Irish Times dutifully on message for the 'Yes' campaign

Monday June 09, 2008 11:06

by Miriam Cotton - MediaBite

Balanced reporting last seen being ushered out of the window

The Irish Times goes all out on behalf of the 'Yes' Campaign. Expect more of this nauseating lecturing over the next few days.

In an unattributed piece and a report by Mark Hennessy, Political Correspondent today both go so far out of their way to endorse the 'Yes' vote that it almost leaves you smiling. Well, it might do, if you weren't concerned about how the government is misleading Irish people about the true meaning and significance of the Lisbon Treaty.

Speaking of truth, and possibly aware that many voters feel they are being lied to about Lisbon, Eamon Gilmore addresses the problem head on. He is quoted as saying:

"But there are times when you have to give people honest leadership. Honesty in politics is not just about keeping your hand out of the till. It is also telling the truth. And we are telling the truth"

That of course is one of the largest porkie pies told by any member of the yes camp during this campaign. Is Gilmore, for instance, telling people that provision has been made to ignore the result of the referendum if the no side win? That the whole exercise is probably completely pointless?

Mark Hennessy, in a valiant display of journalistic independence, could only find the stomach to include a single line from a 'No' campaigner in his report - quoted as is usual when these sort of tactics are being used, right down at the bottom of the piece where it is made to seem irrelevant. And guess which no campaigner ? Yawn, Ganley of Libertas of course. Is Hennessy so completely unaware of the conventions of his professional duty that he does not see fit to respect the huge number of people who are seriously opposed to the Treaty? To provide representative analysis and views from both sides? Not a bit of it. That is not the way for any career-minded guy to get ahead in advertising - and advertising pure and simple is what this IT coverage amounts to, for sure.

Good boy, Mark. A million brownie points to you.

http://www.ireland.com/newspaper/frontpage/2008/0609/12....html

I dunno about many other people but nothing can induce apoplexy in me like the style of paternalistic, opinion-shaping editorials which are by now, courtesty of Madam, almost its stock in trade whenever the public is being appealed to or rmight have a grain of influence over events. The see-here-children-do-as-the-nice-men-are-telling-you style of contempt for the kids (aka the electorate) is almost a form of psychological torture. Without a single qualifying piece of evidence to support a single one of the claims Brian Cowen makes, we are gently encouraged to gulp down our medicine without noticing its disgusting taste. So once again we are urged to believe the fatuous postulations, claims and threats of Cowen, Kenny and Gilmore:

"The Taoisearch did not back away from warnings that a No vote would result in Ireland losing influence"

"Will we move forward as positive members of the European Union or will we take a new and far more uncertain route?"

Get that phrase 'did not back away from' . It's Brian Cowen as valiant warrior in the face of marauding hordes; the fearless champion of all that is best. I wonder whether or which some PR company was drafted in to help them push all those buttons?

Are there grounds for a complaint to the Press Ombudsman? Surely, the press has a duty in realtion to fulfil in these circumstances - a duty that the IT is in danger of almost completely disregarding? We are entitled to be told the truth. The public are looking to the press in large measure for the facts and if the IT continues in this vein throughout this week, then something ought to be done about it and them.

http://www.ireland.com/newspaper/breaking/2008/0609/bre...1.htm