Stories by Hayden Donnell

In this week's Midweek Mediawatch, Hayden Donnell talks to Susana Lei'ataua about some skids and u-turns in transport reporting, a growing glut of daily news podcasts - and a new online outlet for…

In this week's edition of Midweek Mediawatch, Hayden Donnell talks to Susana Lei'ataua about the media covering claims of a post-Gabrielle crime spike that was questioned by Police; the fiery exit of…

National MP Maureen Pugh was censured by her bosses and made to walk back her words after calling man-made climate change into question earlier this week. But similar sentiments still find a platform…

Cyclone Gabrielle buried homes and took lives, including those of rescuers, this week. But as it bore down on the country, front-rank hosts at Newstalk ZB played down the danger it posed…

Midweek Mediawatch - Mediawatch's weekly catch-up with Nights. Hayden Donnell talks to Susana Lei'ataua about some good journalism - and some ill-advised commentary - on Cyclone Gabrielle. And in…

Recent media reports have blamed rising grocery prices on supermarket suppliers and even shoplifters. One business journalist is calling on the media to focus on the market power of our supermarket…

In this week's rebranded Midweek Drongowatch, Hayden Donnell talks to Karyn Hay about a flood of criticism for Auckland mayor Wayne Brown, a pair of polls that perked up the political press pack  -…

In this week's edition of Midweek Mediawatch, Hayden Donnell recaps the big stories of 2022 and the questions they raise for 2023, and delivers his own personal worst of and best of list for the year…

For years, Silicon Valley's stars have been able to drum up positive media headlines with their visions of a future tech utopia. In 2022, several of them ran into the hard wall of reality.

In this week's edition of Midweek Mediawatch, Hayden Donnell talks to Karyn Hay about a media tussle with Pharmac, a so-called 'trainweck' interview by the broadcasting minister and two interesting…

One press conference question at a Prime Ministerial summit kicked off a wave of social media scorn this week - and even criticism and international headlines about sexism. But media made a better…

In this week's edition of Midweek Mediawatch, Hayden Donnell talks to Karyn Hay about a blizzard of commentary about Christopher Luxon's performance, Chinese state-sponsored propaganda in the Herald…

Amid a barrage of criticism from across the political spectrum, Elon Musk reached for a defence beloved by editors and journalists. 

Midweek Mediawatch - Hayden Donnell talks to Charlotte Ryan about how the media handle politicians' photo opportunities  - and one politician keeping the media at arm's length. Also - unprecedented…

A recent revival of local prime-time TV documentaries has highlighted some thorny social issues and raised awkward questions about justice and equality. Among them was a revealing investigation this…

In this week's edition of Midweek Mediawatch, Hayden Donnell talks to Karyn Hay about a misleading and sometimes fact-free media uproar over a small arts grant, new developments in the Kamahl…

Stuff is planning a restructure in its local and regional newspapers which could see job cuts in five newsrooms - and a new unit covering regional breaking news.

Once again the local elections were plagued by low voter turnout and a lack of engagement. Is the media coverage, or lack thereof, contributing to the problem - and what can it do to help? 

In this week's edition of Midweek Mediawatch, Hayden Donnell talks to Karyn Hay about journalists coming under fire from the subjects of their stories and an unsurprising scandal over a TVNZ reality…

Two new pieces of reporting have added context and depth to the headlines blaring about a youth crime wave.

Journalists are shining a light on our legal system, revealing some important cases and systemic problems. They're doing so in the face of impediments inside the courts and uncertainty about where the…

In this week's edition of Midweek Mediawatch, Hayden Donnell talks to Karyn Hay about the deluge of coverage of the death of Queen Elizabeth  - and the not exactly full and frank release of an…

While many big businesses are still posting big profits, workers and consumers are being squeezed by the economic downturn - and industrial unrest is on the rise. One business journalist tells…

In this week's edition of Midweek Mediawatch, Hayden Donnell talks to Karyn Hay about wild weather reporting, and a political conclusion of sorts to what media called the 'Sharma drama' - which also…

This week, a documentary from Stuff Circuit delved into the country's growing extreme far-right and anti-vax movement. Why did the makers of Fire & Fury decide to platform a group of conspiracy-minded…