Tova O'brien
Horse race journalism as National takes aim at squeezed middle
As National announced its long-awaited tax plan, some journalists took a hard look at its numbers, while others focused more on political strategy and impact. Audio
The Week in Detail: Floods, eggs, and Carmel Sepuloni
The Detail podcast brings you the issues behind the news every weekday. Here's what we covered this week. Audio
Carmel Sepuloni: What does it take to be deputy PM?
Who is Carmel Sepuloni - and why was she Labour's pick for deputy prime minister? Audio
Chaotic politics sparks crude comebacks - and decency dilemmas
The political turmoil in the UK sparked some spectacular emotional reactions - and language not normally fit for broadcast. Meanwhile, one radio host here was pondering just what words should be used… Audio
The Week in Detail: Reserve Bank, Ukraine, and the Pacific
The Detail podcast brings you the issues behind the news every weekday. Here's what we covered this week. Audio
Interview invitations fall on PM's deaf ears
Today FM’s Tova O’Brien said recently - tongue in cheek - it was easier to get President Zelenskiy in Ukraine on her show than our own leader. Her colleague Lloyd Burr got no response when he wanted… Audio
Landing an interview with Volodymyr Zelensky
How do you land an interview with the president of Ukraine? It turns out it takes months of planning, persuasion, good timing - and a healthy dose of luck. Audio
Mediawatch: A government in the gun over accidental generosity
The government came under fire over some misdirected cost of living payments this week, but the more enduring story might be who didn't get paid, rather than who did. Audio
Midweek Mediawatch: Elon's Twitter takeover
In this week's edition of Midweek Mediawatch, Hayden Donnell talks to Karyn Hay about a murderers' row of interviews for National leader Christopher Luxon and the free speech implications of Elon… Audio
Today FM's Gurney: Dallas cowboy - or talk radio saviour?
Before its launch, the boss of new talk station Today FM promised a new approach eschewing anger and antagonism just for the sake of engagement. The first fortnight's been a mix of some of that - as… Audio
New talk station offers new approach - but also same old bluster
MediaWorks launched its latest talk radio network this week - Today FM - promising a constructive approach in contrast with its predecessors and its rivals. It sounds like an upgrade, but there’s… Audio
Midweek Mediawatch: An anti-vax PR blitz?
In this week's edition of Midweek Mediawatch, Hayden Donnell talks to Karyn Hay about a good start for Tova O'Brien and a not-so-good one for Duncan Garner on new talk station Today FM - and the… Audio
Midweek Mediawatch: Tova O'Brien barred from starting Today on time
In this week's Midweek Mediawatch Hayden Donnell talks to Karyn Hay about the employment dispute keeping Tova O'Brien off the air and creating bad blood between broadcasters. Also - non-commercial RNZ… Audio
MediaWorks reveals plan to ditch Magic Talk, launch new talk brand
MediaWorks has revealed a lineup of familiar names for its new talk radio station, which is set to take over from Magic Talk early next year.
Coming up
MediaWorks signals radio news shake-up
Radio broadcaster MediaWorks will launch a new talk radio network in early 2022 and has hired Newshub political editor Tova O’Brien for a new show which will shake up the morning news scene.
Coming up
The double standard in the bike bridge backlash
A proposed walk and cycle bridge over the Waitematā provoked a furious media backlash over the goverment's wasteful spending. Why don't roading projects get the same treatment? Audio
Expert feature with Tova O'Brien: How political reporting works
Newshub's political editor, Tova O'Brien, explains how the top job in political journalism works. Audio
The journalists who helped save New Zealand's health response
The government has taken urgent steps to overhaul the systems in place at the country's managed isolation facilities. Journalists' persistent, tough reporting on failures at those facilities helped… Audio
5G conspiracy question ignites debate on press performance
As huge audiences tune into the government's daily press briefings on Covid-19, more people than ever before are seeing how the journalism sausage is made. Some of them aren't happy with the…
The End of Life Choice Debate: in pictures
The third reading debate of the End of Life Choice Bill made for a busy, emotional day at Parliament. For The House Phil Smith caught the action in photos.