Sunday, July 16, 2006
MEP needs a little help with her research
We now know that Lindy McDowell depends on Slugger when abroad, it’s just a pity that others don’t use Slugger to broaden their minds. I see Mary Lou McDonald has contributed a piece to Daily Ireland (I know, I know), on the subject of our recent period of festivities.
I can understand that she needs to take a party line, and join in the condemnation, but her article displays a real lack of insight, knowledge and factual information. There is nothing compromising about what she has written, and no positive noises for reducing tyres on bonfires or anything else being done in a constructive manner. It’s a bitter little piece of writing, and perhaps the main point she is making is about the funding reduction for Féile.
‘one of the largest community festivals in western Europe, was recently denied funding. This community success story, which has the principle of inclusiveness at its core, has worked hard to bring people together, rather than preach the politics of separation
If you don’t live in Northern Ireland, the least you can do is try to inform yourself fully and accurately as to the totality of the subject you are preaching upon. I would suggest a good read of Slugger for Ms McDonald.
Miss Fitz @ 12:24 AM
Indeed, Miss Fitz, the funding issue had an update missed by Mary Lou, but noted here
Posted by on Jul 16, 2006 @ 12:50 AMOn the topic of research, Miss Fitz, Mary Lou is a Member of the European Parliament (MEP) and not an MP.
Posted by on Jul 16, 2006 @ 12:58 AMMary Lou is an MEP.
And what is the Daily Ireland ( I know I know) about?Posted by on Jul 16, 2006 @ 01:05 AMChris
I dont think I called her an MP?Posted by on Jul 16, 2006 @ 01:17 AMMissing the point somewhat, Chris and maura, the NIO put out a statement on the funding of Féile.. and Mary Lou doesn’t seem to have noticed.
Perhaps her article was written well in advance of the publication of that statement, i.e. before the 10th July?
And not revised in advance of the Daily Ireland issue date..
Posted by on Jul 16, 2006 @ 01:17 AMYour title MissFitz says MP.
Posted by on Jul 16, 2006 @ 01:18 AMOOOPs, thanks guys, silly slip, cheers and corrected
Posted by on Jul 16, 2006 @ 01:20 AMI read Mary Lou’s piece earlier on and thought I had read differently about the funding issue here on slugger.
Yes Pete, I agree with what you say.Posted by on Jul 16, 2006 @ 01:20 AMWell, maura, in fairness, the editorial staff at Daily Ireland are under severe pressure..
That doesn’t however, excuse SF from allowing the high profile, and reportedly senior member, from making an ass of herself.
Posted by on Jul 16, 2006 @ 01:24 AMMiss Fitz
See headline for story.Pete
Not missing the point at all. The thread partially pointed to a research oversight on behalf of the MEP. I merely highlighted the irony for Miss Fitz’s benefit.I’d agree that it looks like the article was written before the 10th July and has obviously not been revised.
Not the first time I’ve seen that in a newspaper.
Miss Fitz is also being somewhat harsh in her assessment of the piece. It is clearly a summative piece, and in that contains the summary views of how the broad swathe of nationalism continues to view the 11th Night and 12th of July.
Posted by on Jul 16, 2006 @ 01:29 AMChris
The Daily Ireland article appears to have been published on the 14th July.
Posted by on Jul 16, 2006 @ 01:31 AMChris’ Miss Fitz is also being somewhat harsh in her assessment of the piece. It is clearly a summative piece, and in that contains the summary views of how the broad swathe of nationalism continues to view the 11th Night and 12th of July. ‘
That and the Daily Ireland ( I Know I Know) well, what’s that about MissFitz?
Posted by on Jul 16, 2006 @ 01:31 AMChris
I didnt need to research to know that Mary Lou is an MEP. I made a typo, and apologised.What the article reflects is a knee-jerk, give ‘em what they want to hear piece of writing. And sorry, I think its a bit rich for a Dublin based MEP to make such a harsh and inaccurate assessment of the situation in the North.
I have no doubt she is trying to raise her profile, but it would behove her to do so in a better judged fashion, Maybe I am being a bit harsh, but I didnt think this article did her any justice
Posted by on Jul 16, 2006 @ 01:35 AMmaura
Mary Lou’s opinion piece was written, clearly, before the 10th July.. it was a summation of her opinion of the 11th and 12th July.. and was printed on the 14th July without being revised.
Posted by on Jul 16, 2006 @ 01:37 AMMaura
The DI isn’t exactly known for its balanced reportage, and the ‘I know’ it was a reference to my expectation of posters asking me what else I expected from this paper.Posted by on Jul 16, 2006 @ 01:37 AMMissFitz:
‘The DI isn’t exactly known for its balanced reportage, and the ‘I know’ it was a reference to my expectation of posters asking me what else I expected from this paper.’Not anymore or less balanced than the Newsletter, or any paper, both National or International. Most papers have a slant, depending on ideology.
I read Daily Ireland, daily. It has little to do with forming my opinions, some things I agree with others not.
But I don’t apologise for reading it.Posted by on Jul 16, 2006 @ 01:41 AM“The DI isn’t exactly known for its balanced reportage, and the ‘I know’ it was a reference to my expectation of posters asking me what else I expected from this paper.”
Miss Fitz
Can you point me to a local paper with a great reputation for ‘balanced reportage?’ The Irish News, in spite of a couple of unionist columnists, remains a nationalist-minded paper (of a clear SDLP hue, which is naturally their right.) Daily Ireland is clearly a nationalist-minded paper with an editorial line supporting Sinn Fein.The Tele and Newsletter make little bones about their unionist credentials, whilst the tabloids- well, don’t even go there…
You’re problem here initially was with a factual error attributed to MEP Mary Lou McDonald, which will happen from time to time (as none of us are perfect.)
The detractors of the Daily Ireland on this site are quite openly ideologically motivated. They find it difficult to tolerate a republican voice in the media, particularly as the paper has proven quite successful in punching well above its weight and delivering stories which have shaped the news agenda.
The Daily Ireland may have its problems, but for the past two days it led the news agenda with the breaking stories about loyalists mocking the killing of Michael McIlveen at bonfires and through the morbid and quite sickening phone video.
I would be interested in your definition of balanced reportage, Miss Fitz, as I think you’d find me correct when I say the Daily Ireland isn’t alone in deserving a black mark against its title for this.
Posted by on Jul 16, 2006 @ 01:55 AMJust in case you missed it, Chris
Mary Lou’s opinion piece was written, clearly, before the 10th July.. it was a summation of her opinion of the 11th and 12th July.. and was printed on the 14th July without being revised.
Your defense of the DI is admirable.. but perhaps you should should try to focus on issues that they do have control over?
Posted by on Jul 16, 2006 @ 02:01 AMI don’t think a couple of lazy plugs on Talkback constitutes “leading the news agenda”.
The news agenda over the past few days has centred around how this society should react to an unusually peaceful twelfth.
Daily Ireland has merely ‘lead’ itself down a blind alley by reacting with seeming outrage to the possibility that the twelfth might be turned around. What Radio Ulster’s excuse is I can’t imagine.Posted by on Jul 16, 2006 @ 02:01 AMThe detractors of the Daily Ireland on this site are quite openly ideologically motivated. They find it difficult to tolerate a republican voice in the media, particularly as the paper has proven quite successful in punching well above its weight and delivering stories which have shaped the news agenda.
On the contrary, I’d love to have a strong intelligent republican voice in the media, I just don’t think that the Daily Ireland is up to the job.
Compare and contrast the standard of article and commentator in the Blanket with Daily Ireland.The Blanket deserves to be a daily publication, the Daily Ireland deserves to be a vanity website.
Posted by on Jul 16, 2006 @ 06:10 AMMiss Fitz
I’m not a particular fan of the DI myself.
I would prefer the Irish News which, although it is a nationalist paper, does have unionist columnists.
I also think that the Belfast Telegraph, while a unionist paper, is generally pretty balanced (certainly a lot better than it was 10 years ago).
However, I would guess that a lot of the posters who are having a pop at the DI would read the News Letter.
This “paper” is no more than Unionist/DUP/OO propaganda. Very little (if any) comment on anti-Catholic attacks and when they do comment, there’s usually some sort of moral equivalence.
I can understand people criticising the DI if, like me, they would prefer a more balanced approach. However, anyone who attacks the DI and reads the News Letter, clearly just wants to read the propaganda from their side.
Posted by on Jul 16, 2006 @ 07:21 AMNotwithstanding Lindy McDowell’s interpretation, this is looking a bit like woman not ball.
The issue I was highlighting was the inaccuracy in the report and the ‘laziness’ of the depiction.
If indeed the article was written before July10th, when the funding announcement was made, what has happened is actually worse.
Mary Lou didnt wait to see what kind of a 12th we’d had, what improvements were made, what efforts were being made by those who care to make it better.
She trotted out a load of old mopery about inequality in funding and the shock horror of the 12th.
I have no intrinsic problem with DI, I accept it for what it is. Every sinlge paper we have up here is biased in some way, there is no hope for a ‘down the middle’ line on any story.
Once more, this is not a pop at DI, (on this occasion). It was an attempt to point out that Dublin based politicians should take a little more time before making pronouncements on the issues that affect us deeply here. This is no game, and there is no room to play the situation solely for self advancement
Posted by on Jul 16, 2006 @ 11:26 AMChris
Just to be clear, I did not make a reporting error. I know the difference between an MP and an MEP, believe it or not.It was called a typographical error, a slip, and you need to let it go
Posted by on Jul 16, 2006 @ 11:30 AMI wonder just how inclusive Féile an Phobail actually is, I know last year they did a political debate in St Louisa’s which for those of us who braved travelling up the Falls road was frankly terrifying, a very packed out hall and a very hostile atmosphere - before it started, most of the unionists were outside chain smoking!!
However my point is that the Orange has some way to go in terms of image and inclusivity but the West Belfast festival is by no means a beacon of inclusivity and peace to aspire to. Furthermore the OO actually used to be more inclusive, I can remember going to watch parades in Comber with my catholic neighbours and that isn’t even that long ago. Parades didn’t always cause disharmony.
In any case, what exactly would Mary-Lou know about parades and 11th night bonfires? She is a Dublin native, I would be surprised if she has ever attended either of the above.
Posted by on Jul 16, 2006 @ 11:46 AMYour title MissFitz says MP.
Miss Fitz,
Just one of the webs little joys, when you make a silly mistake, the web community are never going to let you get away with it, I feel for you.
Although not your comments on DI which I felt were a nod and wink to the in crowd. [so to speak] To hell with balanced reporting, I can see why a state broadcasting organization should attempt this, although in a democracy they always fail and more often than not end up as the BBC has today after the Kelly scandal, i e all over the place with management attempting to crush any free spirits.
I cannot think of a single case when my journalistic heros attempted to balance their work. whether they be on the right or left politically, the finest writers are usually raging about something close to their heart.
I worry about this so called balance, take the BBC current coverage of the Israeli attacks on Lebanon. You have Beeb jornos reporting whilst they stand next to heavy artillery firing shells on downtown Sidon or Beruit, often without a mention or in some cases a thought that the shells being fired will land on some innocent persons head.
I wonder if the technology were available during WW2 would not the US TV companies prior to the US entering the war on the side of the allies have reported the german army blitzkrieg across Europe as embedded reporters. Which is the last place they should be if the wished to find out more than their military minders allowed them to see.
My point is there should be balance in society as a whole not necessary in individual papers, for example the DI is pro the PRM whereas the Independent group is totally against. I am disappointed that DI is not a more inclusive paper, by which I mean it gives space to the myriad of ideas within the communities it serves. Although I should not be surprised about this, as sadly that is how Mr Adams and co operated. Still I feel we are better for having DI.
Posted by on Jul 16, 2006 @ 11:54 AM
