Media blackout of RSF candidates
national |
politics / elections |
press release 
Thursday March 01, 2007 03:01
by Saer - Irish Republican Bulletin Board
saoirse at iol dot ie
Teach Dáithí Ó Conaill, 223 Parnell Street , Dublin 1, Ireland
+353-1-872 9747
Media blackout of RSF candidates
Press Release/Preas Ráiteas
Media blackout of RSF candidates
IN A statement on February 28, Brendan Casey, PRO for Joe O’Neill’s election campaign in West Tyrone said:
“As PRO of Joe O’Neill, Republican Sinn Féin candidate in the Stormont election in West Tyrone, I feel that some of the hurdles that are consistently being encountered in this campaign need to be enumerated.
“On a number of occasions statements have been sent to the news media in relation to this election. To date no statements have been carried. This is not a recent development and we in Republican Sinn Féin feel there is an unofficial policy of ignoring us in favour of the major political parties on this island.
“Recently BBC were contacted to state that as a candidate in West Tyrone Joe O’Neill felt it was important to be involved as a panellist on Noel Thompson’s political talk show.
“The main topic for debate was policing. The fact that Joe us the only anti-British policing candidate standing in West Tyrone was still not enough to secure him a place on the panel. This quite simply is astonishing considering this is the main issue being encountered on the doorsteps by his canvassers.
“Republican Sinn Féin states that this is undemocratic as it denies a sizeable amount of people in this constituency a voice. This should be seen for what it is – exclusion politics and we in Republcian Sinn Féin state we will continue to highlight this lack of democracy in the media.”
Contact Details:
Republican Sinn Féin
Teach Dáithí Ó Conaill,
223 Parnell Street
Dublin 1, Ireland
Sinn Féin Poblachtach
Teach Dáithí Ó Conaill,
223 Sráid Pharnell, BÁC 1, Éire
Phone: +353-1-872 9747
Fax: +353-1-872 9757
e-mail: saoirse@iol.ie
rsf.ie
Comments (12 of 12)
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Vote Joe Ó Neill #1!
A few days ago, an Indymedia journalist posted up his report on the recent protest staged by RSF near Croke Park.
As part of his report, he tried to interview a number of demonstrators on the significance of the demonstration. He was more or less ignored by two demonstrators, who sounded middle-aged. The hostility shown by these people to a young, independent journalist (a male demonstrator told him to more or less "fuck off" and that he didn't "trust" Indymedia) just exposes RSF for what it is - an elitist band of conspiratorial cranks who aren't really interested in developing a public profile.
Then they come on to Indymedia whinging when their press statements are ignored.
Republican Sinn fein complain that they are ignored by panel show on British Broadcasting Corporation. You couldn't make it up.
Just listened to the recording again.
One RSF women referred to Indymedia as "biased wierdos ... who have the check to call yourselves openminded".
When asked for his views, another RSFer asks the reported "Who are you with". When he hears who, he says "Don't support you. Don't like you", and when the reporter tries to explain the nature of Indymedia, he's old "I don't give a shite".
If this is how its members treat a forum where the party can post its statements unhindered, why the hell should any other media outlet put itself in for the same abuse?
Just people who want to turn the clock back.
I'm all for alternatives to the established order, but yearning for a green ireland where the eviction notice will be stamped with the harp instead of the crown isn't an answer.
Good work and thanks for the report but grow up - you're hardly Charlie Bird- a couple of RSF supporters were uncoperative while others inc. O'Bradaigh gave you soundbites.
but they still don't trust them. ok. that makes sense. you only get given space to show how silly ye are....was the O'neill elected?
If we remember correctly before there was a "press release" section to the publishing options - rsf just spammed the newswire every day. In a sense the "press release" section was created very much with rsf in mind - and if you look at the section - you see rsf - rsf - rsf- rsf- rsf- rsf- yet you're still holding out for Charlie bleedin Bird.
I support Indymedia, I find that in general, it offers news and perspective before the mass media or soley.
That stated, this "troll-like" argument that alleged Sinn Féin Poblachtach supporters/members are anti-Indymedia is one of the most negative features of the Indymedia.
When one is protesting they are dealing with a number of factors, the message, their outgoing call, the presence and location of the oppressive police force, the location of their friends... not if someone who has went to the trouble of naming themself "RSFWatch" or some other amateur with a recording device is randomly trying to get an interview.
I reported on the RSF demo not this person "RSF watch" and I never bothered to complain about the backwards views of some of their supporters about indymedia.
As an NUJ member I'd like to consider myself slightly beyond being an "amateur with a recording device". The idea that I should call ahead at a protest to arrange interviews is rediculous, if you're attending a demonstration you should at least be able to say why you're there.
Some members of RSF were intelligent and well spoken and they were more than willing to talk to me, they knew why they were there. Sharon who posts here is more than willing to work with indymedia reporters and Ruairi obviously had no problem speaking his mind.
There was another element that was obviously much more apolitical and motivated by an irrational nationalism, they were generally abusive to all media, some even pushed me when I questioned them (boo hoo). These lads mostly seemed to be there just to try recreate last years riot, a task they didn't seem to have the bottle or proper organisation to do.
There is obviously a serious gap between the "Leadership" and those lads posturing as republicans last Saturday, so I dont see anything seriously hypocritical in RSF posting their press releases.
The reason why the media are ignoring RSF is not because of some massive conspiracy but because RSF is totally utterly irrelevant.
Hi 'W' !
I was at both protests on Saturday 24 February last in Dublin (Shell and Croke Park) and talked to any media people that asked for a few words - and was grateful for the chance to do so !
Also , the journalist from 'Indymedia' who attended the CABHAIR Christmas morning swim at Inchicore was very well received by the crowd and by the organisers , some of whom are RSF members . This has always been the case , as far as I know , and I have been present at countless demonstrations / parades / commemorations etc at which the media are given practically open access for interviews and/or photographs .
Apologises if a few people at either protests last Saturday behaved differently - it was not intentional on RSF's part that that should happen .
Slan go foill anois ,
Sharon .
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