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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