Judges Pay: The Media Excelling Itself

[Latrade]

Are there any circumstances where the media will put any kind of positive angle to a news story?

RTE ran with the headline 20% of judges haven't taken voluntary cut, similar with the Indo and today the Times states 1 in 5.

But doesn't it mean 4 in 5 have, that 80% have? It's not perfect, but for a voluntary cut that has no legal basis, that's not bad. And considering that tiny amount that did accept the cut when it first came about, it's a massive improvement. Someone, somewhere in the Department has done a bloody decent job of getting overwhelming acceptance of the cut.

It's made worse that yesterday the Times actually ran with the positive spin on the story on their website when the press release came out. They changed it today for the print edition (and, one suspects following RTE's hyperbole).

Is this what we're left with now: negative media without a good word to say about anything or anyone?

I get the impression (from an impartial view) that if you work in anyway shape or form within the Public and Civil Sector, anything less that working for free 24/7 is going to be given a negative spin by our media.

 

[Purple]

I agree with you. When 80% of a group take a voluntary pay cut it should be seen in a positive light.
It may not be a popular think to say but it should also be remembered that most, if not all, judges have taken a significant pay cut to take up their judicial roles in the first place.

 

[Caveat]

RTE ran with the headline 20% of judges haven't taken voluntary cut, similar with the Indo and today the Times states 1 in 5...

I get the impression (from an impartial view) that if you work in anyway shape or form within the Public and Civil Sector, anything less that working for free 24/7 is going to be given a negative spin by our media.

I thought RTE (and the IT) were widely considered to be cosy with the unions and the public sector?!

 

[DB74]

Perhaps the 20% who haven't taken a pay cut don't realise that there is a recession!

 

[liaconn]

I thought RTE (and the IT) were widely considered to be cosy with the unions and the public sector?!

You are joking???

I agree, Latrade. If four out of five people in the Private Sector had taken a pay cut I don't think they'd write that one in five private sector workers have escaped any cuts.

 

[Caveat]

You are joking???

No, not at all.

I got the distinct impression that RTE were viewed as having a left wing bias and that they (and the IT in particular) are thought to be 'union and public sector friendly.'

I'm not saying it's true or not - just that this is the popular view - is this totally wrong?

Edit: Sorry, the above is a bit OT - I agree with Latrade too BTW.

 

[liaconn]

Well, it's not the popular view amongst Public Servants. Mind you, the IT is nowhere near as prejudiced as the Indo which a lot of Public Servants have stopped buying.

 

[Latrade]

No, not at all.

I got the distinct impression that RTE were viewed as having a left wing bias and that they (and the IT in particular) are thought to be 'union and public sector friendly.'

I'm not saying it's true or not - just that this is the popular view - is this totally wrong?

Edit: Sorry, the above is a bit OT - I agree with Latrade too BTW.

I think it used to, well to some extent. That bastian of social commentry Michael O'Leary tagged it as "Radio Siptu". In general there would have been more air time to the plight of the worker than the employer (or maybe just anyone but Ryanair).

In my experience RTE presents a split, it'll give a sometimes overly sympathetic spin to private sector unions while the last year it has led the Indo's line against the public sector.

The Times surprises me still. Yesterday it had no spin, today, the article is completely rewritten to present the general view of 20% not accepting and ignoring the 80%.

The Times has this "boring" reputation, when in effect all it's doing is just presenting the story without, usually, any spin (unless the staory is the Catholic Church that is, then it can't help itself but to moralise against it). The Indo sold its soul as bigger Evening Herald a long time ago.

 

[zztop]

No, not at all.

I got the distinct impression that RTE were viewed as having a left wing bias and that they (and the IT in particular) are thought to be 'union and public sector friendly.'


RTE reporter in Enniskillen the day of the strike reporting
strikers up shopping.No basis or proof that such was happening.
Disgraceful reporting.

 

[liaconn]

No, not at all.

I got the distinct impression that RTE were viewed as having a left wing bias and that they (and the IT in particular) are thought to be 'union and public sector friendly.'


RTE reporter in Enniskillen the day of the strike reporting
strikers up shopping.No basis or proof that such was happening.
Disgraceful reporting.

I agree. That was a really low point for RTE news.

 

[johnd]

It may not be a popular think to say but it should also be remembered that most, if not all, judges have taken a significant pay cut to take up their judicial roles in the first place.


People are appointed judges purely for political reasons. How many judges are former members of political parties? Would 80% be near the mark or even higher. Merit has nothing to do with it

 

[Complainer]

I thought RTE (and the IT) were widely considered to be cosy with the unions and the public sector?!

You're about 5 years out of date. Rodney Rice was the last lefty report on RTE, and he retired last year. The IT is edited by an ex-PD TD, and their lead pol corr is the PD's historian. That should give you some idea of their ideology. Fintan O'Toole & Vinnie Brown are pretty much the only writers from a lefty viewpoint.

 

[ashambles]

Lefties, I'd recommend you aim your RTE listening at the wisdom of Ingrid Miley.

Comes from fine SIPTU stock and has links back to Jim Larkin.

Not far off being a union spokesperson, her reports are little more than an unenlightening collection of statements that begin with "unions say". What more could you want?