As Advent approaches, I have hope on my mind, and a few programmes last week gave grounds for some hope that good programmes and insightful discussions can make their way into the media. Shetland (BBC One, Wednesday) recently returned for another series, and last week’s episode saw the reappearance of the local Minister, a brother…
It might be a bit of a mixed metaphor to talk of sparks breathing, but I’ve found an example. Divine Sparks (RTÉ Radio 1, Friday) now has an hour to play with, compared to the half hour of its predecessors. This allows presenter Áine Lawlor to cover a wide variety of topics – allowing the…
It’s great when I can highlight positive items in the media – I hope I do it often enough. The long-running Nationwide (RTÉ One) is a great source of positivity, and religious themes are regularly featured, with a strong emphasis on community. Last Monday’s episode marked the 200th anniversary of the Pro-Cathedral in Dublin and…
I was pleased to find several positive examples of religion and spirituality in the media last week. A few weeks ago, I favourably reviewed Blue Lights (BBC One, Mondays) after seeing the first few episodes. It finished last Monday and must upgrade my rating to ‘outstanding’. It worked as gritty crime drama but it was…
I could write a book on the Presidential Election, and no doubt some will. When it comes to news and the media I think radio wins – social media may be quicker but there are serious reliability issues, and TV can be less nimble. And so it was that when the count started RTÉ One…
A few of last week’s programmes were more food for thought than fuel for anger or frustration. I was happy with that! Sunday Morning Live (BBC One) returned recently, with our own Cara O’Brien subbing as co-host with Sean Fletcher. Last Sunday morning, discussing climate change, I wondered how the balance of views would work…
In recent years immigration has been one of the thorniest topics around, and it drives polarisation big time. Spotlight: Why Are We Not Welcome? (BBC Two NI, Wednesday) explored a recent wave of racist and sectarian violence in North Belfast and Ballymena. Conor Spackman’s report told of how sectarian violence was still an issue, with…
A week is a long time in politics’ says the familiar cliché and wow it was certainly one of those weeks. The week started with the first of the Presidential debates on Virgin Media, on the Tonight Show. It was on a spectrum between dull and lacklustre – all task forces (Gavin), military industrial complexes…
So, the Presidential election is well under way. For an office that is important, with inherent dignity, it has so far been an uninspiring, sometimes silly, even dirty, campaign. The Maria Steen factor was particularly noteworthy. At the early stages she was just one independent among many, sometimes not even mentioned in news reports about…
I’m really sick of the head wrecking aggravation from the USA following the murder of Charlie Kirk, and the related, but trivial by comparison, cancellation of Jimmy Kimmel. I have to say neither was much on my radar up to last week. In this polarised environment both are either being canonised or demonised and neither…