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RTÉ RECEIVED 450 emails and 500 telephone calls of “feedback” regarding its coverage of the visit of Pope Francis to Ireland, but no official formal complaints.
Negative commentary to the broadcaster included claims that its coverage of the papal visit during the World Meeting of Families was both “anti-Catholic” and “pro-Catholic”.
Information released to TheJournal.ie under the Freedom of Information Act also highlights positive feedback received by RTÉ, including praise for Bryan Dobson being “professional and in charge”.
Figures also released to TheJournal.ie also show that the visit cost RTÉ an additional €136,000 in costs across TV and radio for presenters, guests and crew in studio, construction costs for off-campus sites, travel and the hiring of broadcast equipment.
Host broadcaster
Pope Francis had a packed itinerary during his two-day Irish visit, and many of his appearances were covered live on RTÉ TV and radio over 17 hours of coverage.
This included his arrival into Dublin on the morning of Saturday 25 August, the Festival of Families at Croke Park that evening, and his mass live from the Phoenix Park on Sunday 26 August.
At the same time as the mass in the park, a large-scale demonstration was held in Dublin city centre where participants marched in silence to remember abuse survivors.
While no formal complaints were made to the broadcaster, nearly 1,000 people got in touch detailing their feedback to the papal visit, with emails and calls complaining about the coverage wide-ranging.
Negative submissions from some said that RTÉ’s coverage was anti-Catholic. Responses included:
There was a reference to the “dreadful quality” of the audio during the Pope’s speeches – on a very windy, August day in Dublin – as well as the “lack of knowledge and preparation by presenters”.
Another emailer said the “coverage was inappropriate and too flippant – more like a Eurovision commentary”.
Others accused RTÉ of not showing the protests that took place during the visit.
One said that the broadcaster “purposely avoided catching protesters on camera, who have a right to be seen, and disregarded abuse victims”.
Another wrote to express their “disappointment at RTÉ’s totally biased pro-Catholic coverage of the Pope’s visit”.
Costs
Others who gave feedback to RTÉ were more positive.
Adjectives such as “superb”, “outstanding” and “excellent” were used by a number of people.
Three emailers singled out the presenters in particular for praise, including Dobson who anchored the mass coverage alongside Áine Lawlor.
“Bryan Dobson and his contributors deserve credit,” one wrote. “Bryan Dobson… professional and in charge,” said another.
Each person who made contact with the RTÉ Information Office regarding the coverage of the Pope’s visit would have received a response informing them that their comments were welcome and would be circulated to senior management.
In terms of the cost of sending reporters and crew to Dublin and Knock cover the events of the visit, RTÉ hasn’t yet finalised the amount but the best estimate is €16,000, it said.
The additional costs for presenters and guest fees for those working in studio sites amounted to €11,472.
The additional crewing costs for the same events amounted to €76,616.
RTÉ said: “Costs for personal who were involved in the event but who were already assigned to work on those days are not captured here as it is not an additional cost.”
The costs for construction of an off-campus studio was €6,756, while the cost for the hire of broadcast equipment was €15,675.
In relation to radio coverage, across staffing costs, guest fees and travel, the cost to RTÉ was just over €10,000.
Y’know some people should get a life with these complaints.
Yes we are a secular state, but living in a secular state means tolerating ALL religions. In fact when living in a secular state a person’s faith preference or if they are Atheist or Agnostic is their own personal belief and preference and their own business. If we should take any lesson from the past in Ireland, we should take this one. People are not defined by their faith preference alone, they are made up of more than that. Profiling people in this way is a dangerous road to go down as history proves again and again. We talk of religious freedom for other faiths that are in Ireland but what about religious freedom for native faiths. How can we call ourselves a tolerant state if we cannot even tolerate native faiths.
@Liz (10) (^_^): what do you mean by native faiths? Christianity, which is a middle eastern religion hijacked by the Romans? Or maybe you mean paganism? Either way, I do believe in freedom of religion, I agree with you on that part, once that religion is practiced privately and not imposed on others or does not impinge on the freedom of others, as it does currently in our religious run schools, for example.
@Liz (10) (^_^): ‘We talk of religious freedom for other faiths that are in Ireland but what about religious freedom for native faiths. ‘
Our native faith is paganism.
Podge and Rodge show last night was absolutely disgusting with the behavior of that thing,Maughan . I for one will be making a complaint. A new low in “entertainment “ . Yuck!
@James Wallace: Don’t forget the Jewish faith. Ireland has a long native Jewish tradition as well as Christian which is unfortunately is in decline however in recent times there has been an upsurge with workers from overseas
@Beyond Belief: True. I grant you. We were better off at times if we still were in my honest opinion with the carry on of the Church over decades.
Plus no women priests or married clergy. I think they need to cop on now.
People are perpetually offended these days, live and let live…I’m not a catholic but I don’t begrudge people their faith.
@Jun Stone: Fair enough. On the other hand, I have no faith in RTÉ’s habit of pushing for hefty increases in licence tax, requiring people who never watch RTÉ to pay regular sums of money to RTÉ.
Try getting a grip. It had huge sectoral interest and was televised. That’s not sectarianism, it’s the job of TV. Just as the euro. 2020, the GAA championship, referendum and GE coverage or anything else that has a large following. Sectarianism is making official complaints because of no other valid reason than being anti. Just find something else to do or watch like I did.
It was covering of the pope’s visit to Ireland of course the state broadcaster is going to cover it , sky news covered it most of the day too along with other media companies ,
Ireland should be transitioning to a secular state to allay the fears of unification held by NI Protestants and the Orange Order. The Pope’s visit was ill-timed at a time when unification is at its highest since 1921 and just resurrected the Paisley notion of a papist state.
Given the history of abuse perpetrated by the Catholic Church over the past 100 years
the Government has to no demystify the Confessional seal of silence and compel all
citizens with the exception of legal advisors to report all criminal activity for secular
legal remedy. This process is happening in Australia,
The Government has to simply nationalise primary & secondary education, de-Catholic
the constitution and remove God from it for good measure and declare that religion and its practice is a private matter and that all Irish law should take precedence to Cannon Law and its derivatives. (replace calumny* with defamation, slander etc.).
If we can assure protestants in NI that they will have identical status as Catholics in a secular 32 county Ireland, then, IMO, the major stumbling block to unification is no longer there and economics will sort out the residual Unionist sentiments.
It is fine for the UK having a unified head of State & head of Church but a 21C Irish Republic should be independent and secular to reflect our neutral position with respect to global conflict.
To an outsider it seemed a Dr Who voyage back to the Middle Ages when it was found the Sgt McCabe had been subjected to “calumny” straight out of Cannon Law. If I remember form my Confirmation coaching , calumny & detraction was under the heading: “What else is forbidden by the 8th Commandment?
Ireland’s recent immigration program indicates an objective of being a multi-cultural
society and the preferred position of the State ought to be secular to accommodate
multiculturalism, Imo.
@Moorooka Mick: pppppffffffff
@Moorooka Mick: the state is secular. Legislation is not being scripted with a Catholic or any other ethos in mind. If the schools have a ethos, it’s because there’s demand for it. Some people want their children to grow up with some indoctrination and some don’t. It’s freedom of choice.
@Andrew Dillon: demand for it? there’s demand for non religious schools & even if what you say was true let people pay for private religious schools. A truly secular society cannot have public schools run by religious groups. it’s the opposite of a secular society. if people want their children “indoctrinated” let them pay for it or do it at home or at Sunday schools. I am also open to children being taught religious education in schools provided all religions and none are addressed as well as the pros & cons of such teachings. Catholics schools have been shown to be discriminatory towards both students & teachers & you say there’s no legislation being scripted. Maybe there should be to prevent this.
@Moorooka Mick: very well said. Bravo.
@Moorooka Mick: We don’t need to appease them, if they think we are all papists even after the pro gay marriage and pro choice referendums then what more can we do? Any anyways why should we be considerate about their feelings or concerns? A reunified Ireland would be great, but not if we have to bend at the knee to Arlene’s feelings!
@Andrew Dillon: except in most areas of the country there is NO choice.
@Moorooka Mick: the protestants in the north have more in common with Catholicism than secularism. In England 25% of the top performing schools were Catholic even though they make up a much smaller percentage of the total. It would therefore appear it would not be wise to reduce the number of Catholic schools.
@Tom Mullally: Or wiser to send your children to a top-performing school in England? A country where it is unacceptable to cover up child predator activities by failing to report them, arranging for secrecy contracts and allowing the predators to move around the country freely.
@Fiona Fitzgerald: tell that to the young girls in Rotherham
He gives a lovely mass though
@Nomad: Careful now .. He gives good mass .. Its the girls who are lovely
RTE intentionally or unintentionally gave the impression that it was going to be a nightmare getting to the event.
@Thomas Molloy: and catholics famously hate a pilgrimage.
Only a handful of people play Winning Streak each week and RTE gives it an hour airtime every Saturday and get paid for same.
Moorooka Mick .Set up a stall in O’Connell street and gather your follower’s and see how that goes .I am easy either way and disgusted at what was done in the name of religion or by the religious and I also believe that that is the general feeling of all catholics some of who are reeling at what has come out from time to time
It was much to popey for my liking.
Goes to show, no matter what RTÉ do they’ll be attacked by both sides. They can’t win.
The three Bryan Dobson fans must have been the father, son & Holy Ghost
Lads more people bought Gareth Brooks tickets than attended the pope…… We are a changed country but the rise in country music amoung young people needs to be looked at. It’s the main cause of Suacide
” Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s and to God the things that are God’s ” Romans 13:1 ” let every person be in subjection to the governing authorities ,for there is no authority except from God and those which exist are established by God.”
No formal complaints made now look at headline
I watched it with the sound off, but I thought the frocks were nice.
Online stories like this are inclined to elicit feedback on the RTE feedback and comments on various comments. Narcissistic commentary on public commentary tells us more about comment posters than it does about the professionalism of RTE.
Wouldn’t call it sectarianism, not a fan of R.T.E. but the way this visit was rammed down our throats was a disgrace. The good and the mighty after all their talk had no problem in bending the knee to El Papa. If people believe that’s their right…. but R.T.E. and mainstream media was over the top.
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