How important would you say the media are? If you said ‘Very’ you were probably near the mark. ‘Extremely’ would also have qualified and so would ‘stupendously’. Think about it. Do you know Barack Obama? Robert Mugabe? David Cameron? Most people, even though they’ve never met or even glimpsed any of these men in the flesh, would have firm views on them. The raw material from which they composed their thinking on the three came from the same source: the media. Think of it in colours: if the media supply the public with exclusively pink, it’s going to be very hard for the public to think in terms of brown or red. That’s why, when there’s been a revolution, the first stop-off point for the revolutionaries is the national broadcasting station. And that’s why most democrats shy away from the idea of a state-controlled media.
Which brings us to that excellent website, www.nuzhound.com . Pretty well every day it gathers together, in linked headline form, the major political stories about Ireland in the press that day. Here are a selection from the latest collection as I write: ‘Paudie McGahon’s IRA abuser raped boy in Dublin’; ‘Wilson held power over life and death of IRA volunteers if they transgressed’’ ‘What did Gerry Adams know about multiple instances of child abuse?’;’Paudie puts Spotlight on Sinn Fein’s cult side’. I could go on but you get the drift. Again and again the media present republicans as child abusers, killers of their own people, liars and generally bad, bad people.
Why are the media so intent on giving us a world view where republicans represent all that is corrupt and vile? Well, either they do so because republicans are corrupt and vile or…Or it’s the election, stupid. At the Sinn Féin Ard Fheis Gerry Adams warned that, with the party’s increasing popularity would come a hailstorm of criticism over the twelve months ahead. How right he was. People in the media express a thirst for justice on behalf of those allegedly abused; yet with every word they utter or write they make it harder for a fair trial of the alleged abuser to take place. Which in turn suggests their real concern is not to right an alleged wrong but to bludgeon Sinn Féin with those they express compassion for.
Regardless of your party allegiance, if you see the importance of an impartial media, this should worry you. What we have is an attempt to present the public with a world view where the source of all corruption is one party and one party only. In his Ard Fheis speech, Gerry Adams also invited people to compare the picture of the Shinner they know in their community with the picture of the average Shinner presented by the media. The only consoling factor in all this is that, if the polls are accurate, most people are still somehow pushing through the media hail-storm and heading for a place where they’ll make up their own minds.
Really bad news
Herman and Chomsky present a series of five “filters” to account for why the media serves the interests of the elite. The first filter that influences media content is that ownership of the media is highly concentrated among a few dozen of the largest for-profit corporations in the world.
The second filter is that of advertising, which has colonized the mass media and is responsible for most of the media’s income.
The third filter is that of sourcing. The media rely heavily upon news provided by corporate and government sources, which have themselves developed enormous bureaucracies to provide this material to the media. They have developed great expertise in “managing” the media.
A fourth filter is the development of right-wing corporate “flak” producers to harass the mass media and to put pressure on it to follow a corporate agenda.
The final filter is the ideology of acceptable journalistic practice, it is fully appropriate and expected for journalists to frame issues in terms of “our side” versus the “bad guys.”
In the context of the contrived consensus, austerity vs anti-austerity, a discerning electorate is reflecting on certain key facts. Poverty is a reality. Unemployment is a reality. Inadequate educational and health services are realities. Economic migration is a reality. We now have evidence that less than 30 individuals are responsible for the burden of debt which is now being borne by ordinary citizens throughout the country.
It is not renua we need but a RÉ NUA, a RÉ NUA with a system of fair taxation designed to provide high quality public services, not disposable income flowing out of the country to benefit the few and their siblings.
Plus ça change, plus c’est la même chose. Never was a proverb more true than when it is being applied to the present Irish media. We have been here before. At the launch of the Irish Press on the 5th of September, 1931 the Irish Press founder, Éamon de Valera, said the paper’s objective was: “To give the truth in the news, that will be the chief aim of The Irish Press. The Irish Press will be a truthful journal and a good newspaper”.
Back then it was founded to provide an alternative source of news and commentary to that of the State-backed media. Today such a venture would be unthinkable as print media continues to fight a rearguard action against the social media onslaught.
For anyone looking for a.good read and putting the present situation into context they could do worse than to take a look at the following article. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Irish_Press.
I long ago stopped believing anything I read in the papers, the Nationalist people of the north are politically sophisticated and can see through the propaganda. I haven`t read anything about this latest piece of nonsense just as I ignored the previous one and intend to blank out the next one. The people who trumpet these allegations would never vote for Sinn Féin. If Gerry Adams discovered a cure for cancer the media would condemn him for taking so long.
Jude, I have to disagree with you about “nuzhound”.As far as I’m concerned it is heavily biased against SF in the stories it selects.
You may be right, Michael. But I’d love to know where the counter-balancing pro-SF stories are published…
AP/RN!!!
Your blog Jude 😉
Well spotted, neill. That’s one.
The coven do be stirring up a big cauldron of witches brew to sprinkle on the citizens, most liberally on a Sunday.
What is touched upon today, Esteemed Blogmeister, is, as per usual, six miles closer to the truth than what Bangor is to Donaghadee.
And reminded one of a r-word that was in the news after a fashion some time ago.
That would be r for rendition. Now, there is r for rendition and then there is r for rendition. While both look the same, weigh the same, share a common address in the dictionary and are even spelled the same there is one not insignificant difference between them.
They don’t smell the same.
And the noses of the news hounds in the Free Southern Stateen, can smell a Rath six miles away. Especially if they are standing in Tallaght and facing towards Rathgar.
The significance of this forensic ability of the media monolith in DOB-land (so called after Denis O Brien) is fairly big. Not least because the unattractive Industrial Revolution never really gained traction in the non-Protestant F.S.S.
This left the not so wee South with a paucity of dark satanic mills with their foul-smelling smoke-belching chimneys. And the few that did get built have suffered in the economic downturns: weekly reports continue to come in of the latest, erm, olfactory closure.
That is a crucial reason why the news consumers of the FSS are so trusting in and dependent upon their dedicated news hounds who ‘tirelessly bark in the dark’ on their behalf..
Thus, when they are told that rendition in Shannon Airport is a good thing, they nod, and when informed that rendition in a Ringsend pub is a bad thing, they nod again, It has been described in academic circles as ‘the newshound/ nodding dog symbiosis’. Or something. Their inability to sniff the what-if being the critical factor.
Galoots in Biloxi, La, call it ‘cahoots’.
Rendition in Shannon (nee Rineanna, and may be one day soon again) , for the record, is the funnelling of crims and terrs drawn from the Sons of the Prophet to a holiday camp in the Caribbean. And because waterboarding is the popular aquatic sport there they are thoughtfully provided in transit with towels for their heads, according to the local embedded hackitariat..
Rendition in a Ringsend pub, on the other hand (the one remaining hand, perhaps) is a hoarse-voiced horse of a different cholera. And deserving of far more column inches in the Ballyhoo Broadsheet the Red top Ruckus and the Kerfuffle Chronicle.
It consists of a performance of a rabid rebel song of a particular rancidity (quote, unquote) by the pinstriped President of the FAI. (Which is also short for the Triumph of FAIlure).
Such was the hue and c. raised by this scandal of scandals (not featuring a sandal) that the hitherto high profile and ubiquitous John Delaney (for it is he !) has since dropped out of sight. Taken, it is rumoured, to the mattresses. Which rings a curious bell with the above (see under embedded) as rumour has it he is a true Son of the Prophet.
One imagines the room where the unknown mattress is located is a high-ceilinged one.
Nobody in the Free Southern Stateen seems to have queried this Hiberno form of house arrest.
Not indeed that one is out complaining, mind.
Another more recent example of this tendency of the ovine masses in the FSS to be led through the gap by crook-in-hand commentators concerned two bishops of sound-alike surnames, one from the USA and the other from the FSS.
The former made the headlines with his linking of Republicans (Irish variety) with ISIS while the latter with the linking of marriage, Mars and Venus with a rhyming word in the singular rather than the plural.
So, the great Readership of the Republic was faced with the choice: which bishop to boo?
As usual, the heavy lifting was done for them.
On the Booing of Bishops
Dolan chimes with Golan and its moral heights
Doran rhymes with Koran and immoral Shi’ites
Which bishop is taboo
Has little to do with you
And more with the media bores’ sound bytes.
Ruth Dudley Edwards is one journalist who seems to have an utter obsession with Sinn Fein, particularly Gerry Adams. I’m only 24, as you’d expect I wasn’t much interested in politics as a child or as a teenager, so I’m pretty new to RDE’s articles but I researched her previous work and it seems that her obsession with the Shinner’s is decades old. I even went as far to ask Ruth on twitter did she have a cherished “soft spot” for Gerry Adams and reminded her that he’s a married man, such was my concern at the content of her twitter feed, it consisted of Gerry Adams, Gerry Adams and yet more…..Gerry Adams. Obsession in any form isn’t healthy.
Now as the 2016 Irish General Election approaches and especially since Sinn Fein topped numerous opinion polls in the 26 counties it seems this “Shinner Bug” of obsession has infected other newspapers and media, not just poor Ruth.
But as with most bugs/illnesses they often get worse before they get better and I assume its going to get worse as we’re on the very eve of the polls opening for the 2016 Irish General Election…..
Think back a year of so, and the political and media storm about the story of Ann Travers.
We had politicians and media queuing up to interview her, to have her recount her tragic story, sympathise with her and blame those allegedly responsible for her problems.
But that feeding frenzy then moved on and searched round until they found Mairia Cahill, with whom they then sympathised and promised her undying support for a few months.
But that feeding frenzy has now moved on again and has found Paudie McGahon who is being urged to recount to the world his pain and trauma. How long before he is then discarded like yesterday’s newspaper?
Not very long, as the media and political leeches soon suck the victim dry until they haven’t an ounce of dignity or privacy left.
How long, I wonder, is it since either Ann or Mairia have had a tete-a-tete with Enda Kenny, Micheal Martin or one of the northern politicians who had jumped on the victim bandwagon?
Naturally the gutter press have lost interest in them and are searching for the next harrowing story to find out who they can next pillory.
For these people its just like the old time travelling circus – for one day only.
Jude, the elements of the media who attack SF only do so because they mistakenly believe that this party is still an irish republican group, the penny will eventually drop with them that SF have long abandoned any pretence to be republican as we all understood that noble position to be and when they do they will turn their attention to those who continue to uphold republican values. No disrespect to you Jude but when that happens im afraid you being rolled out everytime to defend the indefensible on the Shinners behalf will come to an end, so pocket what fees you can in the meantime and enjoy, just don’t tell Gerry and his friends about the fees as they might want you to contribute to their RESEARCH work !
Ha haaa – very good, Tony. If I was depending on fees from broadcasting I’d be part of the groups that SF say they are working to defend. Bur small correction – I’m not defending anybody other than my own views. If they coincide with SF, that’s good. My main point on Prime Time was that accusations should be supported by evidence. Would you not go along with that, Tony?
Absolutely Jude I agree with that last point, but you have also to accept that Gerry and co have left themselves wide open for what is now happening because of there Stalinist approach to any dissent within their ranks. That has fuelled the type of debate that is now been paraded across the media and allowed these sordid and despicable events that have occurred undeniably within the organisation to be used by some elements of the media to pour scorn on anyone who is a proud republican. I was waiting for MMG come out next and say that all those who claim that they were abused are really just attacking and endangering out beloved peace process !!
Which micro group are you with now Tony?
Jude you have spoken the most sense on this issue that i have seen .
SF it seems are always guilty until proven innocent .
What chance of a fair trial do any of the people concerned have with this kind of public trial going on ?
Their defence could easily argue they can never receive a fair trial given the public airing of these allegations without proof .
And when is anyone gonna ask Enda Kenny for his proof that Gerry Addams is more knowledgable than he is claiming ?
Michael c do I whiff a wee bit of “felon setting” there in your response? I don’t belong to any “micro group” as you refer to. A wee bit of historical information for you this morning, the term “micro group” was first used in referring to republicans back in the early seventies by the Sticks when referring to the then newly established PRM, so I am reliably informed. Ironic is it not that those who now use the term are members of that same PRM. Anyhow enough of that, Michael c play the ball not the man and seek if you can to contribute to what is a very serious debate which deals with some very serious and fundamental issues regarding a party which attacks everyone else over standards but is determined that no one should in any way take them to task lest it endangers the beloved “peace process”
Viv, there is some degree of fact in what you have said regarding a fair trial etc., however the victims in this case clearly felt that they had no other avenue in which to unburden themselves because of the despicable way in which they were treated by the organisation. I do however have some disquiet about the naming of Padraig in all of this as I feel that this was not fair nor justifiable to do so at this present juncture in the revelations. Just my personal opinion as I have always felt that if Padraig had any involvement he would have being acting under orders from on high. Happy St Patricks Day to you Jude and all contributors, we might get invited to meet the State Department in America next year if we do as we are told✌️
Thanks Tony. If I get an invite I’ll pass it to you – can’t stand that stuff anywhere…
You should see the story in todays Sunday world . IRA rapist friends with a person closely linked to Gerry Addams . Seriously that’s the angle , the alleged rapist knew someone who knew Gerry and a big photo of Gerry above the headline.
The witch hunt is in full swing .
For the record Tony,the Sticks never used the term “micro group”.I am around much longer than you and never heard it applied to the Provos. I have no problem identifying myself as 100 % SF and in total support of Gerry Adams.You however are much harder to pin down veering from “independent nationalist” to RSF of which there were at least 3 different variations at the last count.None of these variations have any electoral support whatsoever and spend most of the time denouncing each other in highly amusing terms.I think however “micro group ” could have been invented to describe the entire laughing stock that they have become.
For the record Michael c, that is your recollection of history reference the term “micro”, others have a different one. In terms of where I am regarding pinning me down I have throughout all of my adult life subscribed to the republican analysis of the situation here in Ireland and it’s determination of how our country can become a nation once again without outside interference. Your cheap jibe at RSF and others is to say the least a bit rich giving the platform which you support. Undoubtedly there are problems within what one might term the anti-treaty republicans but they pale into insignificance when one views what the Provisional organisation has done to the noble position of irish republicanism. I would suggest that you should make clear who you are on this blog rather than posting anonymously, it gives weight to your argument. Finally the late Sean Keenan of Doire always said to me and indeed many others the following, ” never follow a man or a woman, for they will always let you down, always follow the cause and it will never let you down”. Something I respectfully suggest for you to think about Michael.
Tony mcphillips,
I wouldn’t waste energy trying to convince those who are being led by the nose. In the mid eighties the British decided to play the long game and steer the provisional movement in a certain direction. They jailed or killed certain people with one hand and with the other hand, convinced others to be ‘agents of influence’ within the movement, ie ‘just encourage a ceasefire and report back to us who agrees’. From my own town it is blatantly obvious those agents are still floating around the same bowl. Funnily enough even the oul stickies who we were often told about with disdain are now in the shinners lol.
Rest assured if a ‘cutting edge’ were needed today it definitely wouldn’t be coming from any of the groups that run around my town, and that includes the shinners. The Brits played a blinder, hats off to them.
RSF ‘s version of “noble republicanism” involved killing each other with spades in the back streets of Belfast.
Wolfe Tone ,even oul stoops like Tony are now super republicans!
Michael c, your fixation with name calling reflects your inability to address the issues. I was wondering when you would roll out the old chestnut of “oul stoop” and “super republican”, clearly miffed at being called out. I just wonder would you be the same Michael c who made serious allegations against an esteemed priest from my neck of the woods without the presentation of any evidence, as per the protocol by which Jude has suggested we should look at the present allegations against Sinn Fein. For the record I don’t claim to be nor do I seek to be a “super republican”, but I can say without contradiction that I have spent all of my adult life from I was 18 years old, engaged in and promoting the cause of Irish republicanism so a bit of name calling from someone like you really cheers me up no end, I must be doing something right, you just keep on clapping like a seal everytime your esteemed leader puts his foot in it !!
Tony, I think you are starting to lose it.I dont know any “esteemed priests” from “your neck of the woods” so I havent a clue what you are talking about.Have you now taken to defending “faith and fatherland ” like super hibernian Gerry McGeough?
Night night Michael, name calling again! Your contribution to this debate has being truly outstanding NOT. You are a credit to your esteemed leader, no doubt you will be rewarded chief amongst seals
Very sorry about being late to this debate Jude – it’s the curse of e-mails piling up, and whilst trying to sort, read or dismiss the first page of mail – i’m coming across, and finding unopened mail on the previous mail page.
On the subject of media ownership, there’s one certain ex-Australian (no need to guess who) – who owns over 170 Newspapers (if you can call some of them that), Worldwide – and will no doubt be sticking his oar in over the water over the next 5 weeks.
At the moment, i’m reading an absolutely fascinating book by Owen Jones, called ‘The Establishment – And how they get away with it’ – An utterly compelling read which i urge you to read! (Did you know that Tony Blair is now worth a million £’s?!).
Also the same Author of ‘Chavs – The Demonisation of the Working Class’ – Equally as well-written, compelling etc.
By the way, many apologies for not posting a Comment after your ‘Booing The Bishop’ excerpt recently. ‘Things overtook me’ and wasn’t 100% – and it’s just now i’ve realised i didn’t post some words of praise for a beautifully written tale. A sad ending, but i think part of me saw that coming.
Once again Jude, you prove yourself to be a wonderful presenter of prose.
Thank you, John – I should hire you to murmur those words daily…