I would suggest there are enough newspapers, etc. but not enough diversity of opinion. They all seem much of a muchness.

I hardly ever buy newspapers anymore.The internet/social media is offering much more diversity of opinion and it’s often the comments/debates on news forums that are the most interesting element.

Sunday’s are desperarte for diversity since the Tribune went under. The numbers I see buying the SINDO makes me want to cry :(

There is an horrific amount of lazy journalism in Ireland. Magda gate last week being a near perfect case in point.

I do think it would be better if there were more diversity of ownership – for example most of the local regional papers are owned by Independent Newspapers, though they do not state this, and so likely pushing the politics of that paper’s owner, where people who buy them may think they are just independent (small i!) local papers… Something like the Guardian here we can only dream of…

RTE currently dominates the media landscape in Ireland. The enforced TV License fee ensure that competition is extreme limited. With their move online it is only damaging the traditional media more.

Many Irish journalists also work for RTE at some point or want to so we get very little criticism of RTE.

A bigger issue than diversity is QUALITY.Media in Ireland is extremely poor. The D4 innumerate arts graduates that populate the media give a very one eyed view of the world. On Sunday we are treated to special articles and glossy photos about one of member of the clique written by another of the clique. Idiots. Turn on RTE radio and hear Marian talking about what it says in the same feckin Dublin clique centric based papers. RTE in particular needs to be removed from Dublin entirely and an injection of new blood is badly wanted. The media’s attempt to report on anything technical, numerical, financial and industrial is pathetic. REALLY pathetic. Even concepts such as “percentage” are often misused. Fintan O’Toole’s attempt to analyse the Irish oil and gas industry and Eddie Hobbs’s attempt to analyse the electricity sector would be hilarious if they weren’t so very pitiable. And these guys are at the higher levels of the Irish journalistic food chain. 4-5 years into the financial crisis and there hasn’t been a 2 page summary of the national financial picture laid out in graphs and figures for easy digestion by the layperson. Our financial situation is not complicated and could be easily summarised in 2 pages. If any of these numpties had the brains to do it, we could avoid so many of the irrational arguments on the topic. Its not brain surgery people, avoid the Shelburne bar and Krystal for a few nights and look at the Financial Times, the Guardian, Newsweek, Aljazeera etc.

The boys’ club of Suits controls them all ……. and their content.

There is not enough difference of opinion. I see no proper left wing press for instance.

My politics ,did you know that religion does not need to be brought into every discussion on the Journal, I’m nearly sure this one was about journalism in Ireland, I may be wrong………

1000+ Adults surveyed re Media Diversity by Red C on behalf of Craol – results published yesterday http://bit.ly/AdBvyR
1 in 2 DISAGREE with “It doesn’t really matter to me who, or how many companies own the media”
3 in 4 “Nearly 80% of all ROI adults agree that news and current affairs is sometimes biased towards the views of its owners”

There are no choices there for a printed Irish paper on a Sunday, which is the only day I really would buy a paper, and relax for the afternoon sifting through the supplements. I buy the Sunday Times, but would buy The Irish Times instead if they did a Sunday version. I’m surprised they don’t, as there is no Irish competition, The Sunday Independent isn’t fit to light fires with.

The Dublin 4 brigade censors what information we are fed through the television, radio and print media because they either own them all or have great influence over them, I believe that many journalists in Ireland while pretending to be Independant are also part of the golden circle and many push their own agenda. I would be happy to be proven wrong but I think it’s going to be a tough one……..

Like the political spectrum its nearly all depressingly dull and scarily right wing!!

As far as online media is concerned, I think yes, the is a lot of diversity in opinions. However RTE continues to dominate on the TV and Sunday papers are utterly rubbish.
Our print media is far too right wing conservative.

Its down to the landscape of our politics. We have no discernible left-right divide in the Dail, so you aren’t going to get it in the press.

Offline there’s not much of a difference in what the papers, radio and television say. It’s mostly of the centre-right view.

On-line there is more diversity, but even worse journalism in some cases.

Be your own media!

http://brianpolitics.wordpress.com <- my blog

No we do not have enough diversity in the media, however we are a small country and our need for diversity is covered by foreign press. I agree what Bernhard has said about the lack of a decent domestically produced left wing press.

Media diversity….will happen in the 24th century.

There is no quality newpaper which gives Irish coverage in the detail and style of the UK Guardian newspaper. It would probably not be economical to provide one. The Independent is a poor paper and the Irish times isn’t a whole lot better. Both are bad value for money. I get the Guardian two or three times a week for good world news coverage and use the web for Irish issues.

In the Media, Their is not Enough Information being Highlighted to The Public, and a lot of People dont have faith or trust in the Media, I think the media should be a bit more open and honest with the people, instead of hiding behind the politicians. it is very important that people can trust the media, but it is not the case, sorry i am been opened and honest here.
Rita Cahill.

The argument that RTE dominates the media landscape too much is missing the point. RTE provides a valuable public service that is much needed in this country. And it certainly caters for a much broader range of opinions/voices than other broadcast media that tend to opt for the lowest common denominator (sex, crime, sex and people humiliating themselves). It’s public service mandate also covers online which, believe it or not, is also a public service as not everyone wants to get their news, views etc from an RTE station on TV or radio. The argument that RTE’s online offerings may be killing traditional media is also missing the point. Traditional media is killing itself and has been for years for a large number of reasons – a change in media consumption habits, operating to a business model that was created 150 years ago etc etc etc. I am not defending RTE but the problems that the media industry faces are not of RTE’s making. It too has many challenges to overcome and is facing into a period of uncertainty as the traditional linear TV model starts to erode into a content on demand model. This is an issue facing all media, not just in Ireland but in other countries as well. As to whether or not their is enough diversity in the media, I would say probably not and that’s for one simple reason – MONEY. Media has and will always chase the money (ie advertising) and diversity/pluralism is not exactly a money spinner or a circulation/ratings booster. This is a problem that will continue….unless of course we (the State) provide a public service media platform. Oh, wait we have it…..it’s called RTE.

We get too much West Britism, London pass me ons, Eoghan Harris, Kevin Myers, Bruce Arnold et al and not enough on real Irish issues and Culture. We need more diversity. Thank God Conor Cruise is gone.

Oh yes,and that piece of garbage on Irish History revisionism by Feargal Keane – the greatest load of rubbish written in Irish media surely ever.

The Irish Times and RTE
Love Ivana Bacik and Michael D.
I don’t.

Not at all. Liberal d4 rubbish .most of them.

This is one of my gripes since moving to Ireland. If its not left and politically correct it won’t be printed or might be printed but placed in negative light. If its not PC its cast away or deemed inappropriate no matter how valid the information actually is. Time to take the blinders off maybe? I won’t hold my breath though….it in the Irish nature not to question, just look at what the churches did to you.

I suppose it depends on what people mean by “diversity”, do I particularly want to see extremeist opinions- either left or right wing- in the media? No, I think it can be dangerous and give a legitimacy to certain points of view. Likewise I don’t know if we need a more diverse range of material, I don’t particularly care if there was a homicide in LA or if a kitten was rescued from a tree in Kuala Lumpur. That’s why I voted “I don’t know” in the poll, I’m not really sure what’s being asked here, what exactly is meant by diversity in this context?

Irish media is part of what’s most wrong with this country. More, infinitely more, media diversity is critical if we are to break the malaise and failure that seems to infect the nation. The key media outlets are controlled by the State or oligarchs. This is not healthy for democracy or freedom of expression. Thanks to the web, we each have the power to become the media, so let’s do it!

You can check out my new kind of web zine at http://www.webtimesten.ie

Dermot Purcell. As I said I am not defending RTE but I think its unfair to call “RTE the PR machine of the Government”. That’s displaying a complete ignorance of the facts. Yes I am sure RTE could be calling the government to account more often (when it does, it does it well)…but to imply that the many talented people who work there are mere spin-doctors for the Government is total nonsense and its obvious that you don’t have a clue what you are talking about. In fact I don’t even know why I am replying to you. I suppose somebody has to.

Is there “enough media diversity” for whom exactly?

So The Journal.ie is not on twitter? Or am I wrong? If so, then that would be a good example as how to media platforms are not used or explored enough. Therefore, how can Ireland be diverse . . . .

My bad… you guys are on twitter . . . put the links on the top of your web page ??