THE NEW ORDER AT INM
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Category: Media
PROFILE: PAUL O’NEILL
Media, 10 October 2019
PHOENIX READERS will have been entertained by the anguished debate in which Irish Times journalists have become embroiled over alleged sexism at the “macho”, male-dominated newspaper (see edition, 23/8/19). But while editor Paul O’Neill must deal with the fall-out from these claims of most un-Irish Times behaviour, he will be more concerned at the latest… Read more »
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NÓRA QUOIRIN: THE FRENCH CONNECTION
Media, 22 August 2019
IN AN effort to get ahead of the news, an Irish Times front-page splash on Nóra Quoirin last week said, “Suspicions grow that 15-year-old was kidnapped and murdered”. This came the day after its front-page headline said, ”Further investigation in Quoirin case hinges on postmortem result”. Next day’s ‘kidnap and murder’ story –published despite the… Read more »
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IRISH TIMES IMAGE
Media, 15 August 2019
IN AN unusually unsubtle PR move, the Irish Times announced the editorial promotion of two women the weekend following The Phoenix story about alleged bullying and discrimination against the paper’s women journalists (see The Phoenix, 26/7/19). Olivia Kelly’s promotion from Dublin correspondent to Dublin editor and the appointment of Freya McClements as northern correspondent were… Read more »
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MICHELLE’S MAYO MADNESS
Media, 25 July 2019
FINE GAEL farming members, a mainstay of the party for generations, are not enamoured of their Galway West TD, the fragrant Hildegarde Naughton, but they do rather like their party’s Mayo senator, Michelle Mulherin. Hildegarde is chair of the Oireachtas joint committee on climate action and she has delivered much progressive rhetoric and support for… Read more »
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BANNING THE DAILY MAIL
Media, 3 July 2019
HIGH ANXIETY has surrounded coverage by mainstream and social media of the Ana Kriégel murder trial, mostly for good reasons. But reaction to trial judge Justice Paul McDermott’s initial blanket ban on media coverage – followed by his retreat to a limited ban on just one media title – was a little paranoid. Interestingly, while… Read more »
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MURDER TIMES
Media, 19 June 2019
THE IRISH TIMES business pages found a rather unusual angle on Friday with the headline “Beware the lure of CFDs, beloved of convicted murderer Patrick Quirke”. In the piece, markets correspondent Joe Brennan, says that: “Those who closely followed the recent trial of Patrick Quirke, who was convicted last month of the murder of part-time… Read more »
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“MONEY MESSAGE”
Media, 14 June 2019
WRITING IN today’s Irish Times, legal academics Eoin Daly and David Kenny highlight an ‘obscure mechanism’ government has been using to block the implementation of opposition Bills. The pair underline that Fine Gael are taking advantage of ambiguity around what kind of legislation is subject to the ‘money message procedure’ to avoid enacting laws they… Read more »
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THE SINDO’S TOP TIPS
Media, 11 June 2019
ANYONE paying rent these days is aware of the extortionate prices being charged by landlords, but never fear the Sindo has some groundbreaking tips to escape the “rental trap so you can own your home.” And here they are: Start saving, move back home, get a handout, get a state digout, get an exemption, record… Read more »
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MEDIAHUIS SPANNER IN IT WORKS
Media, 7 June 2019
THE IRISH TIMES gave the Mediahuis takeover of INM a guarded endorsement, saying the new owners offered a fresh start for the group and that, on paper, it looked like a “smart deal” for the Belgians. The “paper” reference was unlikely to have been a deliberate pun, but the IT had been gratified at what… Read more »
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DENIS O’BRIEN’S TROPICAL STORMS
Media, 6 June 2019
DENNIS O’BRIEN has secured a rare courtroom victory by winning the first round of a legal battle against the government of Antigua and Barbuda. For the background to Dinny’s Caribbean adventures read below. THERE IS TROUBLE brewing in paradise where Denis O’Brien is heading for court once more. This time in the Caribbean, where Digicel… Read more »
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FIRST CLASS SECOND CAPTAINS
Media, 5 June 2019
OVER TWO years after the Second Captains podcast crew decided to down tools at the Irish Times, the team performance is approaching Champions League standard. Figures filed by one of the boys suggest that the gamble continues to pay off. Readers will recall that the ‘captains’ – Eoin McDevitt, Ken Early, Ciarán Murphy, Simon Hick… Read more »
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PRESS COUNCIL — SECRET INFO
Media, 5 June 2019
WHAT AN intriguing postscript at the end of the May 26th edition of the Sunday Business Post’s publication of the Press Council’s rejection of its appeal against an adverse ruling. The council had ruled in favour of RTÉ’s Ken O’Shea, who as current affairs editor was held responsible by RTÉ in the matter of that… Read more »
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KATIE TAYLOR’S (UN)DISPUTED VICTORY
Media, 4 June 2019
THE Irish Independent did its patriotic bit for Katie Taylor following her “undisputed” victory in the women’s world lightweight championship fight in New York. Under the headline, “KATIE AN INSPIRATION AND ROLE MODEL TO ALL YOUNG WOMEN”, the paper’s editorial noted dismissively that there was “some controversy” about the verdict, but declared that this was,… Read more »
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MARIA BAILEY AND PAUL ALLEN
Media, 4 June 2019
FANS OF GOLDHAWK won’t be surprised by weekend reports that PR guru Paul Allen popped up in the ongoing Maria Bailey ‘Swing Gate’ debacle. Allen accompanied the embattled TD to RTÉ studios last Monday where she gave a now legendary interview on the Sean O’Rourke show. Speaking to Pat Kenny on Friday, Allen said that… Read more »
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RTÉ’S POLITICAL PRIORITIES
Media, 2 June 2019
WHILE RTÉ’S coverage of the election counts was up to its usual high standard, the scheduling of EU election debates – easily the most watchable TV political coverage – was regarded by Montrose programmers as baffling. The first debate, hosted by Murrium O’Callaghan, was broadcast at 10.30pm on Sunday night, just as many middle-aged and… Read more »
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FANCY THAT!
Media, 31 May 2019
THE INDO has finally caught up with Goldhawk who predicted at the start of May that Peter Vandermeersch would be keeping a close eye on the Talbot St outfit.
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NIALL MCGARRY’S ‘IRISH BUZZFEED’
Media, 31 May 2019
GOLDHAWK is almost tempted to pop over to Aviemore in Scotland next week for the annual Celtic Media Festival jamboree, where the great and good will be enjoying a “phenomenal celebration of Celtic media excellence”. Apparently, the shindig will host “some of the leading names from Celtic and international media and broadcasting, including BAFTA, BBC,… Read more »
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IRISH TIMES RESUMES BANGING THE DRUM
Media, 31 May 2019
No sooner had the guns fell silent on the European elections did the creep of militarism return to the pages of the Irish Times. The paper published no less than six articles in two days on the back of an extensive interview with former head of the Army Ranger Wing, Commandant Cathal Berry. Coverage was… Read more »
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NO CHANGE IN CLIMATE AT RTÉ
Media, 30 May 2019
HOPES THAT the election outcome would herald the dawn of a mature debate on climate change were quickly dashed this week, as RTÉ returned to the same old Punch and Judy show. Things heated up on Monday’s Liveline programme, when, following the most successful Green endorsement in history, Joe Duffy facilitated a succession of callers… Read more »
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RTE’S LIBEL REGIME
Media, 22 May 2019
CHANGES ARE afoot at RTÉ where Eamonn Kennedy has left the role Director of Legal Affairs after 24 years. He will be replaced by media Lawyer Paula Mullooly who is also stepping into the role of Group Secretary. Previously working with A&L Goodbody, Mullooly has advised the station in its programme making for a number… Read more »
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FIANNA FAIL AND LIBEL REFORM
Media, 20 May 2019
IN laudable proposals to “sustain high quality journalism in Irish public life”, Fianna Fail last July demanded a review of the libel laws in a cry from communications spokesman, Timmy Dooley, in support of “the democratic need for freedom of expression”. This was welcomed by Newsbrands Ireland, the newspaper industry representative group, as a necessary… Read more »
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RTÉ’S COMPLIANCE CONCERNS
Media, 18 May 2019
FANS OF Irish daytime TV will be familiar with Today with Maura and Daithí, fronted by the dream team of Maura Derrane and Daithí Ó Sé. This is the daily, two-hour, RTÉ One show that “brings you the latest showbiz news, comment and opinion, Ireland’s biggest giveaways, inspirational fashion tips and recipes”. However, according to… Read more »
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REVIEW: WINGMAN – RTÉ ONE
Media, 17 May 2019
THE LATEST Baz Ashmawy vehicle got off to a typically improbable start when the manic-eyed presenter assured viewers that, “with the right help, anything is possible”. This new exercise is depressingly similar to his hit show 50 Ways To Kill Your Mammy – a huge commercial success thanks to Sky’s involvement. Read the full review… Read more »
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DANA’S CROSS-BORDER LIBELS
Media, 17 May 2019
EX-PRESIDENTIAL candidate and singer, Dana, took the Sunday World for a sum not far off €200,000 plus mammoth legal costs in the Belfast High Court last November with the newspaper apologising for material on its website and Facebook page. Despite this admission from the Sunday Worst, Independent News & Media (INM), owners of Sunday Newspapers… Read more »
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SAME OLD SONG: ‘ANTI-SEMITISM’
Media, 16 May 2019
IRISH TIMES opinion formers lapsed into pro-Israeli sentiment recently, not for the first time, as defenders of Israel’s hosting of the Eurovision song contest dominated the newspaper’s columns. Supporters of BDS (Boycott, Divestment Sanctions) were relegated to the letters pages and occasional quotes rejecting allegations of extremism. The IT published a lengthy interview with Israeli… Read more »
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‘SEXED UP’ DEBATES
Media, 16 May 2019
RTÉ have taken some flak and even a High Court challenge in recent weeks over the selection of panels for election coverage. Labour’s Dominic Hannigan was incensed following his exclusion from a Week in Politics debate and penned a letter accusing the station of “sexing up its coverage” and “making up the rules as it… Read more »
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SHADY DATA PRACTICES
Media, 8 May 2019
READERS WILL have been amused to see Breda O’Brien railing against online political advertising in last weekend’s Irish Times. While referencing the 2008 Obama campaign and the Cambridge Analytica scandal, the columnist had rather less to say about technical innovations adopted by the No campaign during last year’s Eighth Amendment referendum. Shady data practices and… Read more »
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COURT’S MEDIA MUZZLE
Media, 7 May 2019
THERE WAS much consternation on Friday when Justice Paul McDermott ordered reporting restrictions on the Ana Kriegel murder trial. Journalist Sarah Jane Murphy was quick to condemn “careless/vindictive tweeters” who “act like children on social media”. Michael O’Toole from The Star lambasted Twitter to “stop fucking commenting, flutes”, while Declan Brennan of Courts News despaired… Read more »
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DERVAN’S FIERY FAI DEBUT
Media, 6 May 2019
THE THEN FAI boss John Delaney announced the appointment of veteran sports hack Cathal Dervan as the FAI’s director of public relations and communications, with the following remarks: “These are exciting times for the game in Ireland… there is a lot to look forward to… we are also about to introduce new governance procedures at… Read more »
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‘BUSINESS POST’ BUSINESS
Media, 4 May 2019
SUNDAY BUSINESS POST chief executive Siobhán Lennon’s goodbye bash in Doheny & Nesbitt’s Baggot Street hostelry last week saw her replacement, Colm O’Reilly, mingle with the newspaper’s hacks and other staff. O’Reilly has a rather different professional pedigree to Lennon’s, but he is a close colleague and partner of Post proprietor Enda O’Coineen. Read more… Read more »
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FIONNAN SHEAHAN’S PROMO
Media, 3 May 2019
HOW VERY strange are the promotions of Irish Independent editor, Fionnan Sheahan and Sunday Independent editor, Cormac Bourke to the new posts of editor-in-chief, and editor of the Irish and Sunday Indo titles respectively. And what timing, with the titles bestowed on them within two days of the Belgian takeover. Just under a year… Read more »
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SEX & MURDER: THE INDO’S SALACIOUS COVERAGE
Media, 3 May 2019
CONGRATULATIONS to the Indo for managing to churn out no less than 25 stories over 21 pages of print on the so-called ‘Love Rival Murder Trial’ over the last two days. Here are those headlines: Quirke guilty ‘We have got justice for Daddy today’ – relief for family after trauma of three-month ordeal Prisoner 107243… Read more »
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INM’S BELGIAN IMPORT?
Media, 2 May 2019
NERVOUS HACKS at Independent House must be wondering what kind of changes the imminent Belgian owners of Independent News and Media have in mind. While the current noises emanating from Mediahuis are soothing, it is clear that any new owner of a media group will bring its own ideas. Interesting then to see that one… Read more »
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FAILTE MEDIAHUIS
Media, 2 May 2019
While shareholders may have taken a bruising this week, press reactions to the takeover at Independent News & Media were broadly optimistic. Commentators were keen to emphasise the business acumen of Mediahuis and their “focus on quality journalism”. However, it wasn’t all plain sailing for the Belgian publisher which had some INM-type battles of its… Read more »
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ANNE HARRIS & DENIS O’BRIEN’S ‘CONTROL’
Media, 1 May 2019
“A JADED CANARD laid to rest” was how Anne Harris described Denis O’Brien’s approval of the INM sale in today‘s Irish Times indicating, she claimed, that this proved he had controlled the company all along, despite vigorous denials. In fact, the sale’s approval was a result of not only O’Brien’s but also Desmond’s endorsement. No… Read more »
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