Media - Name and Shame

Silentcorner

Thankfully the pace of the gangland limerick stories appear to be slowing down, this is the only one this week

http://www.sundayworld.com/top-stories/news/liam-keane-in-protective-custody-after-running-up-drugs-bill-in-prison

I also had the pleasure of watching Limerick described as a kip on the Late Late Show again.

All these seem harmless enough on their own, but it is the consistency that does the damage.

seachto7

who said Limk was a kip?

Swiper the fox

seachto7 wrote: »

who said Limk was a kip?

Nidgey said it to some brasser

seachto7

In real life or in Love/Hate?

Totally Tropical

I wonder will the media outlets that can't stop printing negative stories about Limerick report this piece of news regarding the city of Limerick with the same relish enthusiasm and gusto?

http://www.limerickpost.ie/2014/09/26/limerick-is-a-safe-haven-for-tourists/

LIMERICK is one of the safest places in Ireland for tourists, according to the Irish Tourist Assistance Service (ITAS) which recorded only three incidents of crimes against visitors to the city last year.

This is in contrast to the 336 criminal incidents involving visitors to Dublin during the same period.

Limerick Mayor Michael Sheehan said that this was “a further endorsement of the feel good factor in Limerick.These figures are genuine because any tourist who is a victim of crime will report it as they’re bound to feel isolated.

Referring to the “collective cooperation that exists in the city”, the mayor said that this positive thinking was reflected in the freedom tourists enjoyed as they walk the streets.

“They feel safe, comfortable and are confident to recommend Limerick as a destination. These figures are not just going to spread nationwide but this is a positivity that will go global.

“Things like this is likely to encourage more visitors to come in the remaining few months of the City of Culture celebrations so I welcome that”, he added.

Since its formation 20 years, almost 13,000 people have been assisted by the ITAS which is the only dedicated service of its kind in Europe.

Limerick Garda Chief superintendent Dave Sheahan said the ITAS figures were a further indicator of where the city has come from and the direction it is headed.

“These figures support the statistics given to the Minister for Justice on her recent visit to the city. We always avoid complacency, but this report goes a long way to show how much the landscape of crime in the city has changed and in terms of policing our streets.

Tourism Minister Paschal Donohoe said that: “Irish people are world renowned for our hospitality and welcome. While many things have changed throughout those 20 years, our welcome for overseas visitors is now as friendly as ever.

“Visitors are assured of a truly memorable holiday and research has shown the vast majority of our overseas visitors are more than happy to recommend Ireland as a holiday destination.

“However, for a very small percentage of tourists who become victims of crime while visiting Ireland, it is reassuring to know that the Irish Tourist Assistance Service is available year-round to offer immediate support and assistance free of charge.

Outside of Dublin, the main tourist centres in Wicklow, Clare, Kerrry and Galway all recorded higher incidents of crimes against visitors, according to the ITAS 2013 annual report.

Meantime, the services provided to tourists who become victims of crime was one of the items discussed on the agenda of the Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality this week.

Committee Chairman David Stanton TD said: “While Ireland is generally regarded as a safe destination for tourists and crimes against tourists remain low by international standards, unfortunately a number of tourists become victims of crime every year.

Nationally, Mr Staunton said that “last year saw an increase in the number of tourists seeking assistance from the service, the majority of whom had been victims of theft.

“For a tourist, the trauma of being a victim of crime can be compounded by language, culture and legal differences. The Irish Tourist Assistance Service acts as a base where problems facing a tourist can be addressed promptly with the view to getting holiday plans back on track”, he said.

Silentcorner

Not a chance Totally Tropical.

They are however keeping yesterdays incident on Parteen in the main news, RTE just carried a news item about a court appearance tomorrow, which they will no doubt cover too. I have no complaints with that tho, I do wonder what is happening with yesterdays gangland hit in Dublin in which one was shot dead and another was injured in broad daylight, along with the Tiger kidnapping where shots were fired and a man was arrested, when is he appearing in court? Or what about the state of the guy who was critically injured in Dublin city centre yesterday, is he still alive? Do they have a suspect?....They seem selective in what stories to broadcast/print.

jmch81

Silentcorner wrote: »

Not a chance Totally Tropical.

They are however keeping yesterdays incident on Parteen in the main news, RTE just carried a news item about a court appearance tomorrow, which they will no doubt cover too. I have no complaints with that tho, I do wonder what is happening with yesterdays gangland hit in Dublin in which one was shot dead and another was injured in broad daylight, along with the Tiger kidnapping where shots were fired and a man was arrested, when is he appearing in court? Or what about the state of the guy who was critically injured in Dublin city centre yesterday, is he still alive? Do they have a suspect?....They seem selective in what stories to broadcast/print.

When the RTE website put up the Parteen crash first they had Limerick in the headline.

I think part of the reason it was carried as it could of happened to anyone, people can relate to it and therefore are more interested. RTE News viewers don't relate to gangland hits.

My thoughts are with the injured men.

zulutango

If we're talking about naming and shaming, then Barry Duggan stands out as one of the main culprits. He made a name for himself by talking up every negative incident that happened in Limerick and generally presenting the city as the dysfunctional poor relation of Irish towns. He then moved on to the Irish Independent and they were only too happy to print the salacious rubbish he was coming up with. There are literally hundreds of great people working (usually for nothing) on all kinds of positive projects that are making the city a great place to live and who are doing their damndest to show what the city is really like, but then there's Barry Duggan and his ilk actively working against them so that they can sell newspapers.

Make no mistake about it, this false narrative that is widespread in the local and national media about the city is massively damaging, not only to the city and the welfare of the people living in it, but to that of the wider Midwest also. It's been reported that major industries have opted not to set up in Limerick because of the reputation.

It really is something that must be effectively tackled, and the OP deserves kudos for articulating the issue so well. It's something that the Limerick Marketing Company should have a strategy to deal with but unfortunately we have heard precious little from them since they were set up more than a year ago (they don't even have a website).

myshirt

Barry Duggan should be absolutely ashamed of himself.

But the way I see it is that there is nothing free in this world except for the grace of god. We must pay for everything, one way or another. That includes Barry Duggan. He too will have to answer to his maker in time and atone for his sins.

CatFromHue

I think you're underestimating the interest in the story as two innocent people, Carroll and Geoghegan, were shot. There was also the bouncer in the Trinity Rooms shot too.

Apart from all the internal gangland stuff the above is massive, as far as I know it hasn't happened anywhere else.

You can say the media went above or are targeting Limerick but there is a story here so what do you expect?

Also most of the recent stories are of the bad guys being locked up!!

zulutango

CatFromHue wrote: »

I think you're underestimating the interest in the story as two innocent people, Carroll and Geoghegan, were shot. There was also the bouncer in the Trinity Rooms shot too.

Apart from all the internal gangland stuff the above is massive, as far as I know it hasn't happened anywhere else.

Sadly, all over Ireland innocent people have been murdered in gangland feuds. That's not to say that there wasn't a very serious issue in Limerick a number of years ago, because there was. But it wasn't unique to this city by any means. There hasn't been anything of note for a long time now and indeed Limerick is one of the safest large towns or cities in the country. Yet, the reportage would have you believe otherwise because the media report every single detail about the lives of the criminals and keep it in the national consciousness that this is a rough town. The kinder elements of the media will say how lovely a place it is in spite of the terrible things going on here. I don't know which is worse, to be honest, but both perpetuate the notion that Limerick is not a great place to go to.

CatFromHue wrote: »

You can say the media went above or are targeting Limerick but there is a story here so what do you expect?

Also most of the recent stories are of the bad guys being locked up!!

That's the thing though. There actually isn't a story and there hasn't been for the last number of years but the media has the whole country thinking there is, and that the city is a no go area. It's crippling both the city and the wider region.

I'm working on a job just outside the city. Most of the workers who are not from the city are commuting more than an hour to the place, and the others are reluctantly renting accomodation in the suburbs. Suggest to them that they go into the city centre on an evening and they look at you as if you've two heads. The notion that they might stay a weekend and enjoy the place is anethema to them. This attitude to the city all comes back to that false narrative about Limerick that is hammered home daily by national media organisations, and quite often by local media too.

black & white

zulutango wrote: »

If we're talking about naming and shaming, then Barry Duggan stands out as one of the main culprits. He made a name for himself by talking up every negative incident that happened in Limerick and generally presenting the city as the dysfunctional poor relation of Irish towns. He then moved on to the Irish Independent and they were only too happy to print the salacious rubbish he was coming up with. There are literally hundreds of great people working (usually for nothing) on all kinds of positive projects that are making the city a great place to live and who are doing their damndest to show what the city is really like, but then there's Barry Duggan and his ilk actively working against them so that they can sell newspapers.

Make no mistake about it, this false narrative that is widespread in the local and national media about the city is massively damaging, not only to the city and the welfare of the people living in it, but to that of the wider Midwest also. It's been reported that major industries have opted not to set up in Limerick because of the reputation.

It really is something that must be effectively tackled, and the OP deserves kudos for articulating the issue so well. It's something that the Limerick Marketing Company should have a strategy to deal with but unfortunately we have heard precious little from them since they were set up more than a year ago (they don't even have a website).

Just one example, last week about 200,000 people over three days went to the Ploughing Championships and it was wall-to-wall on every TV, newspaper and radio station in the country - even the Loyav Loyan broadcast from it. A few weeks prior to that 200,000 people over three days came to Limerick to see Granny and the same media outlets barely mentioned it.

grimbergen

zulutango wrote: »

If we're talking about naming and shaming, then Barry Duggan stands out as one of the main culprits. He made a name for himself by talking up every negative incident that happened in Limerick and generally presenting the city as the dysfunctional poor relation of Irish towns. He then moved on to the Irish Independent and they were only too happy to print the salacious rubbish he was coming up with. There are literally hundreds of great people working (usually for nothing) on all kinds of positive projects that are making the city a great place to live and who are doing their damndest to show what the city is really like, but then there's Barry Duggan and his ilk actively working against them so that they can sell newspapers.

Make no mistake about it, this false narrative that is widespread in the local and national media about the city is massively damaging, not only to the city and the welfare of the people living in it, but to that of the wider Midwest also. It's been reported that major industries have opted not to set up in Limerick because of the reputation.

It really is something that must be effectively tackled, and the OP deserves kudos for articulating the issue so well. It's something that the Limerick Marketing Company should have a strategy to deal with but unfortunately we have heard precious little from them since they were set up more than a year ago (they don't even have a website).

Could not agree more. The sickening part is that he's from Limerick.

seachto7

The Dublin based media have been reporting the crimes committed in Dublin the last few weeks.

Have any of you rang up or emailed one of the national papers and told them about the report in the LImerick Post article?

You can ring up their newsdesks anytime.

They all have correspondents in Limerick or the mid west. The Irish Times have a lady in Limerick covering stories from the mid west.

Have any of you gotten in touch with her to see what the story is?

The report is "old news" now so may not be newsworthy for a national, but if any of them haven't run with it, it might be worth a shot.

I'm sure Newstalk or Today FM would only be too happy to run with this report, if they have not already.

Looks like it's old news already though

http://www.thejournal.ie/visitors-to-ireland-theft-from-cars-1608023-Aug2014/

Silentcorner

seachto7 wrote: »

The Dublin based media have been reporting the crimes committed in Dublin the last few weeks.

Have any of you rang up or emailed one of the national papers and told them about the report in the LImerick Post article?

You can ring up their newsdesks anytime.

They all have correspondents in Limerick or the mid west. The Irish Times have a lady in Limerick covering stories from the mid west.

Have any of you gotten in touch with her to see what the story is?

The report is "old news" now so may not be newsworthy for a national, but if any of them haven't run with it, it might be worth a shot.

I'm sure Newstalk or Today FM would only be too happy to run with this report, if they have not already.

Looks like it's old news already though

http://www.thejournal.ie/visitors-to-ireland-theft-from-cars-1608023-Aug2014/

The ONLY way to get that into the news cycle is through well established PR firms, you don't just ring up a journalist and ask for them to print a good PR piece, the ITAS would have a PR firm who would have circulated this report to all media outlets nationwide,(tailoring them for local press), because they need the profile as much as Limerick does.

Newpapers get calls from all kind of nutjobs every day over all kinds of matters, they have a well oiled system to keep those nutjobs from getting through to anyone thus wasting their time, if I or anyone rang a National media outlet asking for a good Limerick PR piece to appear, you would fall into that nutjob category. Newspapers/Newstalk/Today FM all operate in the same way, it is a very tight/close circle, which is why a well established PR firm is required...

zulutango

Silentcorner wrote: »

The ONLY way to get that into the news cycle is through well established PR firms, you don't just ring up a journalist and ask for them to print a good PR piece, the ITAS would have a PR firm who would have circulated this report to all media outlets nationwide,(tailoring them for local press), because they need the profile as much as Limerick does.

Newpapers get calls from all kind of nutjobs every day over all kinds of matters, they have a well oiled system to keep those nutjobs from getting through to anyone thus wasting their time, if I or anyone rang a National media outlet asking for a good Limerick PR piece to appear, you would fall into that nutjob category. Newspapers/Newstalk/Today FM all operate in the same way, it is a very tight/close circle, which is why a well established PR firm is required...

ah yes ... The Limerick Marketing Company.

Anybody know where they're based, what they do, what their budget is, how they spend it? Who do they employ? Are those people qualified and experienced marketing professionals? From the outset the whole thing looks like a scam.

The direct promotion of Limerick City has been abysmal over the years. Setting the place up as a rugby and fashion city is embarrassing, amateur, not clever and limited.

seachto7

Silentcorner wrote: »

The ONLY way to get that into the news cycle is through well established PR firms, you don't just ring up a journalist and ask for them to print a good PR piece, the ITAS would have a PR firm who would have circulated this report to all media outlets nationwide,(tailoring them for local press), because they need the profile as much as Limerick does.

Newpapers get calls from all kind of nutjobs every day over all kinds of matters, they have a well oiled system to keep those nutjobs from getting through to anyone thus wasting their time, if I or anyone rang a National media outlet asking for a good Limerick PR piece to appear, you would fall into that nutjob category. Newspapers/Newstalk/Today FM all operate in the same way, it is a very tight/close circle, which is why a well established PR firm is required...

I would disagree with you here. There are ways and means. There are letters pages in the nationals.

You don't have to ring up and rant and rave either.

I know, having just done a placement with a national, that it's not that difficult to get through, as I heard it done beside me every day.

Why not get in touch with the local journos and ask them why they didn't cover it?

Only yesterday, Matt Cooper read out a complaint from a listener who said there was too much coverage of Cork related activities.

Silentcorner

seachto7 wrote: »

I would disagree with you here. There are ways and means. There are letters pages in the nationals.

You don't have to ring up and rant and rave either.

I know, having just done a placement with a national, that it's not that difficult to get through, as I heard it done beside me every day.

Why not get in touch with the local journos and ask them why they didn't cover it?

Only yesterday, Matt Cooper read out a complaint from a listener who said there was too much coverage of Cork related activities.

Placing an advert is completely different from placing a pr piece, completely different.

Local journos do not have a say on what is printed/published/broadcast, the editors/producers do.

You are misunderstanding the issue a bit here, if you get defensive, you are losing the argument, even if you don't realise it...Limerick people have been trying this for years and years and years...if you are explaining you are losing (a well know PR mantra)....the reason for this thread is to highlight the continuing narrative that is severely damaging the image of the city, and morale of limerick citizens....

I am trying to highlight the peculiar relationship Limerick has with the National press, a relationship that has an come at a huge cost to the city.

I'll give you two examples of how subtle the narrative is.

A number of months ago, Bobby Kerr brought his Newstalk show to the Strand Hotel, in an effort to "big up the city" (his own words he used before they went live)...the piece lasted over an hour, toward the end of which, he asked the question..."Is it safe to come here?"....now by asking that question he destroyed all the previous positive content (he knows full well what he did)...we were now on the defensive....mission accomplished from the producers. Very callous from Bobby Kerr who spends a lot of time in Limerick, he knows perfectly well the city is safe.

The producers of the late late show decided to include a clip (that caused controversy at the time) of Limerick being called a kip on Love/Hate, they had four seasons of clips to choose from they chose that one, it was deliberate and crass.

Complaining actually does more damage, believe or not, the producers know that full well, for them it is win win.

By the way, the Limerick issue is only one of many different examples of how manipulative Irish media can be, but this thread is dedicated to one that affects all Limerick people whether they realise it or not.

Iranoutofideas

Doesn't Bobby Kerr own Insomnia in Easons? Why would he be deliberately trying to undermine both his own interests as well as his own show on Limerick? Sorry but that sounds like pure paranoia. It's a legitimate question. What matters is the answer he got, which hopefully pointed out that he himself felt it was safe to open a business here.

Silentcorner

Iranoutofideas wrote: »

Doesn't Bobby Kerr own Insomnia in Easons? Why would he be deliberately trying to undermine both his own interests as well as his own show on Limerick? Sorry but that sounds like pure paranoia. It's a legitimate question. What matters is the answer he got, which hopefully pointed out that he himself felt it was safe to open a business here.

It always does sound like paranoia, that is why it is win win for the producers. I have no idea why he asked that question, the producers could have insisted on it, I do not recollect the exact answer, but that is exactly my point on how subtle it is....we all know how the city is perceived by a lot of people...any question that reinforces that perception is damaging, it takes many forms but always has the same impact....keep repeating and keep repeating and keep repeating and people do not question it.

If I am paranoid then it is all in my head, then nobody associates Limerick with criminality or social problems or being a kip etc etc...but we all know the opposite is the case.

zulutango

Iranoutofideas wrote: »

Doesn't Bobby Kerr own Insomnia in Easons? Why would he be deliberately trying to undermine both his own interests as well as his own show on Limerick? Sorry but that sounds like pure paranoia. It's a legitimate question. What matters is the answer he got, which hopefully pointed out that he himself felt it was safe to open a business here.

Would it have been asked if the show was coming from any other city? It may have been innocence or ignorance on Bobby Kerr's part but the question clearly shows that he and perhaps his producers feel that the safety issue has to be addressed. It is true that the widespread perception of the city (by locals and people who have never been here) is negative. I don't think anybody can deny that. Is it fair that this is the widespread perception? No, I don't think so.

SoapMcTavish

Silentcorner wrote: »

If I am paranoid then it is all in my head, then nobody associates Limerick with criminality or social problems or being a kip etc etc...but we all know the opposite is the case.

I think we can blame Nidge for that ....

Silentcorner

The Gangland Drugs War has already been sparked according to Limericks most famous son Barry Duggan

http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/ger-dundon-is-back-in-city-as-firebomb-sparks-drugs-war-30647813.html

I wasn't aware of the drugs war, we can all thank Barry for keeping the nation warned...I must dig out my old bullet proof vest.

He (as in Duggan) is either acting recklessly (which journalists have no problem doing) or acting on info provided by the gardai, if he is acting on info from the gardai why hasn't Dundon been arrested?

wired117

Another bile article from the Indo/Herald/redtop

zombieHanalei

To go off on a slight tangent here; this whole thing kind of reminds me of a school tour I was on in the 90's up in Dublin, we were brought to a Tourist Info/Gift Shop type place and inside the door there was a sign saying; "Don't go to Limerick - STAB CITY"

seachto7

Have many people from Dublin complained about how Dublin has been portrayed in Love/Hate?

Bobby Kerr? He's a f*cking plank at the best of times. He hosts a radio show which is an erection fest about money and marketing. Anyone trying to make a radio show on sales and marketing exciting needs a good dose of opium.

The Indo is a rag. A plague on it.

There's a journo in Limk who regularly has articles in the Times and Indo amongst others.

I find that most people in Dublin don't really care what's going on outside Dublin. Limerick isn't on their radar, much as we like to think it might be.

I think the paranoia is gone a bit overboard to be honest.

seachto7

Silentcorner wrote: »

The Gangland Drugs War has already been sparked according to Limericks most famous son Barry Duggan

http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/ger-dundon-is-back-in-city-as-firebomb-sparks-drugs-war-30647813.html

I wasn't aware of the drugs war, we can all thank Barry for keeping the nation warned...I must dig out my old bullet proof vest.

He (as in Duggan) is either acting recklessly (which journalists have no problem doing) or acting on info provided by the gardai, if he is acting on info from the gardai why hasn't Dundon been arrested?

As a matter of interest, what type of headline would be more suitable for this article?

Shur, look at Paul Williams and the ****e the Indo used to publish from him...

Silentcorner

seachto7 wrote: »

As a matter of interest, what type of headline would be more suitable for this article?

Shur, look at Paul Williams and the ****e the Indo used to publish from him...

The story was top to bottom nonsense...the headline or story had no business seeing the light of day let alone being published to an audience of well over 500,000 Irish people.

http://www.limerickleader.ie/news/local-news/limerick-gardai-on-alert-as-ger-dundon-returns-1-6347554

Instead of calling me paranoid, watch how many times I have been accused of being paranoid, in this thread I have highlighted 12 different Gangland Limerick non stories that have been published over the last 10 weeks, in each case I could be accused of being paranoid...how many times will I be accused of being paranoid before people start to realise that 12 stories over a 10 week period about gangland limerick is waaaaay too much...4 years since the last serious gangland incident....at this rate over a 12 month period we could be looking at 60 gangland limerick related non stories...and I will still be accused of being paranoid

Dublin, quiet rightly has not had to suffer the consequences of being stigmitized with a crass/disgusting/damaging nickname that has travelled well beyond these shores, Limerick on the other hand has, the point of the thread is to highlight the source of that nickname, that is fuel that keeps that nickname, that perception going,that continues to hurt the city.

Let me put it to you this way, there are people in this city, on this forum even, who are out of work as a consequence of that nickname.

seachto7

Dublin is stigmatized I think. It's know for being full of skangers in the city centre is it not? (which it is)

I'd rather not focus or read about negative articles on Limerick. I'd rather just read the positive stuff.

I do think that the "Limerick is a sh*thole" thing is not as bad as it was. I don't notice it, but I don't read tabloids much either.

The problem with a Dublin centric media is they more than likely they don't have the people on the ground to get to all the good stuff.

I don't know what kind of a contract Barry Duggan has signed to constantly have to write crime articles similar to the link above.

The Examiner, I find, includes a lot more Munster related news

zulutango

A fairly ignorant comment from Brendan Howlin, but worthy of an article? The article only reinforces that ignorance and is irresponsible, in my opinion.

http://www.independent.ie/business/budget/news/budget-2015-hes-from-limerick-says-brendan-howlin-when-noonan-quizzed-about-lovehate-nidge-tax-30666393.html