Since my arrival in Ireland I was buying and reading local press in search for some interesting and useful information about the local area I have been living in. Nowadays I am doing it also for gather some information for my town web services. I have noticed that the most popular topics of the articles and columns printed in local press are the ones that concern crime, braking the law, offending the law or court cases. In fact, that sort of information occupying first 5 - 10 pages of the local newspapers, leaving almost no place for other information. Rapes, burglaries, street fighting, drinking and driving, theft and offences, that is the point of excitement of the local journalist.
I am wondering what is the reason of so much attention devoted to crime and law by a local journalists and newspapers. Maybe it is to give the names of those suspected or convicted man to the public information, but it won’t change them. Such information in the press won’t prevent troublemakers thefts, rapists and drinking drivers from doing such things.
Since I have been accused by some of spreading anti Irish propaganda I would like to ask, what is that for. In my opinion the picture of local community described in the local newspapers is not very happy and can leave not good remarks in minds of foreigners. Crime is in every country and Ireland is not worse that the other states in Europe
Latest edition of Carlow People:
FBI captures on-the-run Carlow rapist (front page)
FBI captures wanted Carlow rapist in Boston (page 3)
Gardai appeal for information after another sinister involving apartament “plumber” (page 3)
“The Tullow Case runs into third week” (almost whole page 4 )
Woman accused of assaulting neighbour has case dismised (half of page 6)
Motorist jailed after driving while baned (page 6)
Driver receives six-year driving ban (page 6)
Man jailed for six months for assault (quarter of page 7 )
Man fined E300 for hitting young woman in the face (page 8 )
Exctasy tablets found on accused (page 8 )
Woman who got car keys from Garda later arrested for driving over the limit (page 8 )
Motorist put off road for three years (page 8 )
Woman fined E250 for theft at Potato Market (page 8 )
Man was banging on door for shop (page 11)
Court briefs (page 12)
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IMO role of media is to inform. If there is nothing more than crime, what to inform about?
It’s a good way of keeping in touch with old classmates… Seeing what they’re up to like, how long they’re going down for, etc.
Vital information.
It makes easy copy, the journalist simply goes down to the court hearing and picks up the stories with very little effort required on their part, other than being bored stiff hanging around court.
Read this article to get an insight.
[b]Once upon a time in the West[/b]
Independent, The (London), Oct 2, 1999 by Fergal Keane
http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4158/is_19991002/ai_n14277733