Why are County Councilers interviewed on TV after something dreadful happens

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Mpsox

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One things I noticed over the last week in relation to the killings in Mayo and Bray was that a local county counciler was rolled out on TV and radio (RTE/Today FM) to spout the usual platitudes about how it was all dreadful etc etc. I don't want to underestimate the awfulness of what happened in those incidents, but why is the counciler being trotted out and why are the media ultimately facilitating a PR job for them.? It's not even as if they are going to say something new or profound. You could cut and paste what they say and apply it to almost any similer situation
 
The Councillor is interviewed as a public representative.

He/She is giving the general reaction and condolences etc. on behalf of their constituents.
 
A councillor is not entitled to give media reactions on behalf of anyone - they are not elected for this purpose.

One of my pet hates is politicians of various types who use the much mis-used term "public representative" and seem to think that they have a right to make statements on behalf of "their electorate" or get involved in things which are none of their business and for which they were not elected.
 
QED said:
The Councillor is interviewed as a public representative.

He/She is giving the general reaction and condolences etc. on behalf of their constituents.
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We all know what the general reaction is to something like this is. I don't need some local counciler to tell me that or if he/she is in opposition to use that most useful comment to a problem, "something" must be done about it?

Is it not just lazy reporting by the media to fill 30 seconds of a report?
 
Unfortunately have to agree that Co. Councillors are not the best people to be putting on TV or radio after any event, about anything, except business specifically related to the council, political parties or their work.

I wish I could say that they are useful commentators, but politicians who stand for election, a large proportion of whom are linked into the party system for a national political organisation, probably mean well, but such occasions are great advertising - perfect for putting the face out there to ensure the profile stays high.

I believe the vast majority of councillors are simply ordinary Joes who have expertise in their field of employment, what the council does, how to get elected and their political party (if any).

I have listened to radio talk programmes in particular, which choose to use councillors as panel members to talk on certain subjects. When I have knowledge about the subject, I have literally cringed as I listen to the hackeyed drivel that can be spoken, often with an air of authority. As Mpsox says, you could write it for them a lot of the time.

The media could work a bit harder and try to source interviewees which have a more secure viewpoint and ability to speak on certain subjects than county councillors.
 
What is even worse is the interview with some local who expresses the usual cliches and who was not actually there/saw anything/heard anything/knows anything.
 
Well in fairness what else are they going to put in the item? The family will presumably not want to speak and the gardaí won't say anything if there's an investigation ongoing
 
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Ciaraella said:
Well in fairness what else are they going to put in the item? The family will presumably not want to speak and the gardaí won't say anything if there's an investigation ongoing
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So don't put anything in, report the news not peoples opinions on the event. It;s a bit like inane DJs existing solely to read out people's texts to their shows
 
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