I had to laugh as the Irish media gave another dig at "Fox News" with the old cliche abour fair and balanced. This week however is a perfect example of how the Irish media isn't too far behind.
What are the misrepresentations the media continue to spin out that get on your nerves?
1. AIB Pay rise
First, it's a pretty small sum, though I understand the "principle". But the representation was this was the "Board" of AIB giving two fingers to all us honest to god, ordinary law abiding citizens who bailed them out. As clearly discussed in most reasonable forums, the pay rise was as a result of union action at the LRC. Not one mention of this small inconvinient issue.
2. Not one banker in prison, but in the USA they're in chains...
Isn't it ironic that on the saturday current affairs discussion shows we tend to criticise the USA for its criminal justice system. Sending people with mental age of a 10 year old to their death, dodgy trials, dodgy juries, corrupt police, money buying you a defence. Then when they put away one "banker" swiftly, all of a sudden their justice system is a role model for us.
Forget that those involved in massive corruption like Enron largely still roam free. Forget that the main guy sent down wasn't a "banker" and had nothing to do with the current situation, he was an investor selling a massive pyramid scheme. His biggest crime was he ripped off celebrities and not average citizens.
We also forget that there is an actual fraud investigation going on as we speak, it just takes time. Just because they don't hold daily press breifings to share their current evidence, because of small things like it being an ongoing case, doesn't mean nothing is being done. We're not even sure if most of what has gone on is actually a crime rather than just unethical.
3. Public Sector representation.
Any mention of cuts in the public sector and we always hear from those representing teachers, nurses, gardai, etc. Why? Are these the only public sector workers out there? Who says this is where the cuts will actually be made?
What are the misrepresentations the media continue to spin out that get on your nerves?
1. AIB Pay rise
First, it's a pretty small sum, though I understand the "principle". But the representation was this was the "Board" of AIB giving two fingers to all us honest to god, ordinary law abiding citizens who bailed them out. As clearly discussed in most reasonable forums, the pay rise was as a result of union action at the LRC. Not one mention of this small inconvinient issue.
2. Not one banker in prison, but in the USA they're in chains...
Isn't it ironic that on the saturday current affairs discussion shows we tend to criticise the USA for its criminal justice system. Sending people with mental age of a 10 year old to their death, dodgy trials, dodgy juries, corrupt police, money buying you a defence. Then when they put away one "banker" swiftly, all of a sudden their justice system is a role model for us.
Forget that those involved in massive corruption like Enron largely still roam free. Forget that the main guy sent down wasn't a "banker" and had nothing to do with the current situation, he was an investor selling a massive pyramid scheme. His biggest crime was he ripped off celebrities and not average citizens.
We also forget that there is an actual fraud investigation going on as we speak, it just takes time. Just because they don't hold daily press breifings to share their current evidence, because of small things like it being an ongoing case, doesn't mean nothing is being done. We're not even sure if most of what has gone on is actually a crime rather than just unethical.
3. Public Sector representation.
Any mention of cuts in the public sector and we always hear from those representing teachers, nurses, gardai, etc. Why? Are these the only public sector workers out there? Who says this is where the cuts will actually be made?