that news broke, Colin Peacock a look at the week's news and…

Midweek Mediawatch - Colin Peacock talked to Emile Donovan Stuff making a solid start with ThreeNews on TV; the British media making a meal of their landslide election and local democracy reporting's…

Ever since TV3 launched back in 1989, the channel’s staff have brought viewers a 6pm bulletin every single day - up until today. Did Newshub at 6 go out with a bang - or a whimper? Was there…

Analysis - 'No-one watches the 6pm news anymore,' many claim, but plenty have read lots about the end of Newshub.

The government has confirmed it will back legislation it had opposed in opposition which will compel tech giants to pay for local news content on their platforms. There will be amendments to the Bill…

Pundits have predicted the death of old-fashioned newspapers for years - but they’re still here. This week Mediawatch looks at a new history of New Zealand newspapers from one hundred years ago up…

Everyone seemed to agree the allegations of census information misused for political purposes were serious - serious enough for the PM to launch an independent inquiry on top of official…

Midweek Mediawatch - Mediawatch’s weekly catch-up with Nights. Colin Peacock talks to Emile Donovan about more moves between broadcasters, more new podcasts - but fewer Prime Ministerial press…

North Island daily and community papers are set to lose some reporters and news editors - including Hawkes Bay Today, just crowned ‘Newspaper of the Year’ for its vital emergency reporting of Cyclone…

Recent surveys have said our trust in media’s falling fast, and made plenty of headlines. But lately new surveys say our trust in the media isn’t plummeting. The latest one is part of a pitch to…

The media minister says a proposed law to get Google and Facebook pay for local news is not dead, but this week a Parliamentary committee and its government MPs did not support it. The government’s…

These are tough times for media - even those dedicated to covering big businesses and industries. After more than 20 years publishing health news and employing expert journalists, Barbara Fountain has…