Political Questioning and Debate in the Media

mike65

Is it me or has the national media fallen asleep?

Maybe I've been watching all the wrong programmes but I've yet to see or hear a really good probing debate or questioning of a politican from any party by any of our leading news or current affairs hacks.

One suspects its only if the general public get the chance that any blood will be spilt.

Has anyone seen or heard anything to raise a politians blood presure?

Mike.

Victor

Originally posted by mike65
Has anyone seen or heard anything to raise a politians blood presure?

That had 4 panellists on RTÉ last night (Noel Dempsey, Alan Shatter, Trevor Sargent, Gerry Adams), not great, but it was something.

Bertie would appear not to want a "head to head" debate, so as not to "aggrevate" people.

billy the squid

have noticed the independent take every opportunity to have a go at fine gael

the trouble is that the media is asking safe questions because it they give the politicians get a roasing it will make getting subsequent interviews more difficult.

Elmo

God its a bad day for FG when the Independent have a go at them.

RTE has extensive coverage with extra shows on both TV and Radio.

RTE got rid of a bank Holiday movie for QandA tonight.

hurler-on-ditch

Indo having a go at FG?? - you must be joking, weekly columns from Conor Cruise O'Brien, Dick Walsh, Garrett Fitzgerald all with anti-FF bile and not much else. And they have had their columns for ages to influence people.

sceptre

The Independent have been very anti-Fine Gael since Bruton was elected leader. Which is odd really, given that Bruton hates the IRA - and so does, oh, pretty much everyone working for the Independent.

Seems to have carried on through the Noonan leadership.

Change from the old days when the Press was pro FF and the Independent was more pro FG.

gandalf

TBH I also think the Indo is very pro FF these days. If you look at the headline coverage that St. Bertie has been getting compared to Poor old Michael Noonan, it most cases it has been in Gombeen Aherns favour.

I was over in a friends gaff yesterday recovering from a severe hangover when I happened to look at their copy of the "Irish" Sunday People, talk about objective, they had a picture on the front page of Michael Noonan airbrushed up as a clown, I mean I know the guy is far from perfect but this british tabloid crap should be banned from Ireland.

Gandalf.

The_Conductor

If you think thats fun- check out the two print runs of the Sunday Times........

cornell babe

it is impossible to deny that certain media products such as newspapers are biased one way or the other. lets not forget the irish press which was founded specifically to air dev's views. but the consumer has the choice to buy whichever product they see fit.
I think it is scary how much power and influence the media has on the electorate especially when it comes to opinion polls. lets not forget the disparity between the two polls released yesterday in which ff got vastly different percentages. and lets think about the one thing that matters more than any opinion poll and that's the choice YOU make on friday coming. you can defy or go with the poll but let one thing be certain that b4 you cast your vote noone ddefinitely knows the true outcome of this election.
at the end of the day use your vote wisely
please vote for change,
thank you:)