Irish Media Is A Joke

RockinRolla

Until now, I never realised what it was like to be in some banana republic where the media was controlled by the government. Ireland in 2010 is comparable to the USSR pre 1989 where we have to depend on foreign news sources to understand whats happening in our own country!

Biggins

Welcome to reality.

My name is URL

All media is a joke.. those great foreign news sources were making unsubstantiated claims about our future yesterday

longshanks

A question, short story or depiction of a situation told with the intent of being funny, now that's a joke

FreudianSlippers

My name is URL wrote: »

All media is a joke.. those great foreign news sources were making unsubstantiated claims about our future yesterday

Exactly, the whole concept of MSM worldwide is about control. You are told what they want you to be told.

K-9

On another thread somebody thinks we shouldn't receive BBC either.

American media isn't great either so it's Al Jazeera for me.

Biggins

K-9 wrote: »

...it's Al Jazeera for me.

...Back in your cave Bin Laden!

RockinRolla

Im not in Ireland at the moment myself so all Im exposed to are international news channels (nothing from Ireland or Britain) - Its all doom and gloom on this end which I couldnt believe because Ireland would need to melt into the Atlantic for anyone over here to give even a whiff about us but its plastered everywhere....

When I call home, nobody knows what Im talking about or understand the importance of it...RTE not reporting things etc...

gizmo

This is actually confusing me at the moment, I've been away for the last 2 years and outside of the net, hadn't seen any of the Irish papers. Now, from what I'd read around here, it seemed that all the media are simply mouth pieces for the government yet, upon returning and picking up a newspaper, all I see is article after article tearing stripes out of the government. Now, has something changed in the last month or so, are people referring to specific publications and/or shows or were people just talking ****e?

danbohan

My name is URL wrote: »

All media is a joke.. those great foreign news sources were making unsubstantiated claims about our future yesterday

so its all totally untrue is it ???

Snakeblood

RockinRolla wrote: »

Im not in Ireland at the moment myself so all Im exposed to are international news channels (nothing from Ireland or Britain) - Its all doom and gloom on this end which I couldnt believe because Ireland would need to melt into the Atlantic for anyone over here to give even a whiff about us but its plastered everywhere....

When I call home, nobody knows what Im talking about or understand the importance of it...RTE not reporting things etc...

Everyone I know in Ireland knows about it, it's heavily reported in the news, and on current affairs problems. Everyone is pissed off and angry.

I think you need more informed friends.

Biggins

gizmo wrote: »

This is actually confusing me at the moment, I've been away for the last 2 years and outside of the net, hadn't seen any of the Irish papers. Now, from what I'd read around here, it seemed that all the media are simply mouth pieces for the government yet, upon returning and picking up a newspaper, all I see is article after article tearing stripes out of the government. Now, has something changed in the last month or so, are people referring to specific publications and/or shows or were people just talking ****e?

In general, RTE I've found (...and I could be wrong) tends to side BIG time with FF.
Occasionally they offer up Primetime (presenters being sometimes known FF supporters, keep in mind) and other such material that appears to question our ministers and/or their policies* - but RTE news alone seems to be consistently spinning the latest FF propaganda more so than actually reporting with equal air time, the views/actions/policies of any opposition.

The newspapers however don't have to rely on the government having the power and control of the TV licence fee for their revenue so they tend to be a bit more free in their vocalisation of opposition to the current lot!

* Even Russia and China off political questioning programmes too like RTE but they too are done within certain boundaries of where they are allowed really go or how hard to push!

And some of our politicians dont approve of the internet!!
http://boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2056088536

From the same donkey
http://greenparty.newsweaver.ie/c1caw0ef5s7nagng2rkjst

brianthebard

gizmo wrote: »

This is actually confusing me at the moment, I've been away for the last 2 years and outside of the net, hadn't seen any of the Irish papers. Now, from what I'd read around here, it seemed that all the media are simply mouth pieces for the government yet, upon returning and picking up a newspaper, all I see is article after article tearing stripes out of the government. Now, has something changed in the last month or so, are people referring to specific publications and/or shows or were people just talking ****e?

I think it depends on the journalist in some cases but some newsbodies can be clearly seen to lean one way or another. Regardless of that however they all have to criticise the government a bit, they would lose all credibility if they didn't.

My name is URL

danbohan wrote: »

so its all totally untrue is it ???

I don't know, and neither do they. Which is why they keep referring to it all as rumor and mentioning 'correspondents' without actually naming any of them. It's all speculation atm, and that isn't good journalism.

PCros

danbohan wrote: »

so its all totally untrue is it ???

It is yeah

IMF: Ireland are grand they can get by alone
EU: No application for bailout received
Cowen: We didnt apply for a bailout

BBC: Ireland are fúcked
Sky: Ireland are fúcked
Bloomberg: Ireland are fúcked etc etc

Who do we believe the media or the actually parties involved?

RockinRolla

PCros wrote: »

It is yeah

IMF: Ireland are grand they can get by alone
EU: No application for bailout received
Cowen: We didnt apply for a bailout

BBC: Ireland are fúcked
Sky: Ireland are fúcked
Bloomberg: Ireland are fúcked etc etc

Who do we believe the media or the actually parties involved?

Im inclined to side with the credibility of Reuters than whatever comes out of Cowens incoherant ramblings..

Biggins

RockinRolla wrote: »

Im inclined to side with the credibility of Reuters than whatever comes out of Cowens incoherent ramblings..

Same here to be honest.

Jericho.

RockinRolla wrote: »

Until now, I never realised what it was like to be in some banana republic where the media was controlled by the government. Ireland in 2010 is comparable to the USSR pre 1989 where we have to depend on foreign news sources to understand whats happening in our own country!

This isn't news and if it was they wouldn't report it anyways!

PCros

RockinRolla wrote: »

Im inclined to side with the credibility of Reuters than whatever comes out of Cowens incoherant ramblings..

I know but when you have the IMF and EU backing up Cowens statement its hard not to believe.

Biggins

PCros wrote: »

I know but when you have the IMF and EU backing up Cowens statement its hard not to believe.

The flip side of that argument is that they are not going to admit that there is quiet talks - for the sake alone of upsetting financial markets and the forth coming new bonds possibly issued in the new year.

Honestly? I don't know who's telling the truth - but I do know, time will tell and someone is going to have egg on their face (again?).

Who is more used to having egg on their face!

RockinRolla

PCros wrote: »

I know but when you have the IMF and EU backing up Cowens statement its hard not to believe.

Well, one side is telling porkies...

However, any kind of deal with the IMF-EU, as a matter of fact, would require a referendum laid out by the Irish constitution. Articles 1, 5 and 29 specifically, are in direct opposition to the proposed bailout with IMF interferance.

PCros

Biggins wrote: »

Who is more used to having egg on their face!

True...I just hope to god this time they dodge it so to speak.

Biggins

PCros wrote: »

True...I just hope to god this time they dodge it so to speak.

They better not take dodging lessons from Harney then!

upandcumming

My name is URL wrote: »

All media is a joke.. those great foreign news sources were making unsubstantiated claims about our future yesterday

Must have missed this? Which great foreign news source?

danbohan

PCros wrote: »

It is yeah

IMF: Ireland are grand they can get by alone
EU: No application for bailout received
Cowen: We didnt apply for a bailout

BBC: Ireland are fúcked
Sky: Ireland are fúcked
Bloomberg: Ireland are fúcked etc etc

Who do we believe the media or the actually parties involved?

check out greece week or so before the got bailout , same story denial by everybody, i am much more inclined to believe Reuters, bbc , bloomberg , than any of the 3 options you mentioned

Biggins

upandcumming wrote: »

Must have missed this? Which great foreign news source?

http://boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2056089240

RockinRolla

So apparently Cowen is furious that foreign news sources are letting us in on a few details...

gizmo

Biggins wrote: »

In general, RTE I've found (...and I could be wrong) tends to side BIG time with FF.

This I haven't really seen so far. What I have seen is them reporting on what the government are actually saying at which point, unfortunately, they add very little opinion to it. What they could of course do is examine these statements but again, you'd have a situation whereby those doing so could put their own spin on it.

Biggins wrote: »

Occasionally they offer up Primetime (presenters being sometimes known FF supporters, keep in mind) and other such material that appears to question our ministers and/or their policies* - but RTE news alone seems to be consistently spinning the latest FF propaganda more so than actually reporting with equal air time, the views/actions/policies of any opposition.

Primetime does seem overly tolerant alright but on the other hand I think Frontline come across as the other side of the spectrum.

As for reporting on the opposition side of things, well any time FG or Labour have said anything worthwhile, and by that I mean anything more than pointless bluster, it's been reported on. This in turn is usually presented in the same manner as the government's announcements so I don't really see the problem.

Overall I guess it boils down to how you take the news in general, personally I don't take any of it at face value and prefer to take in a variety of sources in order to build a picture of what's really going on. If you don't subscribe to that logic of course then I can see why you'd be more miffed.

brianthebard wrote: »

I think it depends on the journalist in some cases but some newsbodies can be clearly seen to lean one way or another. Regardless of that however they all have to criticise the government a bit, they would lose all credibility if they didn't.

Well that I can clearly see, at the level of the individual journalist there are some who clearly lean one way or the other.

RoundyMooney

Frontline, news at one (radio) and Morning Ireland, are excellent and impartial.

Tubridy, Duffy, Finucane, and Miriam, are a joke in terms of their lack of impartiality.

It boils down to this, RTE is the only semi state that has not seen major change in recent years, and is insulated from real world economics.

It is the ruling party that hold the purse strings, and RTE know that, and are intertwined in it.

FF do not have the moral compass to allow RTE true impartiality, they criticised Pat Kenny and his team only two weeks ago for having the temerity to criticise the government on Frontline.

RoundyMooney

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2010/1020/1224281544135.html

http://www.thejournal.ie/rtes-frontline-could-face-fianna-fail-boycott-2010-10/

This is what you're up against.

RockinRolla

But why are FF distancing themselves from any kind of deal if they are not telling porkies...

-Is it because they are afraid they will be forced to throw their own buddies and cronies to the wolves instead of the ordinary working people?

-Or are they afraid that they will be forced to put a stop to Eamon Ryan, Batt O'Keefe and others, and their 'grand schemes', that so much of a certain kind of political capital has already been built on the promise of?

-Or are they afraid they will be forced to cut all politician salaries, and demonstrate that they are serious about tackling corruption and cutting the political class down to size?

-Or are they afraid they will be forced to tackle the rampant rent-seeking, subsidy dole, and cartelism in this country, to reduce the cost of living and thus lower wages and welfare spending?

- Or are they afraid that they will be forced to cut state spending on private sector contracts, and further ruin the political capital they have built up on the back of clientism and cronyism?-

Should we not just bankrupt the country as a population, nobody would have to pay their mortgages and new clean banks could be set up...everybody wins.

maxxie

russia today lads

Biggins

RockinRolla wrote: »

But why are FF distancing themselves from any kind of deal if they are not telling porkies...

...Don't forget about a bye-election to win!

gizmo

RoundyMooney wrote: »

Frontline, news at one (radio) and Morning Ireland, are excellent and impartial.

Tubridy, Duffy, Finucane, and Miriam, are a joke in terms of their lack of impartiality.

It boils down to this, RTE is the only semi state that has not seen major change in recent years, and is insulated from real world economics.

It is the ruling party that hold the purse strings, and RTE know that, and are intertwined in it.

FF do not have the moral compass to allow RTE true impartiality, they criticised Pat Kenny and his team only two weeks ago for having the temerity to criticise the government on Frontline.

I'd agree with all of that bar the Frontline comment. I don't find it impartial at all and as I said in the above post, find it the mirror image of Primetime with respect to it's attitude to the government. Of course, FF considering a boycott of the program is completely juvenile and indefensible.

Speaking of the News At One actually, I noticed with some dismay that on Thursday they reported that industrial output in the country had risen 12% which was a nice change of pace to the general doom and gloom reporting. Unfortunately, the story was not run on any further news bulletin throughout the rest of the day which I found highly disappointing.

RoundyMooney

This is worth a read as well (yep, I know it's O' Reilly's rag!):

http://www.independent.ie/opinion/analysis/director-general-please-fix-our-lopsided-and-opinionated-rte-2418379.html

dotsman

RockinRolla wrote: »

Well, one side is telling porkies...

However, any kind of deal with the IMF-EU, as a matter of fact, would require a referendum laid out by the Irish constitution. Articles 1, 5 and 29 specifically, are in direct opposition to the proposed bailout with IMF interferance.

I don't think you quite understand how all this works.

skelliser

If you want to know how biased our media is toward the current status que then read this personal attack on a guy who predicted all of whats happened.

Sickening.
http://www.independent.ie/opinion/analysis/just-who-is-morgan-kelly-2419341.html

Dudess

RockinRolla wrote: »

Until now, I never realised what it was like to be in some banana republic where the media was controlled by the government. Ireland in 2010 is comparable to the USSR pre 1989 where we have to depend on foreign news sources to understand whats happening in our own country!

No it isn't - we can bitch and moan about it all we want. It's romantic to pretend we're repressed I'm sure, but we're not.

Monty Burnz

PCros wrote: »

It is yeah

IMF: Ireland are grand they can get by alone
EU: No application for bailout received
Cowen: We didnt apply for a bailout

BBC: Ireland are fúcked
Sky: Ireland are fúcked
Bloomberg: Ireland are fúcked etc etc

Who do we believe the media or the actually parties involved?

I believe the guys with nothing at stake, not directly under the control of the Irish government. What amazes me is that Irish people are suddenly aware that we are goosed - all the info you need has been in the public domain for at least 4 years. The problem is that, when we could have made a difference, nobody was interested.

Cowen and Lenihan have not told the truth for a long time, and they keep making wrong calls. I'm not a conspiracy theorist, but you will find that there are blogs and forums out there that are far superior sources of info than the goverment or (that other branch of government) RTE.

Nodin

Has anyone emailed the indo to see if we're allowed have this thread.....?

Monty Burnz

Dudess wrote: »

No it isn't - we can bitch and moan about it all we want. It's romantic to pretend we're repressed I'm sure, but we're not.

I believe he was referring to the control of the media, not to freedom of speech. And I thought it was pretty clear that he was referring to the media to be honest.

Cavehill Red

skelliser wrote: »

If you want to know how biased our media is toward the current status que then read this personal attack on a guy who predicted all of whats happened.

Sickening.
http://www.independent.ie/opinion/analysis/just-who-is-morgan-kelly-2419341.html

A poorer attempt at an ad hominem hatchet job I couldn't imagine. They admit he was correct, quote a rival saying he's correct, can't even list his qualifications (because googling didn't turn them up) and use the usual anoymous 'sources' to say he's eccentric.

Collins isn't a bad hack but he ought to be ashamed of this piece of sh!t.

sollar

Countries going bankrupt is always going to be big news. I remember years ago when argentina went belly up it was all over the news.

The government here have told so many lies how could we possibly believe them anymore

RoundyMooney

Cavehill Red wrote: »

A poorer attempt at an ad hominem hatchet job I couldn't imagine. They admit he was correct, quote a rival saying he's correct, can't even list his qualifications (because googling didn't turn them up) and use the usual anoymous 'sources' to say he's eccentric.

Collins isn't a bad hack but he ought to be ashamed of this piece of sh!t.

Liam Collins, on Morgan Kelly wrote:

He stayed largely under the radar until he spotted what should have been the bleeding obvious -- that the housing boom was mad.

Really, Liam? (Like The Sun's lawyers, always watching, I know some lackey from INM will see this).

One of the biggest cheerleaders for the housing boom was the paper that pays your wages, and you come out with this biased hypocrisy?

I know your paymasters wanted Kelly's head on a platter this week, but this is ridiculous.

RoundyMooney

On the question as to whether we believe our politicians, or foreign media sources, well let's wait and see, shall we?

I know what the tally is up to now, and it isn't exactly swinging in favour of our parliamentarians.

This is democracy, FF style.

Monty Burnz

The Economist - foreign media source - does anyone know what they were saying about Ireland during the bubble?

RoundyMooney

Monty Burnz wrote: »

The Economist - foreign media source - does anyone know what they were saying about Ireland during the bubble?

Yep:

Can it last? (2004):http://www.economist.com/node/3261071

Property slump coming? (2007): http://www.economist.com/node/9968857

The rest of what I found was limited to the price of art, the success of FF, and an article from October 14, 2004, where the tagline was, "What Eastern Europe Can Learn from Ireland".

So, overall, nothing too prophetic, I have to say.

Ulysses Gaze

Look....Pravda RTE are a joke. Difficult to believe anything that is fed to us from them. Kid gloves approach with most politicians from FF.

Remember this?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IgzhRxRMB_U

Mister men

Surprised people even watch the RTE news tbh anymore. I try to avoid it at all costs but it's good for a giggle sometimes.

Monty Burnz

Ulysses Gaze wrote: »

Look....Pravda RTE are a joke. Difficult to believe anything that is fed to us from them. Kid gloves approach with most politicians from FF.

Remember this?

How amusing. A grovelling apology to Cowen for showing satirical pictures of him slipped into a gallery, followed by a guy resigning from the incredibly dodgy DDA for taking advantage of a tax loophole. FF really have a problem on principle with developers paying any tax, don't they? You have to admire the way they stand up for the oppressed rich.