Comments on: Brian Kearney Murder Trial: RTÉ News reports

By: Bock

Bock — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 00:27:23 +0000

You've missed the point. This post is about RTÃ‰'s reports on the case.

Also, let me explain to you that writing in capitals is considered shouting. Please don't shout.

By: D. KENNY

D. KENNY — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 00:16:31 +0000

I CANT BELIEVE THE DISCUSSION TAKEN PLACE. I DONT RECKON MR.KEARNEY HAD TIME TO CHECK SPELLING OF MURDER BEFORE KILLING SIOBHAN.

By: Conan Drumm

Conan Drumm — Thu, 21 Feb 2008 13:21:33 +0000

Spot on, Mr The Robber.

It has all degenerated from the tabloid headline writers needs to sub-edit news into three words. So we have "SiobhÃ¡n's last hours" etc etc. RTE is stuck into this dumbanddumber contest because it IS a commercial entity. It competes for listeners with other stations in order to maintain its commercial revenue. In order to do that it has obviously decided editorially not to sound old-fashioned by comparison with other media.

Language carries messages at different levels so yes, their reportage deliberately invites empathy with the victim and, implicitly, it suggests that the defendant is guilty before a verdict has been arrived at.

By: snookertony

snookertony — Thu, 21 Feb 2008 05:58:30 +0000

Having just paid a flying visit for a parental burial may I comment on the voyaristic (spellcheck) attitude of both print and electronic media in Ireland to gratuitous details of murder, rape and assault cases.
Every tiny detail of each case is referred to and dealt with at length.
What matter is it to me what knickers she wore or didn't, who they knew or what they did as they were pummelled into the dark.
I don't need to know the details of someones last breath, have it sold to me over my morning cornflakes like some penny potboiler.
These details are court room items and should be left there. We don't need to feed the minds of small people all over the land with these details.

My mother spent the last years of her life listening to this stuff and cleared the house of knives and sharp implements, just in case her house was ever broken into.
She locked her doors thinking the country was full of murderers and rapists and all the time it was only the media filling her head with the details.
What a way to live your life.
Thanks for your time.

By: Bock

Bock — Thu, 21 Feb 2008 00:28:04 +0000

Journalism college? Do they teach English there?

I wonder if they taught the RTÃ‰ journalist who thought Benazir Bhutto's mausoleum was pronounced "Musoleum"?

By: Bock

Bock — Wed, 20 Feb 2008 23:36:46 +0000

Medbh: Yes. There's always an element of that, and it makes me uncomfortable. However, the news reporter tonight was a woman, and I felt it had more to do with sending a subliminal message of solidarity with SiobhÃƒÂ¡n's family, against a man who hasn't been convicted of anything yet.

This isn't to suggest that he's innocent. In fact, the evidence against him looks pretty strong, but it's not the role of our media to pre-judge a court case, or to plant ideas in people's minds.

In my opinion, it's either cynical manipulation or ignorance.

I lean towards ignorance as an explanation, but a sinister kind of ignorance. I think they're crudely trying to tell us they think he's guilty, which is a bit presumptuous of them, or maybe they think the courts are an unnecessary luxury.

Is this, perhaps, journalistic hubris running free?

By: Medbh

Medbh — Wed, 20 Feb 2008 23:29:14 +0000

I haven't been following the case, Bock, so this is new to me. I'd agree with Annie and Fat MammyCat that the press routinely takes an overly familiar tone when speaking about women by using their first names or by referring to them in their traditional role as wife and mother. The result is bad for both women and men because it's based on a limited view of gender and identity.

By: Benny The Bridgebuilder

Benny The Bridgebuilder — Wed, 20 Feb 2008 23:13:45 +0000

Nice piece of phycho-journalism analysis.

If left unremarked we could absorb this stuff by default.

Unfortunately this is just more of the shite standard of modern journalism, and this in an age when we have colleges teaching it and degrees in the stuff.

God be with the days when substance won over froth, or am I imagining it.

Back to the hand-me-downs.

By: Sniffle&Cry

Sniffle&Cry — Wed, 20 Feb 2008 23:06:13 +0000

Course, one of the very few who championed men's rights was the blogger's own best friend, John Waters. Where is when you need him Bock.

By: Bock

Bock — Wed, 20 Feb 2008 22:05:17 +0000

All except the "selling" bit. RTÃ‰ don't have to compete with anyone. They get loads of licence money to keep them snug and warm in their bubble.