Messenger, inquisitor and newsgatherer? Press Gallery journalists on their role(s) at COVID-19 briefings in Aotearoa New Zealand.

Press Gallery journalists in Aotearoa New Zealand experienced a high level of scrutiny during the March - May 2020 nationwide lockdown. This can be largely attributed to their public role in the COVID-19 daily press briefings that featured the Prime Minister and other government officials speaking to the public and answering questions from Press Gallery journalists. The daily briefings were livestreamed directly to New Zealanders via television, radio and online media, with some journalists receiving heavy criticism by the public for asking 'aggressive' or 'irresponsible' questions.

Fighting COVID-19 with the team of 5 million: Aotearoa New Zealand government communication during the 2020 lockdown.

Aotearoa New Zealand's response to the COVID-19 pandemic is considered one of the best in the world. A major component of the government response was the communication of public health measures. In this paper, we approach Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern's daily press briefings with the Director-General of Health, Ashley Bloomfield as a case study of government communication during a public health crisis.