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THE PRESS COUNCIL of Ireland and the Press Ombudsman have warned that the future of Irish media is “very uncertain” because of the economic threat posed Covid-19.
Launching their annual report for 2019 today, both bodies noted that all newspapers and magazines are struggling due to falling advertising revenues and a drop in print sales.
They also said that if there is not a substantial recovery in the economy, it is certain that a number of titles will stop publishing.
The report outlines the activities of both bodies, which exist to safeguard and promote professional and ethical standards in Irish print and online media.
According to the report, the Press Ombudsman received 252 complaints last year, with the most common being alleged breaches of truth and accuracy requirements (33.9%).
This was followed by alleged breaches of privacy requirements (18.8%) and issues distinguishing between fact and comment (11.9%).
The Ombudsman issued formal decisions in relation to 32 complaints, while nine complaints were upheld. Fifteen appeals were made to the Press Council of Ireland, three of which were upheld.
It was also the first year in which a complaint about a podcast was made, although this was resolved to the satisfaction of the complainant.
In the report, Press Council Chairman Seán Donlon said that 2019 proved to be a challenging year for member publications, as income from advertising continued to decline due to a continued focus by advertisers on social media.
He also called on the government to review the “detrimental impact” of Ireland’s defamation laws on press freedom, which he noted was affecting the commercial viability of the press in Ireland.
“When people are defamed they are entitled to take court action for any wrongful loss of reputation,” Donlon said.
“However, if the award is so large and the consequences so harsh that publishers run the risk of going out of business, there is a real danger that democracy will suffer through the suppression of the means of communicating facts and opinions.”
In a statement accompanying the release of the report, Press Ombudsman Peter Feeney warned about the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on Irish media.
“It is no exaggeration to say that this function of the media is under threat in a way that has not been seen before,” he said.
“In a year so disrupted by the Covid-19 pandemic there, is a genuine feeling that the media is at a point of profound change in its role in society.
“If societal values and practices are not to suffer, a future path for the media must emerge.”
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The young prime minister Gabriel Attal has recognized the genuine grievances of French farmers, shared by farmers in several European countries. Too much unnecessary red tape (bureaucrats trying to intensify their power by imposing increased paperwork); too much blaming food producers for pollution; too much money required to stay in farming. In Brussels, Paris and Berlin there are 5-day civil servants; but there’s no such thing as a 5-day farmer.
@Garreth Byrne: all that red tape creates lots of civil service jobs,and their unsackable.
@jak: to keep your food and drink cheaper than it would be.
You sometimes get the distinct impression that some of Europe’s political elites really don’t have a clue about where the food they eat comes from and that real people called farmers work hard to make their livings producing and providing it. “Farmers, you say? Aren’t they the happy workers from the factories where they make the food that my staff purchase from those supermarket places?”
@William Tallon: That’s true, I know nothing about farming but I certainly have great respect for the work they do, hours they put in for little gain .
CANT BEAT Le Bleu farmers.Hope we fare better tonight.As a Munster supporter I want Pete to have a good beginning to 6 Nations Campaign.Without our Irish Farmers we gave no Country,the backbone of our Nation and prosperity.
No farmers no food is a myth in Ireland. Lots of our food is imported and lots of our meat is exported.
@Padraig O’Brien: Ok, If there was no farmers in the *whole world*, what would you live on? Furze bushes?
France 12 – 18 Ireland COYBIG
Are if there were no car makers there wouldn’t be cars etc.. We have produce food sustainably. Seen the iFA fella on prime time last night tyring to defend excessive use of nitrates. Time is now.
All I hear is farmers complaining they work hard and make no money…
I heard a good saying today” you don’t have to be smart to be a farmer, but don’t be stupid ”
Give up the farm if it is not viable, there’s plenty of jobs out there..
The farmers that really work hard and put in 10 plus hours a day are making money, because these are dairy farmers..there is no need for 95% of beef farmers to be home all day collecting subsidies and complaining about how it’s not enough..get a job
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