Mike Hosking has been accused of being biased to the right

His opinion is everywhere: talkback radio, online columns, and primetime television.



In the past month, broadcaster Mike Hosking has been given a platform to voice his views 70 times across his Newstalk ZB show, his NZ Herald column and the television show Seven Sharp. He's been at the centre of programmes on the air for about 65 hours.



Political leaders Winston Peters, Andrew Little and James Shaw are worried about the saturation coverage of one man's opinion and, in particular, his right-leaning political views.



Peters said the "quality of public debate suffers" because Hosking played the role of "National Party stooge", while Little said Hosking was "totally aligned to the Government of the day" and showing "no attempt at objectivity".

Hosking himself has yet to comment.

Media commentator and former broadcaster Bill Ralston said a shift in the media landscape towards editorialising had been coming for a while.

Newstalk ZB and TVNZ Seven Sharp presenter Mike Hosking.

"Various broadcasters have their time and this seems to be Mike Hosking's time," he said.

Ralston said Hosking's views appeared to be centre-right, but he said audiences were smart enough to realise that.

"Radio talk requires you to have an opinion, that's what they're looking for."

Lawrence Smith 'This seems to be Mike Hosking's time,' according to former broadcaster and media commentator Bill Ralston.

Whatever opinion you have, you're going to sit on a spectrum, he said.



However, Hosking's ability to reach audiences so frequently was unique, according to media commentator and former Labour Party advisor Brian Edwards.



"This is a relatively unusual situation that someone is able to propagandise...across so many media."



Hosking was one of the more disliked commentators in New Zealand, Edwards said.

"I think the reason for that is his perceived arrogance."

Edwards said Hosking's influence may be overstated, as New Zealanders tended to have "tribal" views which meant people were less likely to be influenced by members of a group they didn't like.

Carolyn Elliott Mike Hosking is one of the more disliked commentators in New Zealand, former broadcaster and Labour Party media advisor Brian Edwards says.

"Labour party commentators are less likely to be influenced National supporters and vice versa."

The New Zealand public was media-savvy and could "think for themselves", Edwards said.

Massey University senior lecturer of journalism James Hollings said it was quite easy to pick up the bias tone from particular presenters and reporters.

Both Hosking and Duncan Garner - a RadioLive and Story presenter who also writes a column that appears on Stuff - had a wide reach for their opinions.

"Everyone these days seems to feel the need to cast themselves as over-arching media personalities - not just interviewer's but opinion makers," Hollings said.

"John Campbell is also an example in some ways - he has a certain tone and after awhile you know what you're going to hear."

The pressure on journalists to create a brand and be seen on multiple platforms, including social media, was a big factor in the shift towards opinion-driven news.

"Immediately it becomes more personalised because you're the one doing it and there's pressure on reporters to promote their stories."

Hollings said he'd like to see more non-celebrity reporters encouraged to write opinion pieces and be given time to do investigative reporting.

"They're the real experts rather than having the Mike Hosking's and Duncan Garner's who are just the ones that have the confidence to do it."