Sport in the Media - More Facts, Less Hysteria Please
Posted by Pat Kierans on May 27, 2010 in with 2 CommentsThe Irish public deserves a more balanced media approach to controversial issues
The hysterical campaign launched recently by the IRFU to oppose Minister Eamon Ryan’s moves to make more rugby available ‘free to air’ is a real indication of how poorly served the Irish sporting public is by its media.
Nowhere can we find a balanced debate on the core issues involved. Nowhere can we find a voice of reason that would deliver a sensible solution to the situation
No, instead we face daily cries of ‘Save Irish Rugby’ across traditional and online media, twitter being a good example. To so aggressively attack a Minister, who represents a government that has just underwritten the construction of the magnificent new Aviva Stadium is naive at best and in bad taste at worst.
No doubt, the impending announcement that Leinster rugby is operating at a significant financial deficit will be used to add fuel to the arguments against Minister Ryans proposal. I wonder will we see any real attempt to raise questions about a business model which produces losses at a time of unprecedented success.
Indeed, the Aviva Stadium launch seems to have inspired both Rugby and Soccer to shoot themselves in the foot at a time when they should have been basking in the PR glory of delivering our new National stadium.
Limerick FC used it to get their 15 minutes of fame also. Limerick claimed that they had agreement from FC Barcelona to play a glamour friendly at Thomond Park later this Summer but that the FAI had refused to sanction the game. The media which requires very little encouragement to bash the FAI lapped this up and ran with a story, the full facts of which in my opinion were never properly investigated. I happen to know for a fact that Barcelona’s Summer schedule would not allow for their first team to play here until Summer 2011. But as a journalist, why bother to find that out when column inches and the airwaves can be lazily filled with hysterical nonsense. We were told that the Limerick business community would lose out to the tune of €10m as a result of the game not going ahead. This is the same business community, whose failure to support their local football club means that it is in a dire position. Yesterday, the four provincial football associations and all junior and youth football through 37 leagues across Ireland issued a statement in support of the FAI on the Limerick situation – I wonder will this attract any coverage.
Its time for the media generally to be more objective and less opinionated on issues such as the free to air rugby debate and the Limerick FC/Barcelona debacle. Please give us the facts along with informed commentary to help us understand the issues and arrive at a reasoned conclusion.
Pat Kierans is a strategic marketer with nearly 20 years’ experience – He believes passionately that for businesses to reach their true potential, they must embrace the “Brand Is King’ principle.Find out more at Pat Kierans's Profile. Don't forget to subscribe if you'd like to hear more!
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Comments
I couldn’t agree with you more. The media is capable of creating panic within any country when they should instead be supporting their country. And that doesn’t make sense to me…that the media would prefer to gain more sales from this hysteria than support their country. And this applies to the UK too.
Interesting Pat. Slothful journo’s are nothing new. However let’s take the postitives:
1) The inaccurate reporting of Paidi O’Sheas comments some years ago resulted in this wonderful piece of video being created - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QkPHRH11TTc
2) The negative media coverage of cheats and the lack of coverage of stories about sportsmanship forced me to write a book of short stories http://www.GreatMomentsOfSportsmanship.com and a blog with ser generated stories, videos, discussions. More stories welcome as this is th estart of a 20 year campaign. iPhone app next.
Best wishes
Paul Smith (author)
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