is the Irish Times viewed as a paper that only "big shots" buy?

Lt J.R. Bell · 10-04-2015 12:14PM

ToddyDoody wrote: »

"Big shot"? I'm thinking 9" cigar, sunglasses, lots of jewellery?

Do not forget,the cowboy hat.It's all about the cowboy hat

xrp · 10-04-2015 11:43PM

osarusan wrote: »

I've got this far: B _ L L S _ I T

Nah, that's hang man you're playing. I doubt you're capable of solving a simplex unaided

Del.Monte · 11-04-2015 12:35AM

I'm amazed that nobody has mentioned in this thread - well I'm not really as most of you are too young - the origins of our newspapers. Basically there were three main Irish newspapers in the 20th century: The Irish Press (Dev's paper read by FF voters; The Irish Independent (the paper of choice for FG voters) and the Irish Times (the pro-Unionist Protestant paper) and not forgetting the Cork Examiner (Examiner) read by all creeds and classes in Munster.

With the demise of the Irish Press its readers either went tabloid or swallowed their pride and moved to the Indo or Times. Protestants still tend to be born, engaged, married and die in the Irish Times but it's not their exclusive property anymore. It wasn't until 1986 that the IT had its first RC editor - Conor Brady but it had left the Unionist camp in the 1960s. These days its only interest is in making money and the return of property porn supplements must be manna from heaven.

I grew up with the paper, sometimes supplied material to them, and bought it every day until about ten years ago when one of their journos crossed me. Vindictive git that I am, I haven't bought a copy since - saved myself quite a lot of money in the process. I no longer read any newspaper save for the Antiques section of Saturday's IT supplied free in my local. Newspapers are finished and going online behind pay walls isn't going to save them.

ghostfacekilla · 11-04-2015 12:40AM

The only half decent newspaper in this country was the Tribune but that went bust, now I read the examiner and before anyone says anything, I have never set foot in Cork.

Independent =National Enquirer
Times=A newsletter for whichever party is in government

dxhound2005 · 11-04-2015 01:02AM

ghostfacekilla wrote: »

The only half decent newspaper in this country was the Tribune but that went bust, now I read the examiner and before anyone says anything, I have never set foot in Cork.

Independent =National Enquirer
Times=A newsletter for whichever party is in government

It is good to see that the Turbine was able to uphold such high standards eventhough it was from the same stable as the "National Enquirer" and the likes of the Sunday World. It's last editor is now making a living with the Sunday World. Sir Tony is to be congratulated.

In 1993, the INM group bought into the now defunct Sunday Tribune, in which it owned 98% of the issued share capital and over which it had considerable influence. As INM technically only held 29.9% of voting shares and so lacked management control, it did not consolidate the results of the Tribune, which was loss-making, with accumulated losses of around 45 million euro since acquisition. The Tribune went in to administration and closed in February 2011.

ghostfacekilla · 11-04-2015 01:53AM

dxhound2005 wrote: »

It is good to see that the Turbine was able to uphold such high standards eventhough it was from the same stable as the "National Enquirer" and the likes of the Sunday World. It's last editor is now making a living with the Sunday World. Sir Tony is to be congratulated.

In 1993, the INM group bought into the now defunct Sunday Tribune, in which it owned 98% of the issued share capital and over which it had considerable influence. As INM technically only held 29.9% of voting shares and so lacked management control, it did not consolidate the results of the Tribune, which was loss-making, with accumulated losses of around 45 million euro since acquisition. The Tribune went in to administration and closed in February 2011.

That's me put in my place. Well done.

Arbiter of Good Taste · 11-04-2015 09:10AM

The IT is a 36 page liberal leaning op ed. People saying it's "objective" just points to the leanings of the readers, not the objectivity of the writing

fits · 11-04-2015 09:22AM

I guess I am the only person who has subscribed then? I figure if I want decent journalism in Ireland I should pay for it. Would hate to see the paper's demise. If they went bust, whats left?

my friend · 11-04-2015 11:33AM

fits wrote: »

I guess I am the only person who has subscribed then? I figure if I want decent journalism in Ireland I should pay for it. Would hate to see the paper's demise. If they went bust, whats left?

Decent journalism in the Irish Times?

You're having a laugh, objectivity?
Fintan O'Toole - No
Kitty Holland - No
Frank McDonald - No
Una Mullaly - No
Tom Humphries - ssshhhhhh

The IT were pathetic at the Banking Inquiry, feeble hand washing.

dxhound2005 · 11-04-2015 12:24PM

The Irish times is viewed as the paper best highlighting the decline in reputable fact checking journalism.

All (or certainly most) Irish print journalism is gone to the dogs. It used to be semi ok but now its just sensationalist headlines disguising tired and lazy writing.

The Indo is a rag of the highest order

Those are three comments picked from Page 1 of this thread, there are plenty more in the same vein. And there is regular condemnation of the Indo and the Sindo for being Denis O'Brien controlled rags in political threads.

I am at a loss as to how these critics get to read these papers. It's not just as if they made the mistake of reading the paper for one day and decided that it is not to their taste. They seem to manage to read the content, especially the opinion pieces, on a regular basis. And in some cases are able to compare the standard of what they are reading now with that from previous times.

How is this done and maybe more to the point why is it done?

fits · 11-04-2015 07:02PM

my friend wrote: »

Decent journalism in the Irish Times?

You're having a laugh, objectivity?
Fintan O'Toole - No
Kitty Holland - No
Frank McDonald - No
Una Mullaly - No
Tom Humphries - ssshhhhhh

The IT were pathetic at the Banking Inquiry, feeble hand washing.

So tell me this,judging the paper as a whole rather than singling columnists out, where can you find better journalism in ireland? Do you think the country would be better or worse off without the irish times?

Tarzana2 · 11-04-2015 07:38PM

fits wrote: »

So tell me this,judging the paper as a whole rather than singling columnists out, where can you find better journalism in ireland? Do you think the country would be better or worse off without the irish times?

I don't think any of the broadsheets in this country pass muster, TBH.

So no worse off, IMO. The IT's fact-checking leaves a lot to be desired at times.

BetterThanThou · 11-04-2015 08:45PM

Irish Times is my go to paper if I run out without charging my phone and need something to read while on the bus, I'm a student, so I'm definitely not a big shot. The Irish Times isn't incredible, and it's pretty much crap like the rest of the newspapers, but it's better than most of them. My usual source for news is the internet, it's usually far more accurate.

RayM · 11-04-2015 09:14PM

fits wrote: »

I guess I am the only person who has subscribed then? I figure if I want decent journalism in Ireland I should pay for it. Would hate to see the paper's demise. If they went bust, whats left?

I subscribed too. Mainly for the digital archive. It has its faults, but it's the best Irish paper... and by a long way too.

the_syco · 11-04-2015 09:16PM

Lollipop95 wrote: »

teachers are frequently named in this category

Teachers = big shots? Eh? Do you live in dolesville? :pac:

is the Irish Times viewed as a paper that only "big shots" buy?

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