Stories by Colin Peacock
Audio and features
Advocacy angst as campaign begins - officially
The Herald copped criticism for publishing a front-page attack ad targeting the National Party leader this week - but it was far from the first time ads like it have appeared in print. Meanwhile… Audio
Midweek Mediawatch - Spain's football boss (& mum) v the world
Midweek Mediawatch - Colin Peacock talks to Mark Leishman about the strange saga sparked by the sexist behaviour of Spain’s football chief at the Women’s World Cup final. Also - broadcasters' election… Audio
Brought to you by . . . 'partners'
It’s meant to be clear what’s advertising and what isn't, but 'sponsored content' and 'native advertising' blurred that line a long time ago. Now some outlets form ‘partnerships’ with clients to get… Audio
Our World Cup runneth over - and out. What next?
The Women's World Cup 2023 attracted record crowds in the stands and on TV - both here and in Australia. It also delivered drama and off-pitch stories that livened up standard sports coverage. But… Video, Audio
Putting right what went wrong with RNZ's online news
A review of RNZ's online news has called for greater oversight and enforcement of standards after a crisis sparked by a single staffer making 'inappropriate' edits to international news online… Audio
Midweek Mediawatch - RNZ review, Cup crackers, Palmy peeved
In this week's Midweek Mediawatch, Colin Peacock talks to Mark Leishman about what a review of the ‘inappropriate editing’ of online news at RNZ has revealed. Also - the FIFA Women’s World Cup… Audio
Review of RNZ's ‘inappropriate editing’ calls for change
An independent review of editorial processes at RNZ has called for greater oversight and enforcement of standards after a single staffer made 'inappropriate' edits to international news stories…
Coming up
Allan’s resignation sparks another at RNZ
A board member at RNZ appointed less than a month ago quit this week after making public comments on Kiri Allan’s downfall and criticising media coverage of it. RNZ had asked Jason Ake to stop and the… Audio
Minister’s downfall triggers premature election speculation
The media could scarcely ignore the startling story of a minister of justice under arrest, but the circumstances of that and her sudden resignation raised many other issues. Many in the media seized… Audio
Political parties roll out crime control policy
After it emerged that Matu Reid was on home detention for family violence offences, the media rapidly raised questions about home detention, the discounting of prison sentences and gun control… Audio
A triumph - after a day of tragedy
On a day when Auckland was the focus of the biggest story in world sport and the Football Ferns ended up making history, deadly shootings a stone's throw from football teams' hotels and the fan zone… Audio
Midweek Mediawatch - too much information too soon?
Midweek Mediawatch - Colin Peacock talks to Mark Leishman about intense coverage of a mother accused of killing her children - and the media finally covering the crimes of Sir James Wallace… Audio
Mary Holm - 25 years with readers and writers
Mary Holm's been writing about personal finance weekly for the same paper for more than 25 years. But she tells Mediawatch it's really the readers who have kept it going. Audio
Midweek Mediawatch - tipsy Tory & allegedly angry Allan
Midweek Mediawatch - Colin Peacock talks to Mark Leishman about the reaction to two politicians who both filled the front page of The Post this past week: cabinet minister Kiri Allan and Wellington… Audio
The right to be wrong - even in a crisis
Dolphins mating in a prime-time TV documentary was deemed a breach of broadcasting standards this week by the broadcasting watchdog - but dismissing official information and experts on air during… Audio
Shock of the news - and the state of the arts
A new report says the arts and culture get just half of the space in our media that's devoted to sport. Mediawatch asks a leading local culture critic if the arts are just a 'nice to have' for our… Audio
Surgery scoop sparks rows over equality and equity
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… Video, Audio
More high-level editorial change at Stuff
The country’s biggest news publisher Stuff has proposed a further restructuring of editorial and managerial jobs at the company. Some senior editors will have to re-apply for new roles - including a…
Coming up
Mediawatch for 18 June 2023
Mediawatch looks at the response to the revelation of 'inappropriate editing' of online world news at RNZ - and asks two experts what may come out of the investigation into how it happened. Also… Audio
Further fallout as RNZ takes out the ‘garbage’
External experts are poring over the ‘inappropriate editing’ of international news published online by RNZ. It has already tightened editorial checks and stood down an online journalist. Will this… Audio
The long game of investigating Loafers Lodge disaster
Years before the Grenfell Tower fire killed 72 residents, it was foreshadowed by another fatal fire in London which wasn't adequately investigated. A journalist who has worked on that story for six… Audio
Politicians seeking platforms for political reveals
Brian Tamaki couldn't get on TV last weekend to announce the launch of a new umbrella movement to contest the next election. But other political leaders had better luck recently week getting a media… Audio
A little local political difficulty pulls national media focus
The nation’s news outlets aren’t usually interested in local government ructions in the south, but deep rifts in one dysfunctional council have made many headlines lately. When a ‘showdown’ meeting in… Video, Audio
Midweek Mediawatch - out with the old, in with the new
Midweek Mediawatch - Mediawatch's weekly catch-up with Nights. Colin Peacock talks to Mark Leishman about criticism of the Coronation coverage - and the PM grilled by the BBC on republicanism and… Audio
A constitutional conundrum - or simply a king-size spectacle?
The Coronation this weekend was an historic event that anointed a new head of state for us for the first time in 70 years - and also a made-for-media spectacle that captivated broadcasters. After the… Video, Audio