Brendan O’Regan
Brendan O’Reagan argues ‘an impartiality deficit in the media’ approaching referendum day
Well, one of the most significant moments in our history as a state is upon us, as we decide whether marriage is something between a man and a woman or not. The media debate has continued with intensity as each side tries to score some knockout blow or at least get enough effective jabs in to make a crucial difference.
One of the most high profile debates was that on Claire Byrne Live, on Monday of last week. I thought the show was trying to be scrupulously fair – the yes and no sides were equally balanced – each group had half the audience, Claire Byrne was even-handed, the show started with one video introduction for ‘yes’ and one for ‘no’ (each featuring gay persons), there was one politician on the podium for each side.
The show was worthwhile, with many interesting contributions from both sides, though I would like to have heard more from the audience. I was surprised that the ‘yes’ side didn’t include many of their heavy hitters, and on the podium Minister Simon Coveney looked decidedly uncomfortable.
Then just as I was admiring the balance, they blew it by including an interview with Geoffrey Shannon, Special Rapporteur on Child Protection. I generally admire Shannon’s work and my complaint is with RTÉ more than him, but this seemed like a segment set up to knock the ‘no’ side’s arguments on adoption. And surprise, surprise, his comments made headlines next day and have been used since then as a stick to beat the ‘no’ side.
And there was a worse example of media manipulation. On the Wednesday, Newstalk’s Breakfast show had the Chairman of the Referendum Commission, Justice Kevin Cross, in for questioning. To my mind presenter Chris Donoghue was like a man on a mission, asking only the questions that the ‘yes’ side would want asked in the way they would want them asked. Largely he got the answers he wanted, and it was quite telling when Donoghue summed up in the end that the judge said: “You put that far better than I have”. Then, wouldn’t you know, clips from the interview were used against ‘no’ supporters like Dublin footballer Ger Brennan who appeared on the Pat Kenny Show later that morning. I was going to call it sleight of hand but it was too blatant for that.
Wednesday wasn’t entirely bleak for the ‘no’ side. On Today with Sean O’Rouke, lawyer Patrick Treacy was clinical in his demolition of lawyer Mary O’Toole from the ‘yes’ side and Sean O’Rourke did ask some challenging questions of both sides. It was similar with the debate between legal experts Alan Shatter and Tom Finegan on the News at One on RTÉ Radio 1 on Friday – you know something odd is afoot when a lawyer resorts to sentimental and emotional arguments instead of reason. Of course sentiment has its place in life, but hardly when you’re enacting legislation.
Prime Time on the Thursday night purported to give the answers people were looking for, with Judge Cross and a group of apparently unaligned lawyers. At least it became clear that in relation to adoption and surrogacy, it would be ‘much more unlikely’ a court could favour opposite sex couples if the referendum proposal is passed.
When the research on the matter of outcomes for children was detailed, the programme concentrated on the research that suited the ‘yes’ side and ignored the studies that suited the ‘no’ side, apart from a brief acknowledgement that the ‘no’ side disagreed!
Tuesday’s Pat Kenny Show featured evangelical leader Nick Parke on the ‘no’ side, while his daughter, Kristy, was on the ‘yes’ side.
It was a wonderful example of how people on opposite sides can respect each other, contrasting with the vitriol that has characterised much of the debate on social media.
I was reminded of the damning democratic deficit listening to Saturday with Claire Byrne last weekend. The ‘no’ side was ably represented by Mattie McGrath and Jim Walsh, but altogether they’re only two of about six politicians publicly supporting the ‘no’ vote – less than 3% of Oireachtas members! Of course there’s an impartiality deficit in the media too, but there have been honourable exceptions – the latest Sunday Show on Newstalk did put some challenging points to Tánaiste Joan Burton.
Pick of the Week
Songs of Praise
BBC 1, Sunday, May 24, 4pm
Former BBC political correspondent Martina Purdy reveals why she chose a new life as a nun.
Would You Believe? The Nazarene
RTÉ One, Sunday, May 24, 11.50pm
Fr Charlie Burrows, a man the local Muslims call ‘the Nazarene’, is in the news because of his care for foreign drug offenders sentenced to death in Indonesia.
Joan of Arc: God’s Warrior
BBC 2, Tuesday, May 26, 9pm
Writer and historian Dr Helen Castor explores the life and death of Joan of Arc, an extraordinary woman driven by faith.
