Stories by Hayden Donnell
Audio and features
Midweek Mediawatch - transport reporting skids and u-turns
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… Audio
Midweek Mediawatch - contested crime wave claims
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… Audio
Climate minimisation still has a foothold in media
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… Audio
Radio hosts fixate on schools closing as Gabrielle closes in
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… Audio
Midweek Mediawatch - Covering another catastrophe
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… Audio
Supermarkets shaping the food price story
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… Audio
Midweek Drongowatch: A woeful week in Wayne's world
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 -… Audio
Midweek Mediawatch: The year in review
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… Audio
Turning a more sceptical eye on the tech titans
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. Audio
Midweek Mediawatch: A good news story gone bad
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… Audio
Anti-vax parents create media conundrum
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… Audio
Midweek Mediawatch: Follow the leader
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… Audio
Annoying both sides doesn't equal getting it right
Amid a barrage of criticism from across the political spectrum, Elon Musk reached for a defence beloved by editors and journalists. Audio
Midweek Mediawatch - political photo ops & tech titans under pressure
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… Audio
A doco revival spotlights crime and injustice
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… Audio
Midweek Mediawatch: A media tempest over Shakespeare
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… Audio
Stuff proposes cutbacks in regional newsrooms
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.
The media and low local election turnout
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? Audio
Midweek Mediawatch: Journalists become the story
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… Audio
Hard stats and new voices enter the 'youth crime spike' coverage
Two new pieces of reporting have added context and depth to the headlines blaring about a youth crime wave. Audio
The push for open justice
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… Audio
Midweek Mediawatch: A right royal deluge of Queen coverage
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… Audio
Taking a more sceptical stance for business
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… Video, Audio
Midweek Mediawatch: Storms and Sharma
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… Audio
A conundrum over how to cover the conspiracists
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… Audio