Is the media a messenger or an influencer?

This week’s Mediahuis/INM Irish regional newspapers’ column

Michael Commane

I’m often surprised as to what makes the news and what doesn’t.

How are decisions made as to what should be on the front page of a newspaper or the lead story on radio or television news? There are stories that are natural front page news. 

The death of Sinéad O’Connor was a natural front page story. Dublin winning the All-Ireland, Ireland being knocked out of the World Cup are of course front page stories. But what about an explosion in Pakistan that kills 54 people, among them 20 children, does that merit front page news? 

The day that happened it was the first item on RTÉ television news, whereas it was way down the news the same evening on Germany’s public service broadcaster, ARD.

Are newspapers, radio and television stations influenced by their owners and those who manage and control them? Do editors have to think like their employers? Is it possible for anyone to be objective?  

Does the media influence its readership/listenership. What actually is news? Is news entertainment?

When Russian tanks rolled into Ukraine on February 24, 2022 journalists from all over the world rushed to the country and gave us minute-to-minute account of what was happening. 

That war is still as intense as it was then but while it is in the news it has lost its sensational impact on us. Indeed, the war in Ukraine really began on February 20, 2014 when Russia annexed Crimea. But on that occasion the West did not come to the help of Ukraine and the story more or less fizzled out. 

It often happens that items on PrimeTime or the Joe Duffy show become national stories and then go on to merit serious news stories. The sexual abuse of children in Blackrock College came to light as a result of two brothers, who were former pupils of the school, speaking about their sexual abuse on an RTÉ Radio 1 documentary in 2022. 

That documentary and the courage of the two men to tell their story led to the Government commissioning a scoping inquiry into schools run by religious orders.

Last week I saw on Twitter, now X, where entertainer Cardi B threw a microphone at an audience member who threw a drink at her as she was performing in Las Vegas. The next day Oliver Callan referred to the incident on his morning RTÉ Radio 1 programme. I doubt RTÉ had an intrepid reporter covering the event. Of course not, they too most likely picked it up on Twitter.

If I read a news story on a subject that I know something about I can be surprised  with some of the detail in the story. Often the coverage is not completely accurate. 

Do we ever change our views on topics because of what we read or hear in the media? 

The million dollar question: is the media the messenger or is it an influencer?

Certainly social media never claims to be solely a messenger. Isn’t it all about being an influencer?

I’d love to know what the newspaper barons think about social media.