Historical Bias in Newspapers

meganj

Hello!

Does anyone have any idea where I could find out more about bias in Irish newspapers during the War of Independence (1919-1921). I know the obvious biases in the major papers, but in particular I'm looking at the Anglo-Celt newspaper (published in Cavan solely).

I'm sure I can work it out on my own through the articles themselves, but if there's some sort of source I could use to be sure that'd be fantastic.

brianthebard

This type of research has not been widely analysed and is really an emerging field. You might look at 'Newspapers and Empire in Ireland and Britain', ed. by Simon Potter. What is this for?

meganj

I'm doing research into the communication and actions of GHQ and the ordinary members of the I.R.A and I'm looking to compile a list of incidences reported in the newspapers.

I know that in the Times they avoided reporting the religion of people who were killed unless they were Protestant in order to portray the I.R.A as just going around killing Protestants and part of my research is to evaluate my sources and I just want to ensure that I'm aware of the biases.

donaghs

Just from googling this there does seem to be a dearth of books on the history of Irish newspapers. Plenty of journalists of have written biog's but can't seem to find an overall history. Hugh Oram has written "Paper Tigers", which mainly seems to be a collection of anecdotes about Irish newspapers (e.g. Skibereen Eagle keeping an eye on the Czar of Russia, etc). Also this "A History of Newspapers in Ireland, 1649-1983", which I'm not familiar with. Might get them in a college library.

Also there's bound to be some theses written on this, either by history or media students. Any way you can search for them?

brianthebard

As I said donaghs it really is an emerging field, and Simon's book would be the closest you'll get to an overview type work (its actually a collection of essays by different authors). I know its an emerging field cause its what my phd is about.
I'm guessing/hoping the OP is a college student cause this idea seems way too big for LC. They could order Simon's book on interlibrary loan if its not in their college library, and I don't mind if they take out my MA thesis as well. lol

donaghs

brianthebard wrote: »

They could order Simon's book on interlibrary loan if its not in their college library, and I don't mind if they take out my MA thesis as well. lol

If so, make sure you're included in the footnotes and the bibliography!

brianthebard

Naturally!

McArmalite

Here's the Irish Independent Editorial form Thursday, 4th May 1916, titled Criminal Madness - No terms of denunciation that pen could indict would be too strong to apply to those responsible for the insane and criminal rising of last week......

Here's a link of the editorials of the major newspapers in Ireland from 1916 and also gives various editorials down the years to 1996.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/british/easterrising/newspapers/index.shtml

I find the Irish News one form 1966 very interesting.

The vast amount of publicity devoted by British journals to the Easter Week Rising in 1916 must have caused much surprise in this country. Surprise, because the British did not want to see those who rose in rebellion win or achieve eventually a great deal of what they had been fighting for.

Britain supports rebels only when it serves her purpose. There was a strong weight of influential British opinion in favour of the rebel States in the American Civil War. Success for these States would have left America weak and disunited, probably never to emerge as a Great Power, later surpassing Britain.

Britain supports rebels only when it serves her purpose...

In Ireland it was the North that received Britain’s favours. These went to the Carsonite gun runners with their "Grammar of Anarchy." It was they who received Partition as "King’s Men."

When do the British journals that have given such space to the Easter Week Rising give their pages to the cause of a United Ireland?

They have no deep sympathy for a free, undivided Ireland, now or at any time. 1916 has simply been commercialised in Britain.

That is her way of paying tribute to the men who died for freedom. In her heart Ireland is still "the most distressful country" and she will gibe at her as such when the 1916 Jubilee celebrations are at an end.

The attitude the editorial accuses the british of, could easily be applied to the political parties of the bribes in brown paper bags Republic that we have today.

meganj

Wow thanks everyone. I always knew boards was the fountain from which all knowledge springs

donaghs wrote: »

Just from googling this there does seem to be a dearth of books on the history of Irish newspapers. Plenty of journalists of have written biog's but can't seem to find an overall history. Hugh Oram has written "Paper Tigers", which mainly seems to be a collection of anecdotes about Irish newspapers (e.g. Skibereen Eagle keeping an eye on the Czar of Russia, etc). Also this "A History of Newspapers in Ireland, 1649-1983", which I'm not familiar with. Might get them in a college library.

Also there's bound to be some theses written on this, either by history or media students. Any way you can search for them?

I can get thesis' out but I have to request them and wait for a week and I'm just beginning to collect my resources.

I think I will get Simon's book, really I just wanted a list of something very simple with a list of biases. But anyway not to worry I shall peruse them!!

brianthebard wrote: »

As I said donaghs it really is an emerging field, and Simon's book would be the closest you'll get to an overview type work (its actually a collection of essays by different authors). I know its an emerging field cause its what my phd is about.
I'm guessing/hoping the OP is a college student cause this idea seems way too big for LC. They could order Simon's book on interlibrary loan if its not in their college library, and I don't mind if they take out my MA thesis as well. lol

I am indeed in College I'm doing my MA thesis on the conflict structure of the I.R.A in the years 1919-1921 but I'm currently compiling a list of newspaper articles about incidences in wexford but I'm reluctant to use anything that I can't either back up or that I can't point out in my thesis is biased one way or another.

Once again thank you all for the replies. I'm sure I will be frantically questioning you all as the thesis gets closer and closer and closer and closer.

donaghs

Wikipedia, "www.irishnewsarchive.com" and the like will give you a quick insights, but I wouldn't quote them as source material.
Also, not many newspapers would admit to having biases.
A lot of the papesr would predate the 1920/21 conflict, and despite a newspaper calling itself the "Carlow Nationalist", its nationalism may be of a more post-Parnell split or Redmondite variety.

brianthebard

meganj wrote: »

I think I will get Simon's book, really I just wanted a list of something very simple with a list of biases. But anyway not to worry I shall peruse them!!

Yeah sorry but I don't think anyone is really making a list of papers and examining their biases. In a way that's part of why you chose your topic.

I am indeed in College I'm doing my MA thesis on the conflict structure of the I.R.A in the years 1919-1921 but I'm currently compiling a list of newspaper articles about incidences in wexford but I'm reluctant to use anything that I can't either back up or that I can't point out in my thesis is biased one way or another.

Not quite sure what you mean by back up in this scenario? If you plan on reading an article and then saying someone has already said this is bias, then discussing it, then you won't be able to do that.

donaghs, irishnewsarchives is a perfectly legitimate source, just in case you were worried about using it for something.

meganj

brianthebard wrote: »

Yeah sorry but I don't think anyone is really making a list of papers and examining their biases. In a way that's part of why you chose your topic.



Not quite sure what you mean by back up in this scenario? If you plan on reading an article and then saying someone has already said this is bias, then discussing it, then you won't be able to do that.

donaghs, irishnewsarchives is a perfectly legitimate source, just in case you were worried about using it for something.

What I mean is I'm looking at men who were killed and the easiest way to find them is in newspapers. My main source is of course letters and records from the volunteers back to GHQ but as the volunteers are prone to exaggerating (in some cases not all) i'm looking for more then one source. But as the newspapers are biased often undermining the volunteers achievements (if you can call them that) I need to counterbalance everything, or at least be aware of the bias so I don't take it as gospel.

martoman

meganj wrote: »

Hello!

I know the obvious biases in the major papers, but in particular I'm looking at the Anglo-Celt newspaper (published in Cavan solely).


I think the county library in Cavan has archives of Anglo-Celt from the start.

InTheTrees

Possibly irrelevant I dont know whether this is of any interest but I was reading it yesterday:

http://www.irishtimes.com/150/articles/the-editors.html