Irish papers are always dominated, as one might expect, by home stories. But looking at other international papers, especially the London Times and Independent, we must ask ourselves ; why do we focus so much on ourselves when there are other huge stories to be discussed.
For example, so much time and column inches were dedicated to the Late Late sage (as mentioned in another blog entry) when hundreds of people were being killed in Sri Lanka. The reason for the minimal coverage of the Sri Lankan massacre stories is the age old news value of proximity. To put it callously 100 Sri Lankan deaths is equal to 1 Irish death.
However, we must look at the Irish Tabloids and see how much they've got their news worthiness ethics all wrong. The cruel and sudden death of Garda McCallion last April was shipped to page 12 of the Sun while the editors decided to publish slapstick photographs of Brian Cowen and Brian Lenihan. It seems that sensationalism of politics is more important to the Sun than the death of one of the country's Gardaí. It is sad to say but it seems money and personal finance is more important than the sacristy of human life.
Wednesday, May 13, 2009
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
The Roy Collins Revolt
The vicious murder of the innocent Roy Collins in a gang related death brought the country to its knees once more. Shane Geoghean(mistaken identity) was callously murdered also by the notorious Limerick gang last year. It is fantastic to see how strongly a line the Irish papers have taken these brutal murders. Front page stories, continued coverage of Stephen Collins' (Roy's father) revolt against the gangs and sharp tongued editorials have created a whirlwind of popular support against the murderers.
It is fantastic to see that the paper industry itself is trying to quell the violence in Limerick. They could have reported on the story and that could have been that, but no. Continuous denunciation of these terror mongers have brought to the fore the brutality of Limerick's worsening gang problem.
The coverage of Mr. Collins' rally the other day was also well covered and it seems that the paper industry needs to increasingly show events like these if public opinion is to develop and therefore hopefully rid Limerick of its chequered past.
It is fantastic to see that the paper industry itself is trying to quell the violence in Limerick. They could have reported on the story and that could have been that, but no. Continuous denunciation of these terror mongers have brought to the fore the brutality of Limerick's worsening gang problem.
The coverage of Mr. Collins' rally the other day was also well covered and it seems that the paper industry needs to increasingly show events like these if public opinion is to develop and therefore hopefully rid Limerick of its chequered past.
The Late Late Show Horse Race
One of the lightest stories of the year that made it onto the front pages of our daily and Sunday papers this year so far is the biggest questions in Irish showbiz :who will succeed Pat Kenny as the host of The Late Late Show?
The hype regarding this particular story is phenomenal. Presenters like Ryan Tubridy, Miriam O'Callaghan, Gerry Ryan and even Dara O'Briain are all in the mix to become the new host. It's funny to see so much media attention being directed to this story. Maybe all the attention is to act a s a respite against the spiralling financial crisis. If this was the idea, then the Irish print media has indeed been successful. We forgot about all our fiscal woes or a while and focused on something light a fun instead.
All that we can presume is that this trend will continue until Pat Kenny's successor is announced. The after that we can all expect that our front pages will continue to be dominated by the Two Brians. Well at least all this Late Late talk took our minds off things, even if it was only or a month or so!
The hype regarding this particular story is phenomenal. Presenters like Ryan Tubridy, Miriam O'Callaghan, Gerry Ryan and even Dara O'Briain are all in the mix to become the new host. It's funny to see so much media attention being directed to this story. Maybe all the attention is to act a s a respite against the spiralling financial crisis. If this was the idea, then the Irish print media has indeed been successful. We forgot about all our fiscal woes or a while and focused on something light a fun instead.
All that we can presume is that this trend will continue until Pat Kenny's successor is announced. The after that we can all expect that our front pages will continue to be dominated by the Two Brians. Well at least all this Late Late talk took our minds off things, even if it was only or a month or so!
Tribune Writer not giving up sources
Suzanne Breen, the Sunday Tribune writer who rose to prominence on her coverage of Republican paramilitary organisations has stood firm over a PSNI order that she give up all her sources, notebooks and recorded telephone calls with paramilitary personnel. She has, as a right thinking journalists, vehemently refused to give up her sources. This is a fantastic example of the ethical codes that journalist adhere to.
Even in the face of 5 years imprisonment, she values her profession as sacrosanct and feels that if she was to give up her sources, then all the work that she has done may be devalued and she would also most likely be excommunicated from the print industry.
Ms Breen has received overwhelming support from her colleagues on this case and it seems that i the British Government force her to reveal her sources then the whole journalism industry could be brought into disrepute and as a consequence be greatly undermined.
We must ,as journalists, not allow to be pushed around by any Government in situations like these. We must stand firm and in the context of this story proclaim ; JOURNALISTS SAY NO!
Even in the face of 5 years imprisonment, she values her profession as sacrosanct and feels that if she was to give up her sources, then all the work that she has done may be devalued and she would also most likely be excommunicated from the print industry.
Ms Breen has received overwhelming support from her colleagues on this case and it seems that i the British Government force her to reveal her sources then the whole journalism industry could be brought into disrepute and as a consequence be greatly undermined.
We must ,as journalists, not allow to be pushed around by any Government in situations like these. We must stand firm and in the context of this story proclaim ; JOURNALISTS SAY NO!
Iranian Journalist Scandal
Roxana Saberi, an American-Iranian journalist was arrested and imprisoned in Tehran, Iran for acting as a spy and disclosing national secrets to the world. She has worked for the BBC, CBS and other international radio and television news media organisations. Her imprisonment has been denounced by all free thinking nations and her incarceration is further proof of Iran's disrespect of the freedom of expression.
I was very disappointed on how the Irish print media covered the jailing of one of their journalistic colleagues. The Irish Times and Irish Independent ran the story of her imprisonment in their World News sections. However, that was to be all. No editorial comment, no further coverage and even when Ms Saberi went on hunger strike there was only a mere couple of column inches given to her plight. This is a disgrace in my opinion. If papers wish to eradicate the iron grip the many countries have over their press then more coverage is needed to highlight the problem.
It seems that the Irish media completely disregarded Roxana Saberi's traumatic and illegal incarceration and ,in situations like these, every news institution must stand firm and denounce the acts of the Iranian government if we ,as journalists, are to succeed in our respective fields.
I was very disappointed on how the Irish print media covered the jailing of one of their journalistic colleagues. The Irish Times and Irish Independent ran the story of her imprisonment in their World News sections. However, that was to be all. No editorial comment, no further coverage and even when Ms Saberi went on hunger strike there was only a mere couple of column inches given to her plight. This is a disgrace in my opinion. If papers wish to eradicate the iron grip the many countries have over their press then more coverage is needed to highlight the problem.
It seems that the Irish media completely disregarded Roxana Saberi's traumatic and illegal incarceration and ,in situations like these, every news institution must stand firm and denounce the acts of the Iranian government if we ,as journalists, are to succeed in our respective fields.
Sunday, May 10, 2009
Columnists: The Lighter Side of Broadsheet Journlalism
First and fore mostly, I know that there are a vast amount of broadsheet columnists who deal with their jobs in a very serious and informative manner. Fair dues. However, in papers like the Irish Independent and The Observer, there seems to be a new trend emerging: that of comedic yet insightful columnists who ticks all the boxes of the news agenda but who also tickles our funny bones.
Ian O'Doherty, a regular feature writer for his column ISpy. This man deals with the wacky in a wonderful way. Sub-editing his own copy with headlines like 'Death to All Hippies' will keep readers with a sense of humour coming back for more. Every funny little thing you might find in daily life is reported on in a very comedic way. In the Observer you have funnyman David Mitchell. Combining his quickfire wit, his extensive knowledge of global politics, history and finance, he alone is able to target a younger generation of Observer reader. Appearing in his own sitcom Peep Show as well as being a guest on a variety of satirical panel shows like Mock the Week, David Mitchell is a household name which draws the Observer a large readership.
It seems that now this turbulent time for print media more and more celebrity columnists will pop up trying to entice more people to read their publication. Hopefully Dustin the Turkey, regular columnist for The Irish Sun, won't be seen on the masthead of The Irish Times any time soon!
Ian O'Doherty, a regular feature writer for his column ISpy. This man deals with the wacky in a wonderful way. Sub-editing his own copy with headlines like 'Death to All Hippies' will keep readers with a sense of humour coming back for more. Every funny little thing you might find in daily life is reported on in a very comedic way. In the Observer you have funnyman David Mitchell. Combining his quickfire wit, his extensive knowledge of global politics, history and finance, he alone is able to target a younger generation of Observer reader. Appearing in his own sitcom Peep Show as well as being a guest on a variety of satirical panel shows like Mock the Week, David Mitchell is a household name which draws the Observer a large readership.
It seems that now this turbulent time for print media more and more celebrity columnists will pop up trying to entice more people to read their publication. Hopefully Dustin the Turkey, regular columnist for The Irish Sun, won't be seen on the masthead of The Irish Times any time soon!
George Lee and the Press Involvement.
Ever since George Lee was announced as the Fine Gael candidate for the By-Election for Dublin South, the press have been quick to jump on the bandwagon and launch a scathing attack on o0ne of their colleagues. Every person involved in media was thinking one thing at the time of Mr Lee's announcement as candidate: was there an ulterior motive to Mr Lee's coverage of the Government's failings in the political world on RTE News?
Was his time on air less than objective? And even his documentary "How We Blew the Boom", which was given ample advertising before it was shown, is it feasible that the whole agenda of this piece was biased against Fianna Fáil and pro Fine Gael? I believe it is impossible to think that George Lee wasn't' favouring Fine Gael and that both his documentaries and RTÉ News coverage were completely subjective anti-Governmental propaganda.
It is important that, as journalists, we do not have this sort of incident reoccurring. Mr. Lee should have made his political intentions known to the big wigs at our national news organisation and I believe that, if he fails to fill the late Séamus Brennan's seat in the upcoming by-election, then RTÉ cannot reappoint him as the editor of a very controversial sector of news, a place where objectivity is paramount. It would be a disgrace to the profession of journalism if he were to return.
Was his time on air less than objective? And even his documentary "How We Blew the Boom", which was given ample advertising before it was shown, is it feasible that the whole agenda of this piece was biased against Fianna Fáil and pro Fine Gael? I believe it is impossible to think that George Lee wasn't' favouring Fine Gael and that both his documentaries and RTÉ News coverage were completely subjective anti-Governmental propaganda.
It is important that, as journalists, we do not have this sort of incident reoccurring. Mr. Lee should have made his political intentions known to the big wigs at our national news organisation and I believe that, if he fails to fill the late Séamus Brennan's seat in the upcoming by-election, then RTÉ cannot reappoint him as the editor of a very controversial sector of news, a place where objectivity is paramount. It would be a disgrace to the profession of journalism if he were to return.
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