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Past Episodes

Media Bites, 7 December 2017

  • Media Bites Episode 45
    Labor MP calls journalist a "maggot", Prime7's news gaffes, media gives verdict on Amazon Australia, and the media serve up arm vaginas with a side of jingle balls.

Episode 43, 4 December 2017

  • The rush to convict Geoffrey Rush
    Was a single, unspecific and uncorroborated complaint enough to condemn the actor on the front page of the Daily Telegraph?
  • The sting that stung
    An attempt to discredit The Washington Post over its reporting on Roy Moore shows the importance of rigorous fact checking.
  • Perth to Baku
    The West Australian love letter to Azerbaijan glosses over some less attractive facts.
  • Lateline signs off
    We farewell the ABC program after three decades on air.

Media Bites, 30 November 2017

  • Media Bites Episode 44
    Indecent exposure at the ARIAs, how NINE handled Don Burke, media can't get enough of Harry and Meghan, and HuffPost Australia ends joint venture with Fairfax.

Episode 42, 27 November 2017

Media Bites, 23 November 2017

  • Media Bites Episode 43
    How the media reported Mugabe's resignation, Turnbull and the Herald Sun make AC/DC gaffes, New Idea at it again, and a bus botches a stadium demolition live stream.

Episode 41, 20 November 2017

Media Bites, 16 November 2017

  • Media Bites Episode 42
    Yes wins the day, New Idea's big royal scoop, and why are people smashing coffee machines?

Episode 40, 13 November 2017

Media Bites, 9 November 2017

  • Media Bites Episode 41
    Fake news about the Texas gunman, the media's race day antics, Pauline Hanson's champagne fizzer, and a breast attack that wasn't.

Episode 39, 6 November 2017

Media Bites, 2 November 2017

  • Media Bites Episode 40
    Melbourne witness pops up in NY terror story, Shane Warne for Bachelor and Adani protesters crash Premier Palaszczuk's TV interviews.

Episode 38, 30 October 2017

Media Bites, 26 October 2017

  • Media Bites Episode 39
    Michaelia Cash and the AWU raids, Woman's Day's big Bachelorette scoop, and Lonely Planet picks Canberra as top travel spot.

Episode 37, 23 October 2017

  • Melania body double bubble
    When a UK journalist sent out a joke tweet about Melania Trump’s body double, a world-wide conspiracy was unleashed.
  • Lisa walks
    Lisa Wilkinson’s departure for Ten reveals how much money TV stars make.
  • Junketing journalists
    Qantas scores a week of free media coverage by flying 30 journalists to Seattle.
  • Christmas in Macau
    According to Alan Jones even ‘Muslim’ Macau does Christmas better than Australia.

Media Bites, 19 October 2017

  • Media Bites Episode 38
    Media mayhem as Lisa leaves Nine, ABC's Rage starts war with North Korea, and when teleprompters fail.

Episode 36, 16 October 2017

  • The politics of Weinstein
    Conservative commentators smell a conspiracy.
  • Silencing Ray’s spray
    Triple M Central West dumps parts of Ray Hadley’s morning show following his anger over a local court case.
  • Media stays mum
    A criminal trial involving alleged police leaks to journalists gets scant coverage in the Adelaide media.
  • Ipswich or Karachi?
    A Daily Mail story about an Asian gang in Ipswich uses video from Pakistan.

Media Bites, 12 October 2017

  • Media Bites Episode 37
    Media react to Weinstein downfall, Milo Yiannopoulos is coming down under, and One Nation's Charles Smith on why the ABC should be shut down.

Episode 35, 9 October 2017

Media Bites, 5 October 2017

  • Media Bites Episode 36
    Daily Mail writes fake news about the Vegas shooter, media confused over Tom Petty's death, Ray Hadley's 'Same Love' parody, and a tantric finale.

Episode 34, 2 October 2017

  • Same Love stoush
    Furore over Macklemore’s marriage equality anthem, as more mastheads endorse a yes vote.
  • Seven’s PR woes
    More bad press for Seven after the ABC plays a recording of the moment a female news cadet is suspended.
  • Today loves Australia, for a fee
    Today’s ‘We love Australia’ tour turns out to be a gigantic paid ad

Media Bites, 28 September 2017

  • Media Bites Episode 35
    Breaking news - TV presenters wear the same jacket, the media brews up old poo stories, and the end of the world is postponed.

Episode 33, 25 September 2017

  • Red faces over Roberts reversal
    In July, Sky's Paul Murray boasted he was ‘one million percent’ sure that Senator Malcolm Roberts was not a dual citizen, now the High Court has declared he was.
  • Spruiking supplements
    Why does a trusted Nine news journalist risk their reputation to spruik vitamins and supplements?
  • Spot the sponsored content
    News Corp runs 'cash for content' stories without the disclosure.
  • TV tantrums
    Leaked footage reveals US TV news anchor in midst of an epic meltdown.

Media Bites, 21 September 2017

  • Media Bites Episode 34
    The media obsesses over Nicole Kidman’s kiss, bumsex debut on same-sex ballot paper, the end of the world as Nibiru returns

Episode 32, 18 September 2017

Media Bites, 14 September 2017

  • Media Bites Episode 33
    The gossip that cost Bauer Media and Woman’s Day $4.5 million, monkey selfie stoush and BBC presenter on the run.

Episode 31, 11 September 2017

Media Bites, 7 September 2017

  • Media Bites Episode 32
    Sky News drops the f-bomb, "tacky" Gold Coast goes for Logies, women's mags recycle royal baby news, and Charles and Camilla on the rocks?

Episode 30, 4 September 2017

Media Bites, 31 August 2017

  • Media Bites Episode 31
    Kathy Griffin's no longer sorry about her Donald Trump stunt, Channel Seven fooled by photoshopped pics, and the media reveal Macca’s not-so-secret sauce recipe.

Episode 29, 28 August 2017

  • A monumental beat up
    A call for a discussion over the wording on a Cook statue turns into heated history war
  • Same-Sex Campaign
    Reports that Melbourne was plastered with homophobic posters were overblown
  • Campaign clanger
    American musician Meghan Trainor says “no” to her image being used by Vote NO Australia - Marriage Plebiscite group
  • Misplaced map outrage
    Daily Mail accuses the ABC of wiping Israel off the map but misses the point of the story

Media Bites, 24 August 2017

  • Media Bites Episode 30
    A Current Affair mistakes Indonesia for The Philippines, wrong news of Queen Elizabeth's abdication, Taylor Swift's snaky non-news, and Paul Barry plays spot the animal.

Episode 28, 21 August 2017

Media Bites, 17 August 2017

  • Media Bites Episode 29
    Dicks in the media; Kevin Andrews' same-sex marriage gaffe; media's Baa-naby jokes; and is Khaled Sharrouf really dead?

Episode 27, 14 August 2017

Media Bites, 10 August 2017

  • Media Bites Episode 28
    "Survivor" star's out-there interviews; when news anchors rebel; new catpack prompts pussy puns; & the GM diet debunked

Episode 26, 7 August 2017

Media Bites, 3 August 2017

  • Media Bites Episode 27
    Scaramucci's ten days in office; media mad for Lady Di; snakes in Nine's NT newsroom; and viral pic of the week: burqas or bus seats?

Episode 25, 31 July 2017

  • The Pell show comes to town
    Media turns out in droves for the Cardinal's first court appearance in Melbourne.
  • Super spruikers
    Celebrities given plenty of prime time to sell their wares on air.
  • Dual citizenship duel
    One Nation's Malcolm Roberts gets testy over questions about his citizenship status.
  • Flying dry
    A News Corp terror exclusive about carry on alcohol proves to be ten years old.

Media Bites, 27 July 2017

  • Media Bites Episode 26
    Nine's Ninja Warrior finale outrage; US strongmen hoax; and Mamma Mia, not another overused media pun?

Episode 24, 24 July 2017

  • Rainbow stars in Greens exit
    Larissa Waters was forced to resign from The Greens, but it was a colleague’s scarf that created headlines.
  • Exploiting tragedy for column inches
    News Corp’s Miranda Devine blames the Black Lives Matter campaign for the recent shooting of Justine Damond.
  • An unholy row
    The ABC is accused of waging war against Christians, with a report on domestic violence now under scrutiny.
  • Ray’s ScoMo spray
    Hell hath no fury like a broadcaster scorned, as Scott Morrison should know.

Media Bites, 20 July 2017

  • Media Bites Episode 25
    Games of Thrones meltdown as Foxtel Now fails. Columnist Miranda Devine blames US shooting of Aussie woman on Black Lives Matter campaigners. Oscar Wilde clichés abound as another Greens Senator resigns.

Episode 23, 17 July 2017

Media Bites, 13 July 2017

  • Media Bites Episode 24
    Bloopers & blunders, fake news & faux facts, a poo pandemic & lots of props. It’s the best of bites.

Episode 22, 10 July 2017

Media Bites, 6 July 2017

  • Media Bites Episode 23
    Katy Perry's LIVE prerecorded shows; preserved Pompeii man's explosive media coverage; Joh Grigg's calls out Woman's Day 'fantasy'; and the media in a muddle over Roman Quaedvlieg's name.

Episode 21, 3 July 2017

Media Bites, 29 June 2017

  • Media Bites Episode 22
    Does NASA have evidence of alien life?; Russell Crowe fires up over Woman's Day; and Irish weatherman blown away.

Episode 20, 26 June 2017

Media Bites, 22 June 2017

  • Media Bites Episode 21
    Did Melbourne hipsters really charge $5 for a spoonful of dessert?; BBC's Breaking News goes bad; Rebel Wilson demands more than $7 million in damages; and the c-bomb goes live.

Episode 19, 19 June 2017

Media Bites, 15 June 2017

  • Media Bites Episode 20
    News Corp papers compete for the biggest bludger town; media cook up a monster pizza; and news.com.au's glowing Foxtel Now article.

Episode 18, 12 June 2017

Media Bites, 8 June 2017

  • Media Bites Episode 19
    Halle Berry's food baby, QLD media mad for Adani & Sydney's Inner West Courier sniff out the story.

Episode 17, 5 June 2017

Media Bites, 1 June 2017

  • Media Bites Episode 18
    Channel Nine's Rebel Wilson mix-up, Schapelle Corby's new baby, and an ACA beat-up. Brand-new Media Bites.

Episode 16, 29 May 2017

Media Bites, 25 May 2017

  • Media Bites Episode 17
    Quadrant's "sick and unhinged" article; the media catches the fidget spinner craze; and dogs on-set.

Episode 15, 22 May 2017

Media Bites, 18 May 2017

  • Media Bites Episode 16
    What A Croc!

    Did crocs really eat 'Jesus' pastor who walked on water? The not-so-exclusive Tom Cruise interviews. And, when a missing letter makes all the difference.

Episode 14, 15 May 2017

Media Bites, 11 May 2017

  • Media Bites Episode 15
    The rise of PM Brian Trumbull

    Reuters 'Brian Trumbull' typo; the best of the 2017 Federal Budget; & Clive Palmer's memory loss. Brand-new Media Bites.

Episode 13, 8 May 2017

Media Bites, 4 May 2017

  • Media Bites Episode 14
    Sky News talkback, the media takes us on a housing price roller coaster and Today's exciting new pain-relief breakthrough.

Episode 12, 1 May 2017

Media Bites, 27 April 2017

  • Media Bites Episode 13
    Breaking! News Corp finds porn on Twitter; The Daily Mail serves breasts as news; Pauline Hanson’s alternative fact;
    and a nasty smear on Donald Trump.

Episode 11, 24 April 2017

  • Close call
    Nine News asteroid report was a little too close for comfort
  • Going for gold
    The Commonwealth Games bid report that jumped the gun
  • Putin critics pay with lives
    Russia’s freedom of the press is hit again with journalist Nikolai Andrushchenko killed after speaking out
  • Prime time PR puff
    Channel Nine viewers were treated to an hour-long ad for the NBN, with little to no disclosure

Media Bites, 20 April 2017

  • Media Bites Episode 12
    Fake news seduces again; Seven’s Laura Banks shows the rough side of reporting; and ABC’s cannibal question.

Media Bites, 13 April 2017

  • Media Bites Episode 11
    Natasha Exelby and the #PutYourBloopersOut saga, TV on the radio, and will the real Donald Trump please stand up?

Episode 10, 10 April 2017

Media Bites, 6 April 2017

Episode 09, 3 April 2017

Media Bites, 30 March 2017

  • Media Bites Episode 9
    Woman's Day reveals shock new pregnancy photos of Nadia from Married at First Sight but are they staged? Channel Seven's Paul Burt takes on cyclone Debbie. And Sky News sacks Mark Latham.

Episode 08, 27 March 2017

Media Bites, 23 March 2017

  • Media Bites Episode 8
    Media wars continue with Ray’s spray and Latham’s lashing:
    Ray Hadley has a big spray at Media Watch after Monday’s show. Mark Latham flames the internal war at Sky News. And National Enquirer provides us with this week’s alternative fact.

Episode 07, 20 March 2017

Media Bites, 16 March 2017

  • Media Bites Episode 7
    Perth News mix-up their graphics. Jennifer Aniston pregnant again? And this week’s alternative fact: eavesdropping microwaves.

Episode 06, 13 March 2017

  • Exclusive interview or airport ambush?
    A Current Affair claimed to have an exclusive interview with Grant Hackett, but it looked more like an airport ambush.
  • Controversial claims get the soft treatment
    The Arrowsmith program is a controversial method that claims to help people overcome learning problems. But the founder was given the soft treatment on a recent speaking trip to Australia.
  • Punchbowl story missing in action
    While most media networks considered last week’s Punchbowl Boys High controversy a headline story, it was conspicuously absent in Fairfax papers and ABC talkback.
  • Satirical protest taken seriously
    It seems large parts of the media have missed the joke, or perhaps missing the joke made for a better story when covering the satirical group The Million Flag Patriots.
  • BBC interview interrupted
    The hilarious BBC interview that was hijacked by a Professor’s family went viral for all the right reasons

Media Bites, 9 March 2017

  • Media Bites Episode 6
    Nine recycles an old story about Space Shuttle Endeavour, the media's careless whispers about George Michael's death, and Google's alternative facts.

Episode 05, 6 March 2017

  • Italy’s ‘new’ Astronaut
    Worldwide media has wrongly credited Italian twitter user Ignazio Magnani with photos from the International Space Station.
  • Travel tales too good to be true?
    Media agencies are promoting website Miss Travel but are some of the case studies too good to be true?
  • Peter Dutton – next Liberal leader?
    With conservative commentators backing Peter Dutton as the next Liberal leader, the media went looking for a leadership plot.
  • Karl coverage overload
    From footwear to lollies, nothing is too trivial when it comes to coverage of the Today show host, Karl Stefanovic and his new girlfriend.

Media Bites, 2 March 2017

  • Media Bites Episode 5
    The big Oscars blunder: Who is behind the 'Best Picture' stuff-up? The accountants, the Academy, Matt Damon? Or someone more sinister? The Daily Telegraph and Cosmopolitan are on the case.

Episode 05, 27 February 2017

Media Bites, 23 February 2017

  • Media Bites Episode 4
    Border Mail mistakes a fictional TV show for reality. Does the new ten dollar note feature lyrics by Rick Astley? And Brangelina is this week’s alternative fact.

Episode 03, 20 February 2017

Media Bites, 16 February 2017

  • Media Bites Episode 3
    Woman's Day's bad case of mistaken identity and last Monday's Media Watch just got R-Rated. Brand-new Media Bites.

Episode 02, 13 February 2017

Media Bites, 9 February 2017

  • Media Bites Episode 2
    The PM adviser’s sexist tweets get deleted. And Trump’s robe rage. Brand new Media Bites.

Episode 01, 6 February 2017

Media Bites, 3 February 2017