Secret peacemakers and media bias – 2023 in review

When I look back on the year in the media I usually see what comes to mind before re-reading my columns. This gives me a good impression of what really stands out, though I’m often surprised by what I’ve forgotten about.

The first thing that springs to mind is war. Last year it was the war in Ukraine that dominated the news media, and sadly that is still going on, without any sign of resolution, and it is being demoted in media priorities by the latest war in the Middle East – the awful attacks by Hamas on Israel in October and the subsequent, and I believe disproportionate, retaliation by Israel.

It all makes for a grim lead up to Christmas. As far as the media goes, it can be hard to discern the truth in a sea of bias, misinformation, disinformation, propaganda and all-round fakery.

In the light of such destructiveness the huge controversy surrounding RTÉ sparked by the Ryan Tubridy salary issue seems trivial. Not to him of course. It meant him losing his job in RTÉ, in the 9am morning weekday slot (he had opted to give up hosting the Late Late Show earlier).

RTÉ’s struggle

His successor on the Late Late Show was Patrick Kielty and so far he is doing alright, but the show is rather underwhelming. More broadly, RTÉ is struggling with funding, credibility and vision. Going into the new year it seems likely it will become a slimmer, leaner organisation, outsourcing much more programme making, and shedding some non-essentials such as the +1 channels. They could do with shedding biases in current affairs programmes, along with some of the attempted comedies that seem to assume that what’s crude is funny.

On the plus side RTÉ continues to provide good service in religious programmes. The Mass on the RTÉ News channel, a by-product of Covid times, continues to provide a valuable service. Special occasions are well covered, for example the World Youth Day Mass in August.

Of course, religious channels like EWTN provide more comprehensive coverage of such occasions. The Leap of Faith (RTÉ Radio 1), presented by Siobhán Garrigan, has been consistently interesting and currently has morphed into Witness. The Meaning of Life (RTÉ One) had a new season – it started strongly with Joe Duffy interviewing former Archbishop of Dublin Diarmuid Martin.

A few years ago, I was a big fan of Life and Soul, which had a short revival recently with a new format – rather than a magazine approach (which I preferred – the music was great) it featured more in-depth coverage of single issues (e.g. the Tiglin Centre) – more like one of its predecessors Would You Believe.

A Ring and a Prayer (RTÉ One, November) was an innovative exploration of mixed-culture marriages. A new series of the Angelus reflections was launched in May. Much credit goes to Roger Childs, RTÉ’s head of religious programming. I wish him the best of commissioning experiences in the New Year. If you wanted more consistent and comprehensive religious content, the likes of Spirit Radio, Radio Maria and EWTN continued to be the channels of choice.

On the drama front, it’s hard to get a drama series that’s artistically good, isn’t overly woke, has good values and isn’t full of foul language. Most drama series are definitely for adults and some are downright objectionable.

There was no fuss when it was revealed that €46 million was spent on abortion services since the legislation was introduced in 2019”

I’ve enjoyed Annika, starring the excellent Nicola Walker – here she plays a detective in Scotland and indulges in reflective asides to the camera. The first series was on BBC, the second on Now TV, which is unusual. It’s humane and often funny and works well as crime drama, though it’s a crime of the week story, with some plot threads continuous. There are affairs and a lesbian relationship that feels somewhat tokenistic, but it’s in the background and I didn’t find it preaching an agenda. Walker was absent from the new series of Unforgotten (UTV) in March, but Irish actress Sinead Keenan did well as her testy replacement.

Shetland (BBC One) was in its eighth series this autumn, with some character changes – the plot was grim enough, but the characters were interesting. A young vicar was portrayed sympathetically, which was welcome.

The final series of Happy Valley (BBC One) back in January didn’t disappoint, with a tension-filled plot and some outstanding acting (especially from Sarah Lancaster, James Norton and Siobhán Finneran). The Sixth Commandment (BBC One), back in July was an engaging drama, uncomfortable to watch, with Irish actor Éanna Hardwicke excelling as a bogus priest. At the time I described it as “a fine reflection on faith, loneliness, guilt, family dynamics, delusion and arrogance”.

Blue Lights (BBC One), humane police show set in Belfast, impressed in April and got a well-deserved repeat on RTÉ in November-December. It’s not surprising that a second series is due.

Prison drama series Time (BBC One) returned for a moving and life affirming second series in October. It was grim but engaging, though I thought the chaplain was somewhat compromised, or maybe just humanised this time around. Three Little Birds (UTV) was a funny and moving adult drama series in October-November, written by Lenny Henry, about immigrants to England from Jamaica in the 1950’s.

Bias in current affairs continued to be a problem. Often that’s about what’s not covered. For example, there was no fuss when it was revealed that €46 million was spent on abortion services since the legislation was introduced in 2019.

Ideology

Why were the investigative journalists not all over this? Where was the outrage about such huge sums being spent on people who, for the most part, are healthy, when people that are really ill struggle to get the appropriate health services? Ideology seems to trump common sense and real compassion.

Ideology also seems to drive RTÉ’s obsession with climate change. The recent Ireland 2050: Tomorrow Tonight (RTÉ One) was an embarrassing docu-drama on the matter. If you’re committed to saving the planet and conscious of the dangers, but also have some artistic sensibility I suspect this would not have pleased you, even if you agreed with the sentiments. Climate extremism is counter productive and produces climate anxiety in the young – they have enough stress to cope with. Not that complacency is to be recommended either.

Newstalk has featured many diverse voices, including people whose views diverge from the ‘acceptable narrative’. This is true especially of Newstalk Breakfast, Lunchtime Live and The Hard Shoulder. The diversity is an important contribution to public debate.

Sunday (BBC Radio 4) and Sunday Sequence (BBC Radio Ulster) continue to provide in-depth exploration of current issues in religion and ethics”

Among the regular religious programmes, as well as RTÉ Radio 1’s Witness already mentioned, Sunday (BBC Radio 4) and Sunday Sequence (BBC Radio Ulster) continue to provide in-depth exploration of current issues in religion and ethics.

Both programmes covered big developments like the death of Pope Benedict XVI in January and the synod in Rome in Autumn. Sunday Morning Live (BBC One) has done well – I remember a topical discussion of the power and intrusiveness of the press back in June. It’s great to see Songs of Praise (BBC One) coming to Ireland on occasion – like the item on Sr Clare Crockett from Derry in March and coverage of a ‘a walking and kayaking pilgrimage’ in Co. Down in May. Nationwide (RTÉ One) continued to be pleasantly low-key and reliable. There was a particularly good episode on Trócaire’s 50th birthday back in March.

The media generally excels when it comes to music programmes. This Autumn RTÉ had two in particular that I liked – Seisiún which featured folk music from various iconic gig venues around the country, and Anam, Songs for Hearts and Minds which did the same from striking public buildings like the Skellig Centre in Dún Chaoin, Co. Kerry. Likewise, The Ballycotton Sessions, set in the Sea Church were enjoyable. In Wayfaring Stranger (BBC 2) Phil Cunningham explored Ulster Scots folk and trad and how emigrants from that tradition influenced folk music in the USA. Gospel music figured large.

On the documentary front I was impressed by The Secret Peacemaker (RTÉ One and BBC One) broadcast at Easter, which told the story of Redemptorist priest Fr Alec Reid, whose efforts were instrumental in bringing about the peace in Northern Ireland.

Also relating to the Troubles was the hard-hitting series Once Upon a Time in Northern Ireland (RTE One, August). Sometimes we need to be reminded about how bad things were during those troubled times, as a warning to make sure we don’t drift back.

Inside the Hospice (Virgin Media One) in May was moving and intense, an affirmation of the value of palliative care, while Iniúcadh (TG 4), also in May, looked at one of our most pressing social problems – homelessness. Ar Son na Poblachta (TG 4, August) told the gripping story of how the Capuchins of Church St in Dublin were involved in bringing about peace during the Easter Rising of 1916.

Finally, I’m sad to see Michael Kelly stepping down as editor of The Irish Catholic. He has been excellent in the role and I wish him well for the future. I suspect he will turn up as a well-informed commentator on many religious programmes.