Are local newspapers reflecting our changing communities?

by Fred Johnston Wed Aug 27, 2008 18:14

My last album was entitled 'Local Papers,' for no other reason than I was confident that newspapers in Galway were hesitant at the time about dealing with the late and un-lamented Salthill Airshow. I think it's fair to say that a critical review of newspapers in the West is overdue; most local newspapers serve the parish and little farther than that, and are concerned with the often dubious elevation of local 'personalities,' political parties, and so on, and basically serve the same role as that once held by the parish priest. There is a deeply-ingrained terror of offending local advertisers; I have read more than once and typically in local Galway papers of, say, a fracas outside a 'city hotel' or some-such, with no mention of the hotel's name. There is no legal reason for this omission, it is purely done on commercial grounds mingled with some regard for the hotel owner whom, no doubt, the editors went to school with. There is no willingness, nor any energy, for real investigative local stories and I would suggest that local reporters are not encouraged towards them. A country newspaper is just that: the wider world is too wide for it.

by Sarah - N/A Wed Aug 27, 2008 20:15

I'm not sure its clear from the article fred but the booklet mostly deals with the changes that have taken place and what effect they have had/should have/ could have on our local newspapers coverage of the not -overdeveloped parts of the world given that there are now people from all over living and partcipating in the whole spectrum of activities that make up local life...

by Danny Thu Aug 28, 2008 10:15

Some points taken about local weekly newspapers. Little information about foreigners, esp third world; local 'personalities' highlighted while 'ordinary' individuals hardly get a look-in; controversy is often avoided.

OK, about immigrant workers and asylum seekers: they often lack English communication skills and are too busy working/surviving to pay attention to self presentation in the local papers. In Sligo, the Blue Dreamcoat theatre organises annual artistic events involving/highlighting asylum seekers and workers and the organisers try hard to publicise in the two local papers + plus a regional free distribution paper. The Sligo Social Service and other organisations occasionally place press handouts about foreigner concerns. The big But is that the foreigners themselves don't seem to take publicity initiatives, and Why is a big question. On controversial issues, local editors traditionally shy away from crusading because of potential damage to advertising revenue. Instead they report manufactured rows about parish pumps involving mainly FF-FG councillors. On 'Area Notes' I should point out that these are generally submitted by designated contacts living in the areas, who are known to many traditional residents but not to recent 'blow-ins'. So newcomers (pc word for blow-ins) should phone editors of local papers and find out the names of the Notes writers.

My observation is that local journalists wait for news to come into the office and there is seldom any aggressive investigative reporting. Farmers and others just buy the local papers for the advertisements and to see whose snapshots appear this week. Publicity for the arts, for environmental and third world development concerns, and for community development initiatives could indeed be enhanced in local papers; but it would depend on more vigorous and subtle input from individuals and groups interested in these concerns. So keep sending in press releases about your concerns.

by me Sat Aug 30, 2008 02:01

why do you think Indimedia exists...

by Not me - indylover Sun Aug 31, 2008 00:43

Much as I am a fan, Internet is not for everyone, lots of people don't know the first thing about Indy and everyone reads/skims / cleans their windows with the local papers so if the papers recieve nice friendly criticism and gentle prodding who knows they might go the right direction... maybe we will see worker occupied local newspapers soon??