Mediawatch looks at a sudden slew of stuff on screen about life at the coal face in health, hospitals and hospices. Is the up close and personal approach also political? Speaking of political . . . bosses at two big broadcasters have ended up in the gun this week over other peoples’ opinions about Israel and Gaza - and political leaders line up the media for more criticism.

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It was hard for media all around the world to work out what happened in the Middle East. But claims that WW3 and global recession might be upon us here were rolled back within a day. Also: Chat GPT’s been accused of lying, making stuff up and gaslighting a UK journalist and Google’s AI seems to be telling us what we want to hear. Is AI human after all?

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The media’s difficulties sorting out the truth in the Middle East escalation,entrepreneur cites negative coverage selling her dating business, David Seymour taking on the media - again - and fundraising.

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Debate’s raging over private and public provision of surgery - and sick leave surged to the top of the agenda all of a sudden, sparked by an unlikely source. Also: media minister grilled in Parliament's Scrutiny Week - and property piffle on TV

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Debate’s been raging over whether private or public providers should be the key to cutting waiting lists for surgery - or what kind of combo of both. And all of a sudden - our sick leave entitlement surged to the top of the news agenda - sparked by an unlikely source.

Also: The media minister got a blast of extra scrutiny in Parliament -- and a certain market-leading online marketplace got some soft-focus treatment in a news show made by a company it’s just invested in.

In this episode:

00:50 - Media in the middle of political battles over public and private health, claims doctors’ unions slow down surgery, signs sick leave could be cut.

20:25 – The media minister scrutinised in Scrutiny Week in Parliament. (note: an earlier version of this item referred to Labour MP Reuben Davidson as a ‘Green MP.’ we regret the error).

22:50 - Property piffle on TV

Learn more: URL for news story

1. Media in the middle of political skirmishes over sickness and health | RNZ News

Guests: Sarah Dalton - Executive Director of the Association of Salaried Medical Specialists.

If you have any thoughts for us - or ideas for us to follow up - get in touch. E-mail mediawatch@rnz.co.nz. You’ll also find us @MediawatchNZ on X.

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Find more RNZ Podcasts at the new section of the RNZ website at rnz.co.nz/podcasts

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RNZ challenged over a troubling tale of a transgender teenager who died alone from anorexia, ZB's Ryan Bridge's performs a hot-take talk radio turnaround on the economy, Emile's voluntary redundancy hotline

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Some local election hopefuls are already pitching policies publicly. Are media checking them out before putting them in the news? Also: an Aussie once in charge of our papers talks about where the media is heading - and a play about authoritarian over-reach in 1950s America echoes what’s happening now.

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Coverage of the aggro in LA; media feel the heat from advocacy ads, why David Seymour snubs Morning Report, the controversy created by dangerous combat-type cash prize contests

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