NUJ 'alarmed' at comments by Limerick's media minister on coverage of fuel protests

THE National Union of Journalists (NUJ) has criticised the call by the Minister for Media, Patrick O’Donovan, for a Coimisiún na Meán review of media coverage of the recent nationwide fuel protests, calling it "deeply disturbing". 

In an interview on Limerick Live 95 on Monday, the minister called for a review by the regulator of coverage by broadcasters, specifically by RTÉ, of the protests.

In conversation with presenter Joe Nash, he asked was the coverage "balanced or was it skewed?"

"And I think that's a role for Coimisiún na Meán," he continued.

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When asked by Mr Nash if he would be talking to the Coimisiún, Deputy O'Donovan replied: "I will". 

Deputy O'Donovan said that similiar to the ministers for justice and defence looking at responses by the gardaí and Defence Forces, "I too will be looking at responses".

"We live in a democracy where all voices should be heard, not just some," he added.

"Now Coimisiún na Meán might come back to me and say they believe everything is fine, in which case that's grand but I'll be asking them in the context of everything that happened last week from our national broadcaster to others, was there a porportionate and representative view of the public and the impact it was having across all sectors of the economy whether that was the CEOs of port companies, whether it was in relation to IBEC, whether it was in relation to employers who couldn't get materials into and out of the country. I didn't hear any of those views last week," he said.

Séamus Dooley, NUJ assistant general secretary, said in a statement that the media minister had drawn a false equivalence between these ministerial roles (justice and defence) in order to justify interference in the editorial independence of the national public service broadcaster and licensed radio servicers.

Mr Dooley said:

"I find these comments... deeply disturbing. The media minister is not a bystander but is in a position to influence the allocation of funds, the approval of commercial radio licenses and overall policy on broadcasting. It is not his role to dictate to the independent regulator or to apply pressure on media organisations. RTÉ is a public service broadcaster - not a state broadcaster - and is independently regulated in the interests of democracy. You cannot have a 'slightly independent' public service broadcaster.

"Journalists have a duty to report news and to provide coverage of events as they unfold. 

During the past week many journalists were abused by protesters, including key personnel involved in organising blockades. It is ironic that Deputy O'Donovan has decided to join the ranks of the anti-mainstream media critics in his verbal onslaught at professional broadcasters simply because he disagreed with the arguments and actions of the subject of legitimate news coverage.

"The NUJ is concerned at threats against journalists by a small number of those associated with the protests and would encourage journalists to report online and physical abuse to the NUJ and to the Media Engagement Group established by An Garda Síochána," added Mr Dooley.

"We would ask the Minister to respect the role of independent journalism.

"There's no place for Trumpian ad hominem attacks on journalists and the minister's comments have caused genuine concern."