Green Party Fury at RT Bias

1

Says a lot about media bias in this country when you look at the “soft” coverage and air time the PDs get compared with the Green Party.

Party bumped from Late Late and Tubridy shows

The Green Party has described as ‘an unfair snub’ a decision by RT not to have its Leader Trevor Sargent featured on either the Late Late Show or Tubridy Tonight before the General Election.

RT has announced that the appearance of Labour leader Pat Rabbitte on Tubridy Tonight last weekend would be the last such interview before the election. This means that Trevor Sargent will be the only party leader not to have been featured on at least one of RT’s top-rating shows during the life of this Dil.

“It is clearly unfair and flies in the face of RT’s claims to offer unbiased coverage,” said Green Party Chairman John Gormley TD. " We are very concerned and disappointed. The national broadcaster is supposed to offer balanced coverage of all the parties. People have never been so interested in green issues and the Green Party has worked tirelessly to promote our messages in a clear and understandable way. The people have recognised this our level of popular support in the polls is double what it was before the last General Election. We have tried for years to have our fair share of coverage, but RT seems to have other ideas."

During the term of the current Government, Tubridy Tonight has hosted the leaders of Fianna Fil, Fine Gael and Labour, and also interviewed key figures in those parties including Brian Cowen, John and Richard Bruton, and Michael McDowell before he was leader of the PDs.

The Late Late Show has interviewed Sinn Fin leader Gerry Adams, Mary Harney while she was PD leader and Michael McDowell after he became PD leader. Other interviewees included former Fianna Fil leader Albert Reynolds, FF minister Willie O’Dea, and Kerry County Councillor Toireasa Ferris.

Deputy Gormley continued: “Last year RT made a token gesture by inviting Trevor onto The Late Late Show. It was a last-minute invitation where he formed part of a panel to discuss nuclear power. Pat Kenny only addressed him as ‘Trevor’; there was no mention of his last name, the Green Party, or his role in the Party. When we compare that with the treatment other parties have received it is very clear that there is something wrong in RT’s coverage.”

The following tables show the appearance of politicians on The Late Late Show and Tubridy Tonight during the life of this Dil.

Late Late Show

Albert & Philip Reynolds Fianna Fil 20/1/06
Mary Harney Progressive Democrats 3/2/06
Toireasa Ferris Sinn Fin 10/2/06
Willie O’Dea (on panel) Fianna Fil 3/3/06
Trevor Sargent (on panel) Green Party 7/4/06
Willie O’Dea Fianna Fil 10/11/06
Michael Healy-Rae (panel) Independent 24/11/06
Michael McDowell Progressive Democrats 15/12/06
Danny Morrisson Sinn Fin 30/9/05
Michel Martin (on panel) Fianna Fil 9/9/2005
Gerry Adams Sinn Fin 10/12/2004

Tubridy Tonight

Brian Cowan Fianna Fil 11/2/06
Fergal Quinn Independent 18/3/06
Bertie Ahern Fianna Fil 13/5/06
John & Richard Bruton Fine Gael 4/11/06
Pat Rabbitte Labour 20/1/06
Michael McDowell Progressive Democrats 19/11/05
Enda Kenny Fine Gael 8/10/05

2

In your own words ‘cry me a fucking river’

They should offer to put Mrs Rock on it. Guaranteed that RTE will agree :wink: :frowning:

Is Mrs Rock a member actually?

3

It does smack of bias alright but is it fair to say the Green Party’s target electorate are those in the 20-35 age bracket? I don’t know anyone in that grouping who watch the Late Late Show.

The funny thing is that Tubridy Tonight is meant to be hip and stuff and cater for those crazy twenty and thirty somethings but surely anybody who watches that show or listens to that nauseating little prick on the radio deserves the death penalty.

I wouldn’t lose too much sleep over it.

4

me neither

5

Mrs Rock lurks from time to time but she is reluctant to become a member. I think she should be more supportive.

Just posted it up here because I saw it as a press release and I think it’s interesting and worth complaining about from their perspective. I remember Trevor got bumped off Podge and Rodge for Jade Goody or someone at the last minute and they weren’t happy then. They don’t have spin gurus because they don’t take political donations so they probably have less influence in the mainstream media than smaller but more corporate oriented parties.

6

I doubt that’s their targeted age bracket actually - think they do better with ageing concerned parents who are environmentally conscious but I’ll check it out.

I’d certainly think that there’s more of an interest in the Greens from a Late Late audience than from a Tubridy audience.

7

Yeah, I’d be interested to know. I thought it’d be more idealistic and environmentally aware young people than older people who might be set in their ways or whatever. I know a bird who works in Green Party circles so I could ask her.