Media

The decline of journalism

The frenzy of reaction to the tragic death of Katy French brought radio listeners many entertaining faux pas.

 

I  must admit it. Although I didn't know her from Eve, Katy French's death really made me sad, deep down sad. I was sad especially for her loved-ones, who had to watch her tiny corpse carrying so much symbolic weight.

 

I must also admit: some of the coverage that closely followed her sad passing made me laugh in spite of it all.

Action speaks louder with words

The latest sensation in online donation is the website Freerice.com that donates ten grains of rice to combat world hunger for every vocabulary question you answer correctly. Affiliated with the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP), which distributes the food, Freerice.com is an interesting example of the ‘free click' charity websites in that it is actually a bit of fun to use.

Major changes have taken place in the world of online news

In the US, the New York Times is the most popular online newspaper, with 17.5 million unique readers visiting the site in October, up from 14.6 million in September. This leap can probably be attributed to the fact that in September, with little fanfare, www.nty.com dropped its TimesSelect subscription services.

RTE to blame for 'High Society'

Sean O'Rourke got it right in his evisceration of Kevin Dawson, RTÉ commissioning editor (factual programmes). His focus in his News at One interview was not on the hapless, inexperienced journalist, Justine Delaney Wilson, who was responsible for the High Society series but on the RTÉ executive who oversaw the series.

One-stop shop for Spa breaks

A new website has been launched, just in time for the Christmas shopping frenzy. Spa-Ireland.com is a one-stop shop for Irish spa goers. Alison Bell the, woman behind the service, came up with the idea when she decided to go on a Spa break and was surprised by the lack of information available for customers. The site also has its own online store full of luxurious beauty goodies. Bell charges commission on bookings made through the site but assures her customers that they will get the best deal.

The Killings at Coolacrease

The “Hidden History” documentary, inspired in part by Eoghan Harris, is a distortion of what actually happened at Coolacrease, when two young Protestants were murdered. By Pat Muldowney

Myers and the immigration debate

Kevin Myers wrote in The Irish Independent on Tuesday, 9 October, of how out of “patriotic” duty he had gone on the Late Late Show to institute a national debate on immigration. To his bewilderment, the nation failed to respond to his exhortation. He wrote how he had “seen off” people in the Late Late Show audience, who had attempted to question his assertions on immigration and the calamity it is about to cause us. In fact he did no such thing as “see off” the two “intruders” in the discussion.

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