Yet again RTE on the 'news at one' discussed the media and FF. What is RTE's fixation with media (they mean print) and FF? As far as I am concerned there is an unholy alliance between media (print) and FF, with both parties needing each other. Imagine a world where Bertie has no financial problems, no Dick Roche, no Martin Cullen and so on. There would be acres less newsprint and consequently acres less advertising. Is this RTE's problem ? Advertising?
RTE, The O'Reilly Rag Group, the Irish Times and (even though it goes without saying) the Irish Examiner are all anti-FF media institutions in this state.
You keep saying this, but O'Reillys crowd are blatently FF.Originally Posted by Corcaigh33
I mean, are you blind, or how can you pick up a pro-FG bias in the Sunday Indep?
This election demonstrated the power and its abuse by the media. At the beginning of the campaign they were very anti-Bertie and anti-government. This allowed FG and Enda Kenny in partilcuar be prortrayed as the "alternative government and Taoiseach" - these terms were used, not opposition parties, or leader of the opposition. They all included the Greens in the Alliance for change, regardless of the independent stance of that party. This created a good story after the public got bored about Bertie's finances.
Then there was the Boyne, Westminister, the Leader's debate and the "dream on, baby" moment and BANG, the media, including RTE swung solidily behind Bertie and FF.
Now the election is over, the media have reverted to type (with the exception of the Irish Times which seems to be developing a grudging admiration for Ahern) with the worst example the Mail's headline "The Great Deceiver" based on an opening statement by a lawyer of allegations made a tribunal discredited by the use to which it has been put - initially by FF to kick to touch alleagtions and more lately by sinister political forces to attack Ahern through leaked information.
the oreilly papers came out in support of the taosieach as they have done since 1997
Yup, the Sindo was briefly anti FF over the stamp duty issue (tony must be moving house) and then boom, Fanning gets his interview with Ahern.. spread over three weeks and the likes of Brendan O'Connor etc do hatched jobs on kenny etc. It's been very pro-FF ever since the a) mobiel licence went to O'Brien b) chorus deflector issue.
O'Reillys influence is extremely unhealthy. That people can even say RTE are anti FF is ludicrous! Ahern & Dempsey gave them huge rises in the licence fee and they go softly softly around Ahern. Are you honestly telling mke that the BBC, Paxman etc would have done what Dobson did with him? They'd have nailed him to the cross...
"It was for my difficulties with my separation", yeah the one done several years ago, pass me the tissues. The British media would have destroyed FF years ago, the irish lean over and take it up the a**
Might have something to do with us being the biggest party in the State adamirer
860,000 is a alot of people you see
The daily Independent was anti FF, the Sunday Independent was pro-FF with Harris and O'Connor (although Gene Kerrigan and others were anti-FF)You keep saying this, but O'Reillys crowd are blatently FF.
I mean, are you blind, or how can you pick up a pro-FG bias in the Sunday Indep?
Might have a lot to do with a lot of things... propaganda is not news.
Personally I feel papers should report the news, not make it. The likes of the SUN going for Blair, Indo headline in 97 - because decisions didn't go O'Reillys way aren't healthy. The likes of Murdock & O'Reilly hold far too much influence... It's just a shame our public service broadcaster doesn't have the BBC's backbone.
RTE analysis of the leaders debate was ridiculous - the dogs on the street could see that Ahern was way ahead of Kenny and yet RTE had some lackey in from the Irish Times saying it was a draw and RTE presenter didn't even challenge him.
Newspapers are private, commercial enterprises not subject to any regulation so can go for one party or another on the whim of the owner or editor. FG backers could quite legitimately set up a newspaper with a pro FG stance tomorrow if they so wished.
The Evening Echo (part of the Examiner family) in Cork was close to being election material for the FG candidates down here in last few weeks before the election. The other candidates could grumble but **** all they could do about it.
