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01 August 2025
Kia ora [firstname],
When #Coldplaygate first broke, I'm sure I wasn't alone in having no idea what Astronomer was. But now, thanks to a little help from Gwyneth Paltrow, I do, and so does the rest of the world. In a video that came nearly two weeks after the scandal that took the internet by storm, Paltrow acts as the company's temporary spokeperson and answers the most common questions it has received recently. Media expert and co-founder of The Media Lab, Antony Young calls the video a "master stroke". Read more below.
Meanwhile, The Spinoff has announced the appointment of Hayden Donnell as a senior writer. Donnell will leave his current position as the producer of RNZ's Mediawatch at the end of August, starting the new role on September 8. The Spinoff say it is a bit of a homecoming for Donnell, who previously worked for the online magazine as a staff writer and has remained a regular contributor over the last decade.
TVNZ has announced that Shortland Street will be returning next year, thanks to ongoing funding from NZ on Air. Westpac has launched a new campaign via Publicis and its connected platform of agencies that highlights the bank's new dynamic security code offering, and also reports that this year's Chopper Appeal saw record support.
All this and more below. Happy reading and if you have news you’d like to share, let us know. Email editor@stoppress.co.nz.
Have a lovely weekend, we'll see you on Tuesday. Mā te wā,
Zahra and the StopPress team.