RTE have been at it again it seems! (presidential election debate)

Ghandee

RTE have been found to be biassed again when it comes to politics.

How RTE worker put Labour pal in 'Frontline' audience

N RTE worker allowed his Labour party friend to ask questions in the critical 'Frontline' Presidential debate, it's been revealed.

The RTE production staff member made the pal one of the few hand-picked questioners in the 'make or break' show. A report also found eventual winner, Michael D Higgins, was given a softer ride than other candidates. 'Frontline' staff redrafted audience questions and got one person to ask a question submitted by someone who did not attend the broadcast.

No "direct, challenging question" was put to Mr Higgins from those present and the report said this was "wrong" and a "significant omission". It said all questions asked were based on the views of the questioner, but one audience member was presented with something to ask because the original questioner could not make it to Montrose because of bad flooding that night. The report also says this was "wrong". In the run-up to the show, researchers discussed with audience members the questions they wanted to ask

. On the night of the broadcast, in October 2011, the production team provided them with redrafted summaries of the questions. The report said the team "at times stretched the definition of redrafting to a point closer to writing out exactly how the question should be delivered". However, it claimed the mistakes made in the "programme were not the result of bias or partiality". Of 11 audience questions asked, three went to Sean Gallagher, two to Sinn Fein's Martin McGuinness, and one each to Gay Mitchell, David Norris and Mary Davis. Mr Higgins and Dana Rosemary Scallon were not asked questions by the audience. Three went to the panel as a whole. The report found it was "editorially justified" to ask Sean Gallagher, the "apparent front-runner", more questions. But it added: "The lack of direct audience questions for Michael D Higgins should have been identified and rectified during the live transmission. "A significant contributory factor to this omission was the lack of a senior editorial figure whose sole responsibility on the night was to view the programme during transmission and identify editorial and compliance issues as they arose." It claims the reason Mr Higgins got an easier time was because programme makers only received a small number of questions about him

. One questioner who was to ask him his views on abortion did not turn up because of the flooding. Unchallenged But it also claimed that the lack of tough questions to Mr Higgins did not mean he went "unchallenged", with presenter Pat Kenny asking him questions. "The presenter did put questions directly to him and followed up his answers. Two of the general 'panel' questions were put to Mr Higgins first." A Labour supporter, Dermot Fitzpatrick, asked a question relating to Senator David Norris's judgment. Mr Fitzpatrick did not acknowledge his support for Mr Higgins. He had publicly declared his support for Mr Higgins in an online exchange with Tom Kelleher, a Labour councillor in Fingal and former general election candidate in Dublin North.

http://www.independent.ie/national-news/how-rte-worker-put-labour-pal-in-frontline-audience-3297156.html

Paragraphs are a bit wonky, (on my phone) but you get the jist.

Unbiased journalism from RTE yet again.

Wacker The Attacker

meh

Ghandee

Wacker The Attacker wrote: »

meh

Are you a goat?

checkyabadself

RTE is a state owned broadcaster and therefore cannot be neutral, even though they may try to be.

Fishooks12

Ghandee wrote: »

Are you a goat?

Goats don't say "meh".

Guy:Incognito

How does this all work though? For years the go to quip on boards has been relating to RTE always helping their FF mates..........

Richard Hillman

It was a travesty. Rte are never held to account in this country. The bbc probably would have been shut down after what went on that night.

No debates should be held in front of a studio audience in future

seamus

Wonderful reporting by the indo as usual. Lots of references to "the report", but absolutely no information on what this report is, who produced it, when, where or how.

Also,

A Labour supporter, Dermot Fitzpatrick, asked a question relating to Senator David Norris's judgment. Mr Fitzpatrick did not acknowledge his support for Mr Higgins.

Eh, so? Why should someone posing a question be required to say what side they're on. A question is a question. The audience member isn't debating, so there's no requirement on them to declare who they're voting for.

Another journalistic triumph for the Indo. Bloody rag.

Wacker The Attacker

Guy:Incognito wrote: »

How does this all work though? For years the go to quip on boards has been relating to RTE always helping their FF mates..........

Ryan Tubridy and Joe Duffy spring to mind.

Is there any doubt as to their FF credentials?

lertsnim

Richard Hillman wrote: »

The bbc probably would have been shut down after what went on that night.

I doubt it. They are still going strong even after all that child abuse.

Ghandee

Guy:Incognito wrote: »

How does this all work though? For years the go to quip on boards has been relating to RTE always helping their FF mates..........

They don't call the tune anymore though.

FG may call it, but let's be honest here, Gay was never really in the running.

Looks like anyone but Gallagher was ok for them.

Wacker The Attacker

Richard Hillman wrote: »

It was a travesty. Rte are never held to account in this country. The bbc probably would have been shut down after what went on that night.

No debates should be held in front of a studio audience in future

They covered up for an alleged paedophile and werent shut down.

Dont kid yourself

super_furry

Someone should call Joe Duffy.

Wacker The Attacker

super_furry wrote: »

Someone should call Joe Duffy.

Only if it were SF

GRMA

Its amazing... the BBC head has to go because he didn't know about the newsnight about McAlpine which didn't even name him, yet the RTE show about that poor priest, which named him, didn't allow him to prove his innocence and doorstepped him, the RTE head claims he didnt know about the show and that acts as a cast Iron defense!


RTE, corrupt as fcuk!

fishy fishy

seaneen, go back to bed - you lost, deal with it already.

sureitsgrand

Ghandee wrote: »

RTE have been found to be biassed again when it comes to politics.

How RTE worker put Labour pal in 'Frontline' audience



http://www.independent.ie/national-news/how-rte-worker-put-labour-pal-in-frontline-audience-3297156.html

Paragraphs are a bit wonky, (on my phone) but you get the jist.

Unbiased journalism from RTE yet again.

You say that RTE are found to be biased.

The quoted article then goes on to say that "mistakes made were not a result of bias or partiality"

Ironing. Delicious ironing.

Ghandee

sureitsgrand wrote: »

You say that RTE are found to be biased.

The quoted article then goes on to say that "mistakes made were not a result of bias or partiality"

Ok, I apologise biassed would indeed be too strong a word to describe it, perhaps it wasn't biassed.
Serious mistakes were made though, that just may have affected the outcome of the election.
So much so, RTE have disciplined staff responsible, and apologised.

RTE's head of news and current affairs has disciplined several staff and apologised over the glaring blunders that marred last year's infamous Frontline presidential debate.

http://www.independent.ie/national-news/rte-punishes-staff-and-says-sorry-for-frontline-debacle-3297392.html

sureitsgrand wrote: »

Ironing. Delicious ironing.

What has pressing clothes have to do with anything

Chavways

What are we complaining about this week?

Green Diesel

Possibly the best piece of RTE television I watched last year.*


* excluding love/hate.