Ireland 6th in the World for Press Freedom...
national |
miscellaneous |
news report 
Thursday October 24, 2002 19:54
by Graham Caswell
caswell at indigo dot ie
Finland most free, North Korea sucks
Ireland ranks 6th in the world in terms of press freedom, according to the first worldwide index of press freedom compiled by Reporters Without Borders. The ranking was compiled from surveys completed by journalists in each country. Incidently the United States ranked 17, behind Costa Rica, while the UK ranked 22, behind Benin. Of course, it could all be a load of shite as well.
Comments (9 of 9)
Jump To Comment: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9but with our libel laws...........I doubt it
meant to include this
www.nni.ie/parcpresrel31.htm
Press freedom, thank you Mr o reilly for your 'balance' during Nice!
I think the point is that the press is free, so the Indo can say what it likes about Nice. Anyway the coverage was spot on, I'm glad it didn't devote pages to paranoid nonsense about Art 133, which noone but a few headbangers care about
Press Freedom is a misnomer. It only guarantees journalists the 'freedom' to write what they like. There is no press freedom for minority groups or people with alternative political views. The print media in Ireland is owned entirely by Irish or international capitalists and therefore is hardly likely to give space to people who oppose capitalism.
That's why we have Indymedia.
"There is no press freedom for minority groups or people with alternative political views"
This is simply not true, if there was no press freedom for such group then loads of publications that currently freely exist would be banned. The fact is that the large newspapers generally reflect the views of the largely conservative Irish population (look at who they vote for). The reason why the Socialist Workers isn't sold in every newsagent is a reflection on its content, not press freedom.
Don't know where Ireland ranks, but the U.K. indy site is the most tampered with of any. I'm noting this from Sudburia in northern Ontario. Canada shouldn't be very high on the list as the CBC is jamming the air waves with fluff. One of the top stories we never see or hear a whiff of is the energy sector. British Energy needs a bailout, and OWNS 80% of Ontario nuclear, electric bills are tripling, the U.S. finances British Energy, and can turn off the lights at will, and IT NOT A NEWS STORY. Censorship is rampant in the anglais speaking world. The indy sites are doing their best, but I've noticed what I read at 4a.m. has been deleted by 4p.m. search as I might thro the archives. Cheerio.
As far as I'm concerned almost all of them print lies. Just look at the apologies day in day out, especially the Mirror and even Sir Antos Indo. Hacks have been judged to be the most untrustworthy class of people in another survey, well below police, students and even clergy!!!!
I don't know how anyone can consider Ireland to be a country that respects press freedom when we've had a major political party denied the right to have its representatives aired on national news.
If they were able to to do it once before and it was compatible with the country's laws then they can do it again.
Ireland is an authoritarian capitalist state and has demonstrated this amply in the past with Article 32. Nothing has changed substantially that stops the government from doing that again.
Indymedia Ireland is a media collective. We are independent volunteer citizen journalists producing and distributing the authentic voices of the people. Indymedia Ireland is an open news project where anyone can post their own news, comment, videos or photos about Ireland or related matters.