Media Watch - Season 2026

Nine newspapers served up Australian Open coverage, but did the ball fall wide of the line? Did the media amplify the Trump administration's narrative around the Minnesota killings?

The alleged Australian terror attack that almost barely caused a whimper: Did the media miss the story? The radio doctor quietly profiting from the supplement he promotes on air. Plus The Art of Distraction by Andrew Hastie.

A leadership refresh proves the ultimate banquet for Canberra journalists. ASIO rebukes Four Corners which aired accusations of intelligence failures leading up to the Bondi Beach massacre. Hong Kong media mogul Jimmy Lai sentenced to 20 years in prison.

The royal formerly known as Prince Andrew was front page news (almost) everywhere. From political outsider to second-place contender, One Nation's polling surge demands a deeper look at their policies.

Missiles fly across the Middle East, as the world's media makes tough decisions about what conflict to cover. Ukraine fades from view as the hazards intensify for reporters on the ground.

The conflict in Iran marks a new chapter in AI-generated war imagery; The Kyle and Jackie O split marks the $200 million collapse of a high-stakes radio gamble.

Journalists scramble to verify the tragic death of school children in Iran. Scared or safe? Dubai influencers caught in Iran's crosshairs mysteriously change their tune.

Allegations of violence made against media mogul Antony Catalano amid the steady decline of his regional news empire. Google AI summaries mean opportunity for big news players, and Armageddon for the little guys.

Algorithm addiction: Court finds Google and Meta apps were like drugs of addiction. Predators online: US court finds Facebook distributed child sexual material. Plus Doctor who? Australian Story puffs up a discredited orthopaedic surgeon.

Media blockade: Trump opens a second front, declaring war on CNN's Iran reporting. Plus docu-series 'Aussie Gold Hunters' has been a hit with audiences around the world, but are they serving up real treasure or just fool's gold?

Hungary's new leader vows to restore independence to his country's media following years of dismantling by Viktor Orban. The Racing NSW logo disappears from the pages of the Sydney Morning Herald's form guide.

Kyle and Jackie foes: Court case documents reveal the behind-the-scenes spats were as unsavoury as their breakfast banter. A renewable energy expose by Seven's flagship investigation program Spotlight found to have omitted key facts.

Seven's latest home reno show My Reno Rules promises its audience big prizes, but are viewers really told just how much these "free" giveaways cost?

From flight trackers to walking down the plane aisle, no effort was spared to capture the so-called 'ISIS brides' returning home.

Seven misidentified an ISIS Bride, even after she notified them they had the wrong photo. How GB News leveraged politician-hosts to shake up British elections. Plus the WA shed-home business that used their inside connections for free coverage.

Amid budget fallout, small businesses fight tax changes with memes and a little creative license. Charlie Teo fights against restrictions with a little help from a sympathetic media.

Why the juiced-up athletes at the Enhanced Games weren't about selling athletic glory, but pharmaceuticals. The West Australian reports a "blood feud" between Liberal Andrew Hastie and accused war criminal Ben Roberts-Smith.

Turmoil at CBS continues with the firing of longtime '60 Minutes' reporter Scott Pelley, One Nation's playbook of bypassing traditional media for social channels has seen it surpass major parties in popularity.

The role of Elon Musk in the Belfast riots show again, how his platform X, is used to stoke outrage. Plus a preference-flow graph in the Australian Financial Review includes political parties you've never heard of.

A planned cull of wild horses has The Daily Telegraph chomping at the bit to voice its disapproval. 60 Minutes fails to give its audience the full picture when covering two child-abduction cases.

Karlito's Way: Karl Stefanovic loses his job after embracing a controversial anti-Islam activist. Giggle Gagged: The ABC rejects an opinion piece by business woman Sall Grover.

Australian media spare no detail in its coverage of a Thai teen's murder. BHP shows off its shiny electric truck and spins its green credentials. Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce manage to keep their public wedding very private.

The spectacle of an Iranian state funeral, covered by international reporters. ABC takes the stand at the Antisemitism Royal Commission, answering claims of antisemitic bias. Plus a glossy magazine's AI mishap.

A Tasmanian minister whips up discontent on his socials following an inconvenient question. AI "news" websites publish robotic slop after pilfering content from real journalists.

The ABC scrubs two Four Corners episodes after concerns about the veracity of sources. Plus Queensland's Courier Mail forced to backpedal claims that EVs are a significant source of toxic tyre dust.

The peptide black market hiding in plain sight on social media, and why regulators are struggling to keep up. Sunrise incorrectly reports Volodymyr Zelenskyy has resigned with no one seeming to notice.

The unmasking of a high-profile celebrity agent convicted of rape has sparked questions around suppression orders and who receives them. Plus 'Judaism' removed from the Census? The News24 presenter who had to backtrack on her claims.

Troubles are mounting for Meta as a court case exposes its role in a mental health crisis. Another "Outback" doco caught staging scenes while receiving public funding.

Did the media drop the ball covering the unfolding Swans saga this week? The Australian asks its readers to brace for a 30% rent hike, but is that what the experts really said? Plus unroyal welcome for Harry and Meghan.

Images of the flood tragedy in the Himalayas circulated the globe, except in China, where state-owned media tightly controlled what people saw.

How the media fell for government spin, and celebrated a film funding cut, as a funding 'boost'. The Beetaloo gas project finds a cheerleader in the NT News, with very little scrutiny.

Drug-use revelations levelled at One Nation's Victorian leader sparks debate about 'gotcha' journalism. The hard-right AfD won a German state election by weaponising mainstream media attacks. Plus a News24 presenter pranked.

The ACMA found Four Corners breached impartiality rules over its War Memorial investigation. But were the findings justified? News Corp does away with council reporters and replaces them with AI. Plus missing Mitch McConnell.

Trump's media ban of CNN, Politico and MS NOW prompts a rare show of solidarity between rival outlets. A corruption inquiry lifts the veil on a media campaign to undermine a fugitive developer's political enemies. Plus Fremantle fever in the West.

The thwarted hijacking of the flydubai plane sparks conspiracies among online truthers eager to fill the information void. A year into the search for Gus Lamont, Seven gives flight to a debunked theory he was taken by an eagle.

TMDB has not published a written overview for this episode yet.

TMDB has not published a written overview for this episode yet.