RTÉ whistleblower makes explosive 'insider' claims about election coverage

Seth Brundle · 09-09-2018 9:00pm #1

Not sure what the purpose of coming clean now is but this could get interesting...

A whistleblower claiming to be a senior and long-serving RTE employee has contacted 11 members of the Oireachtas with explosive new claims about the broadcaster’s coverage of the 2011 Presidential election.
...
The whistleblower claimed to have had a major role in the election coverage and maintained that Sean Gallagher, David Norris and Martin McGuinness did not get fair coverage during the campaign in comparison to the ultimate winner, Michael D Higgins.

The whistleblower said issues around election coverage extended beyond the controversy surrounding the final RTE Frontline televised debate hosted by Pat Kenny.

(I wonder if it's the same whistleblower as before)

https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/politics/rt-whistleblower-makes-explosive-insider-claims-about-election-coverage-37297374.html

Hurrache · 09-09-2018 9:11pm

It's not very explosive is it?

Rhineshark · 10-09-2018 7:58am

Why now in the next election though? The timing just smacks a bit of convenience, unless s/he was always going to wait out the term.

I dunno, after two years I'm seeing Tories in the hedgerows. (Tory-like critters that is, not actual Tories). If RTE were up to shenanigans, it does need to be dealt with, - but it should have been dealt with five years ago.

Benefits: Gallagher maybe
Definitely works against: Higgins, RTE.

realdanbreen · 10-09-2018 8:16am

Rhineshark wrote: »

Why now in the next election though? The timing just smacks a bit of convenience, unless s/he was always going to wait out the term.

I dunno, after two years I'm seeing Tories in the hedgerows. (Tory-like critters that is, not actual Tories). If RTE were up to shenanigans, it does need to be dealt with, - but it should have been dealt with five years ago.

Benefits: Gallagher maybe
Definitely works against: Higgins, RTE.

What's a 'tory like critter' ?

Dick Pickle · 10-09-2018 8:17am

Hurrache wrote: »

It's not very explosive is it?

Not very tbh

lawred2 · 10-09-2018 8:18am

How do they measure fair coverage?

jmcc · 10-09-2018 8:58am

lawred2 wrote: »

How do they measure fair coverage?

RTE? One candidate getting loads of questions from a rigged audience and RTE's own candidate getting none? The whistleblower has given TDs RTE e-mails, reports and notes and minutes of meetings. One of the TDs is supposed to be bringing this to the attention of the Minister for Communications. If any of this gets out and specifically details a pro-Higgins operation from RTE, then things could go very badly for Higgins and RTE. Not sure whether Gallagher would benefit directly. Worst case, such a release may cause a lot of problems for Higgins by tainting his election in 2011. Hasn't made the news on the RTE website yet for some reason.

Regards...jmcc

lawred2 · 10-09-2018 9:02am

jmcc wrote: »

RTE? One candidate getting loads of questions from a rigged audience and RTE's own candidate getting none?

Regards...jmcc

so more a case of unfair treatment then

fair coverage sounds like length of time given to answer questions or something

jmcc · 10-09-2018 9:18am

lawred2 wrote: »

so more a case of unfair treatment then

fair coverage sounds like length of time given to answer questions or something

Higgins was hobbling around after injuring his knee during the 2011 election. He also had a serious tremour in one of his hands. RTE concentrated on static shots and studio shots. Higgins, if you look at coverage from the election, started to appear with his hands folded when being interviewed. The RTE interviewers never posed any hard questions to Higgins but the other candidates did get hard questions and repeatedly so. The health issue would have been brought up immediately if RTE's coverage had been balanced. The "one term only" thing did seem to be a rather cynical move by the Higgins campaign to defuse some of this kind of questioning.

It will certainly be interesting to see if any of the material given to TDs will be put in the public domain. What happens next could have a major impact on the campaign. If the Minister for Communications decides that an investigation is necessary, then that could put the race wide open. If there's an attempt to kick this to touch for the duration of the election and the material starts getting leaked/published and is adverse to RTE, then it would be far worse.

Regards...jmcc

lawred2 · 10-09-2018 9:29am

jmcc wrote: »

Higgins was hobbling around after injuring his knee during the 2011 election. He also had a serious tremour in one of his hands. RTE concentrated on static shots and studio shots. Higgins, if you look at coverage from the election, started to appear with his hands folded when being interviewed. The RTE interviewers never posed any hard questions to Higgins but the other candidates did get hard questions and repeatedly so. The health issue would have been brought up immediately if RTE's coverage had been balanced. The "one term only" thing did seem to be a rather cynical move by the Higgins campaign to defuse some of this kind of questioning.

It will certainly be interesting to see if any of the material given to TDs will be put in the public domain. What happens next could have a major impact on the campaign. If the Minister for Communications decides that an investigation is necessary, then that could put the race wide open. If there's an attempt to kick this to touch for the duration of the election and the material starts getting leaked/published and is adverse to RTE, then it would be far worse.

Regards...jmcc

well here we are almost seven years later and the President seems to be in good health..

He seems to have weathered the term in office quite well and I can't remember off the top of my head him failing to perform official duties for health issues at any stage...

so maybe not the worst thing in the world that an elderly man wasn't asked to explain why he was so old..

seamus · 10-09-2018 10:13am

I'd reserve judgement on this alleged whistleblower tbh.

Nothing in any reports so far provides any real credibility for it, except the alleged existence of internal documents.

jmcc above, presumably does not work for RTE, but is able to put together a small catalogue of alleged biases that RTE showed towards Higgins. So in the same manner, anyone with a bit of an axe to grind or on the payroll of one of the dirtier candidates could easily put together a "portfolio" of allegations against RTE, based 100% on public knowledge and rumour, and zero "insider" information.

Nothing in what's so far reported indicates anything "new", merely a re-statement of the BAI's findings against RTE.

Convenient timing. RTE has always been beset by political interference, I wonder has someone been asking this whistleblower to sit on his hands until an "appropriate" moment?

blanch152 · 10-09-2018 10:40am

seamus wrote: »

I'd reserve judgement on this alleged whistleblower tbh.

Nothing in any reports so far provides any real credibility for it, except the alleged existence of internal documents.

jmcc above, presumably does not work for RTE, but is able to put together a small catalogue of alleged biases that RTE showed towards Higgins. So in the same manner, anyone with a bit of an axe to grind or on the payroll of one of the dirtier candidates could easily put together a "portfolio" of allegations against RTE, based 100% on public knowledge and rumour, and zero "insider" information.

Nothing in what's so far reported indicates anything "new", merely a re-statement of the BAI's findings against RTE.

Convenient timing. RTE has always been beset by political interference, I wonder has someone been asking this whistleblower to sit on his hands until an "appropriate" moment?

Without the internal documents, it could read like sour grapes.

However, if there are internal documents that show editorial decisions, such as no questions about health, or static photographs etc., then the accusations of bias may well have foundation.

It is not surprising that something like this has come out. Too many people in the past have focussed on media ownership such as Denis O'Brien's while ignoring the real editorial power that producers, directors and presenters have in places like RTE and Newstalk which gives them much more ability to deliver a biased perspective.

jmcc · 10-09-2018 10:47am

seamus wrote: »

Convenient timing. RTE has always been beset by political interference, I wonder has someone been asking this whistleblower to sit on his hands until an "appropriate" moment?

It may have escaped your notice but there is a presidential election in progress.

Regards...jmcc

seamus · 10-09-2018 10:53am

jmcc wrote: »

It may have escaped your notice but there is a presidential election in progress.

Regards...jmcc

Maybe my sarcasm isn't obvious enough.

This whistleblower has been hmming and hawing over this since 2011, and coincidentally has decided that now is the time to clear his conscience, because...oh look, it's made the national headlines!

It stink to high heavens of dirty tricks tactics rather than a genuine "concerned 3rd party".

jmcc · 10-09-2018 11:11am

seamus wrote: »

Maybe my sarcasm isn't obvious enough.

This is Boards.ie. It can be hard to tell.

This whistleblower has been hmming and hawing over this since 2011, and coincidentally has decided that now is the time to clear his conscience, because...oh look, it's made the national headlines!

Contacted TDs and the Indo. There were apparently two whistleblowers.

It stink to high heavens of dirty tricks tactics rather than a genuine "concerned 3rd party".

That's your opinion and one without seeing any of the evidence.

Regards...jmcc

blanch152 · 10-09-2018 11:42am

seamus wrote: »

Maybe my sarcasm isn't obvious enough.

This whistleblower has been hmming and hawing over this since 2011, and coincidentally has decided that now is the time to clear his conscience, because...oh look, it's made the national headlines!

It stink to high heavens of dirty tricks tactics rather than a genuine "concerned 3rd party".

There is an element of dirty tricks tactics or personal interest to every whistleblower - there is usually someone they want to get back at - and there is an element of genuine concern about every whistleblower as well.

No whistleblower is 100% motivated by either personal interest or genuine concern, there is a mix of both. Figuring out that balance within each whistleblowing occurence is a difficult task.

Rhineshark · 10-09-2018 12:17pm

realdanbreen wrote: »

What's a 'tory like critter' ?

Akin to a Tory, which right at the moment means "probably up to something". So what I'm saying there is that I find the timing a little suspicious and am wondering if it's connected to two candidates from that election running again, but after two years of watching the Tories up to shenanigans I may be being paranoid.

ArmaniJeanss · 10-09-2018 12:36pm

jmcc wrote: »

The RTE interviewers never posed any hard questions to Higgins but the other candidates did get hard questions and repeatedly so. The health issue would have been brought up immediately if RTE's coverage had been balanced.

Is candidate health ever actually brought up as an issue?
In elections here (EU and GE) we've had TV debates with blind candidates, paraplegic candidates, candidates with extreme stutters, major facial birthmarks/burns, being treated for cancer etc, and I don't recall RTE ever raising it as something which could affect the candidates ability to do the job if elected, or as something which needed to be explained/defended by them.

So it doesn't seem 'unbalanced' that MDH was also not asked these questions.

jmcc · 10-09-2018 1:03pm

ArmaniJeanss wrote: »

Is candidate health ever actually brought up as an issue?

If a candidate is old and appears to have health issues, then these would be fair questions. The presidency is a seven year job.

I don't recall RTE ever raising it as something which could affect the candidates ability to do the job if elected, or as something which needed to be explained/defended by them.

TV3 did highlight Brian Lenihan's terminal illness.

So it doesn't seem 'unbalanced' that MDH was also not asked these questions.

There's much more to the balanced coverage problem.

Regards...jmcc

Sleeper12 · 10-09-2018 1:19pm

I said it on another thread yesterday, Gallagher was robbed. I don't know if he would be a good or bad president but robbed all the same

Sleeper12 · 10-09-2018 1:21pm

Hurrache wrote:

It's not very explosive is it?

It is in that if its true they could be influencing general elections & referendums. It could be a huge story in the long run

marieholmfan · 10-09-2018 1:23pm

jmcc wrote: »

If a candidate is old and appears to have health issues, then these would be fair questions. The presidency is a seven year job.

Give other examples of RTE highlighting health issues.

Sleeper12 · 10-09-2018 1:26pm

marieholmfan wrote:

Give other examples of RTE highlighting health issues.

Can you give another example of elder candidate with visibility signs of ill health?

marieholmfan · 10-09-2018 1:27pm

Sleeper12 wrote: »

Can you give another example of elder candidate with visibility signs of ill health?

Are you Russian? You can't speak English that's why I am asking.
David Norris wasn't asked a load of questions about his health was he?

Sleeper12 · 10-09-2018 1:43pm

marieholmfan wrote:

Are you Russian? You can't speak English that's why I am asking. David Norris wasn't asked a load of questions about his health was he?

He wasn't visibly ill. If he was would they have hid it in the same way?

Not Russian but according to ancestry DNA I'm 7 percent Viking

Sleeper12 · 10-09-2018 1:44pm

marieholmfan wrote:

Are you Russian? You can't speak English that's why I am asking. David Norris wasn't asked a load of questions about his health was he?

Oh I'm dyslexic and autistic. If my spelling is wrong it ain't my fault.

jmcc · 10-09-2018 1:57pm

Sleeper12 wrote: »

Can you give another example of elder candidate with visibility signs of ill health?

Higgins was the oldest candidate in 2011. However Erskine Childers died in office of a heart attack. (That was pre-Social Media and with only one TV channel and one radio channel in the country.) If RTE had shown Higgins hobbling around with an injured leg, it would have affected his vote because people would subconsciously compare him to more healthy candidates. That moment of uncertainty is enough to change the outcome of an election. This is why candidates always try to be seen as healthy and active.

Regards...jmcc

Hurrache · 10-09-2018 1:59pm

You keep bringing up the health issue across different threads. I doubt having a hobbily leg would have made a difference to how most people voted.

jmcc · 10-09-2018 2:03pm

Hurrache wrote: »

You keep bringing up the health issue across different threads. I doubt having a hobbily leg would have made a difference to how most people voted.

And you are wrong. Most people will never physically meet the candidate for which they vote. This means that they rely upon media coverage. An aged candidate with visible health issues going for seven year job such as the presidency will immediately raise concerns over whether they can or cannot do the job and see out the seven years.

Regards...jmcc

Timberrrrrrrr · 10-09-2018 2:05pm

jmcc wrote: »

And you are wrong. Most people will never physically meet the candidate for which they vote. This means that they rely upon media coverage. An aged candidate with visible health issues going for seven year job such as the presidency will immediately raise concerns over whether they can or cannot do the job and see out the seven years.

Regards...jmcc

Maybe for you, it wouldnt even enter my mind if i saw someone limping or looking a bit pale.

Seth Brundle · 10-09-2018 2:06pm

Sleeper12 wrote: »

I said it on another thread yesterday, Gallagher was robbed. I don't know if he would be a good or bad president but robbed all the same

No he wasn't.
He was asked a question based on a tweet. he could have said that it absolutely was not true. However, he fumbled his way through a response and for many, people, knowing his FF links and that he had asked other people for donations, this was completely plausible.

At that point in 2011 FF were quite toxic. Their links to corrupt antics had sickened most people. For Seanie to be linked to this was damaging. Then to comment how he "had no recollection" of the donation.
Martin McGuinness also had credible info on Seanie's links to FF which Seanie tried to deny but couldn't.
The donation of 5k was poorly disputed by Seanie. McGuinness sternly stood up to Sean to the point that Seanie admitted taking the donation.
Seanie lost the debate and the election completely through his own fault. The tweet was unfortunate but was just the tipping point.

RTÉ whistleblower makes explosive 'insider' claims about election coverage

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