Family and Media Association 34 Maretimo Gardens East, Blackrock, Co. Dublin.
Phone: 086 859 3676 Website: www.fma.ie M E D I A Email: [email protected] Twitter: @familyandmedia Where are you?
Report Spring 2011
Protecting the interests of Families with respect to the Media Family and Media Association Media Report
‘Where are you?’ Membership Drive—Call to Action! Is there anybody there? Ivo O’Sullivan, associations to represent The first casualty of Chairman (Light of the World) their interests in relation war is the truth and this And...ACTION! If you to the media”, needs you is particularly the case Genesis 3:9b have read the covering to continue its vital work when the war that is letter which went out being waged (sometimes 2 very Peter Seewald’s latest with this, the Spring Different unwittingly) is against interview with Pope Edition of Media ‘calls to The Truth Himself. action’... Benedict XVI was Report, you will, by So, this is a very published at the end of now, be aware that as different ‘call to action’ last year under the title, our country approaches than those associated Light of the World. two Eucharistic with the stereotypical But, in the confusion Congresses, the Family But your recruitment posters of Country surrounding the Pope’s and Media Association really does old (see inset). comments about is itself facing a ‘Kairos’ need you And, as Pop e condoms, many of the time of its own—action Benedict pointed out in Pontiff’s other ideas— is required now! into the years ahead. his World Day of Peace some of them very The Organization, To put it bluntly, FMA address for 2008, every important—failed to which was founded in needs new members. attack on the family receive the media response to Pope John Would you be willing based on the marriage attention they deserve. Paul II’s call to recruit for us? Do you between a man and a One of these ideas is, to parents to know others who might woman “constitutes an implicitly, a question, a “join with be ready to support our objective obstacle on question which the others in work? the road to peace”. Pope, today, directs at To Back Page >> the some 1.2 billion individual Catholics LAUNCH of SPIRIT RADIO—answer to Prayer living in the world. The long overdue arrival generally greeted with Commission, IRTC, “Where are you?...”. of Christian radio to enthusiasm and the hope later renamed the Where are you? The Ireland’s national that Spirit Radio would, Broadcasting ‘original question’ was airways finally became a as David Quinn put it, Commission of Ireland, posed by God to Adam reality on Thursday 25th “find its market.” BCI—following the following the original January, 2011. The quest for Christian enactment of the sin and our parents’ Undoubtedly, one of radio has had to contend Broadcasting Act, subsequent attempt to the most significant with many obstacles 2009, the BCI’s hide from God. media events for over the years, not least functions, along with The present context Christians in this among them, the those of the BCC, have for this question comes country, the launch of sometimes paranoid been subsumed by the close to the beginning Spirit Radio from the hostility of Michael D Broadcasting Authority of the Light of the old FM104 studios in Higgins’ Independent of Ireland, BAI. World To Back Page >> Ballsbridge was Radio and Television To Page 7 >> 2 Spring 2011
Protecting the interests of Families with respect to the Media Family and Media Association Media Report
Contents The last acceptable prejudice—Ray
D’Arcy, David McSavage, Today FM Cover
Membership Drive and the BAI Call to Action! “In the treatment of current affairs, including matters which are either of public ‘Where are you?’ controversy, or the subject of current public debate, broadcasters must ensure that (Light of the World) they are fair to all interests concerned and that the broadcast material is presented
Launch of Spirit in an objective and impartial manner and without any expression of the broad- Radio—answer to caster’s own views.” – Source: BAI website – cf Section 48 (1) (a) and Section 39 Prayer The following is the text of a complaint mad by the Family and Media Association about a broadcast of the Ray Page 2 D’Arcy Show, on Today FM 2 Feb 2011
The last acceptable In the broadcast in question, which “great thing” to try to “smash” the “old prejudice involved an interview by Today FM’s fashioned values” of “the people”, Ray (anti-Catholicism) Ray D’Arcy of David McSavage, Mr D’Arcy not only offended “a lot of
Page 3 D’Arcy clearly expressed his own view people” who hold these values but about a “public controversy”. David showed complete contempt for the David McSavage McSavage had said in response to a most basic notion of impartiality. question about his attitude to the The broadcaster should also have Page 4 Angelus (which had become a matter challenged Mr McSavage’s original The signs of of public controversy following a comment, which was, “it is surprising the Times Sunday Times article in which Mr these institutions are still around”, on (Partial birth McSavage had been quoted), “When the grounds that it was offensive to all abortion) you hear about all the disgusting things Catholic people in general. Instead Mr
Page 5 that happened within these institutions D’Arcy confirmed it. (i.e. those of the Catholic Church), it is The Code of Programme Standards RTÉ—growing the surprising that they're still around and says in its introduction, “The avoidance trust of the people? that the Angelus is still rung out.” Ray of offence and harm is central to a code (Euthanasia) D’Arcy responded to this by saying, that addresses issues of taste and
An email to Today “Well it shouldn't surprise you at all decency in programme material and, (Euthanasia) because when you hear, then, the therefore, is a key objective of this people who ring in to Liveline. You Code.” In its Content Principles Page 6 see, I think we think that we're a sort of (Section 2.2), it says, “A broadcaster modern European nation that we've shall exercise due care by taking all 'Get Real!'—Pope tells Christian come out of the dark ages of the 20th reasonable measures to ensure that ‘Facebookers’— century and now we're a sort of a viewers and listeners of programme World forward thinking modern state. No material on its channel/service are Communications we're not. You know A lot of us aren't. protected from undue offence and from Day Message 2011 A lot of people aren't. A lot of people harm.” In this case, no measures were are holding on to the, you know, old taken to ensure that viewers and Page 7 fashioned values and ideas and the listeners were protected from undue Spirit Radio—’Duc great thing about what you're doing is offence. Section 3.4.5 states that in Altum’ you are trying to smash those”. Had the “Broadcasters shall take measures to broadcaster said nothing about David prevent undue offence in the treatment Back Page McSavage’s comments, the broadcast of religious views, beliefs or images What you can do to would already have lacked impartiality. during programme material. This is not help FMA By saying he believed that it was a intended to prevent the critical scrutiny Spring 2011 3
Family and Media Association Media Report Protecting the interests of Families with respect to the Media
lot of people are holding on to the, you know, old fashioned values and ideas and the “A great thing about what you're doing is you are trying to smash those!” - Ray D’Arcy
The following are extracts from a Press Release issued by the Family and Media Association and about another problem broadcast involving David McSavage. Both The Metro and Newstalk Radio covered FMA’s response at the time and, when it was independently posted on the Politics.ie website, it attracted some 15 pages of replies (over 200 comments). The Irish Times, however, declined to publish a letter which was sent to them on the subject...
In an interview during yesterday's The serious problem for our young people, FMA Saturday Night Show broadcast on RTÉ One is also concerned about the apparently television, David McSavage, brother of the ambivalent attitude to his own alcohol Minister for Children, Barry Andrews made problem which Mr McSavage displayed on light of the issue of child abuse and was the same broadcast. highly offensive to the vast majority of ...While we are concerned for the welfare of Catholics who abhor abuse. Mr McSavage, we are also concerned about In response to the following question/ the irresponsibility of RTÉ in allowing him statement by the Show's Presenter, Brendan (and others) to be seen as a role model. O'Connor, "Your brother is Barry Andrews, ...RTÉ does this when it uses public money to the Minister for Children?", Mr McSavage fund programmes like The Savage Eye and replied, "Yes he is and I used to kick the sh** give Mr McSavage and others a platform. out of him when he was a child!" ... FMA believes that the 60 million euro of Later on, after bringing up the topic of the public money that the Government gives Catholic Church, Mr McSavage said, "I annually to RTÉ could be better spent! mean, but if it was a choice between a heroine ...On the plus side for RTÉ, Mr O'Connor is addict and a priest to baby sit my child...", at to be congratulated for his decisive which point Mr O'Connor intervened to cut intervention after Mr McSavage's heroine short the topic. addict comment...However the whole episode Mr McSavage's comments take on added shows the drastic need for standards in RTÉ’s significance when one considers the role of broadcasts. The Minister for his brother, the Minister, in overseeing both Communications....must now intervene to the Murphy Report and the Ryan Report ensure taxpayers and license payers money is which had, as part of its brief, the whole area not used for gratuitously offensive and of non sexual physical abuse in the context of insensitive broadcasts that belong in the religious institutions... gutter. ...At a time when alcohol abuse is becoming ever more widely recognised as an extremely - ENDS -
of religion.” This broadcast was, in no sense, people and then expressed surprise that their “the critical scrutiny of religion” but an “institutions were still around”, there would, unbridled one-sided rant masquerading as an of course have been no difficulty in decrying interview, a rant against those who hold such an incitement to hatred. Here, in the religious beliefs. This also brings up the issue actions of both Mr McSavage and Mr of harm and even incitement to crime. To put D’Arcy, there is evidence for the contention it in perspective, if David McSavage had been that anti-Catholicism is the “last acceptable talking about abuse perpetrated by Jewish prejudice”.
4 Spring 2011
Protecting the interests of Families with respect to the Media Family and Media Association Media Report
Reading the sins signs of the Times—a Warning shot fired across the bows of The Irish Times
As newspaper sales are squeezed and advertising revenue is cut, Dailies like the Irish Times can ill afford to alienate their Catholic readers
When the eleventh Cleraun Media Conference took place on 21-22 October 2006 in Mount Merrion, Dublin, the theme chosen for the gathering was ‘Professional Integrity’. Significant contributions were made by several high profile speakers from both the national and international media. But the event that stood out in a Conference which had been opened by then ‘Communications Minister’ Noel Dempsey was the address of Kenneth Woodward, the former Religion Editor and at that time Contributing Editor of Newsweek Magazine.
Mr Woodward’s paper, entitled: After “if The New York Times say it, it’s definitely not objectivity: what moral norms should govern true”. news reporting? dealt with the issue of Wow! The failure of The New York Times to ‘Newsroom Culture’ and, somewhat take Protestant Evangelicals seriously, he said, surprisingly, given the author’s credentials, took and by extension those with conservative values issue with the failure of The New York Times to in general, led to that paper, the flagship for use one particular term, ‘partial birth abortion’. liberal values, which also prides itself as being The speaker was at pains to emphasise that the leading ‘serious newspaper’ (sound this criticism of The New York Times was not familiar?) in the United States, losing its based on his own attitude to abortion (an attitude influence over large sections of American which was difficult to infer from the talk) but society. was, instead, to do with the ethics of news The comparison with Ireland is obvious. Mr reporting. Woodward’s remarks were a warning shot, fired To fail to use a particular term, on, merely, the almost four years ago, across the bows of the ideological grounds that it would favour ‘the Irish liberal media establishment and of The other side’, was simply not, as he pointed out, a Irish Times in particular. tenable position for any newspaper. This warning shot was, at it were, ‘hand Some related and, one imagines, highly delivered’ by someone who was, in many ways, uncomfortable issues were then raised for the a fellow traveller. members of the Irish media there present. Those Most would agree that the warning was not members included the Chair for the talk, Peter heeded and The Irish Times is now, along with Murtagh, the then Managing Editor of The Irish other beleaguered dailies reaping the Times and a last minute replacement for consequences, in the form of reduced sales and Geraldine Kennedy. waning influence (remember that Paper’s Fox News, Mr Woodward pointed out, had at ill-fated Lisbon I campaign after which the then that time just overtaken CNN in viewing Deputy Chris Andrews said, in the Dáil, “The statistics as the number one news station in the Irish Times is talking to itself”). United States! Geraldine Kennedy is leaving and we wish her This, could be partly explained by the fact that well. The question is, will her successor and The there were many people who by then believed, Irish Times Trust finally learn to read the ‘signs to quote Mr Woodward that of the Times’
T ext sent to TO
“TODAY I am very thankful to the media for its part in bringing attent he Irish Times is talking to itself” Playboy prostitute who is incredibly working as a teacher in a Dublin s “T - Chris Andrews, Dáil Éireann, 2008 96% of potential victims who are not being abused by clerics and who, Spring 2011 5
Family and Media Association Media Report Protecting the interests of Families with respect to the Media
RTÉ—growing the trust of the people?
“RTÉ’s Vision is to grow the trust of the people of Ireland as it informs, inspires, reflects and enriches their lives”- RTÉ RTÉ produces many excellent programmes, among them its The Meaning of Life with Gay Byrne series and Nationwide, as well as documentaries, programmes on current affairs, the arts, sports, history etc. Many otherwise good programmes, however are sullied by a persistent bias against Christian values. Over the years, this bias has been observed empirically, measured quantitatively by the Family and Media Association and analysed, all of which begs the question, ‘Can RTÉ truthfully claim to be living up to its vision of “growing the trust of the people”?’ Some programmes are clearly
a betrayal of this trust. The above, headline, is supposed to be ‘primum non nocere’: first, do from an article in the Daily Mail was inspired by no harm) advocating self harm, late at night, on comments made by FMA about a proposed new a high profile programme, should have legal as RTÉ TV series. But, very often, it is more well as moral implications, particularly in view mainstream series such as the Late Late Show of the requirements of the Broadcasting Act which not only offend but also harm. 2003 and the Code of Programme Standards’ prohibition on harmful content, a measure Primum Non Nocere introduced to the Code following interventions by the Family and Media Association at a On 4th March, this year, the Late Late Show preparatory phase. This seemingly callous decided to give a platform to, a promoter of indifference to the lives of depressed viewers Euthanasia which is illegal in this country. It is was perhaps best demonstrated by a tweet from not the first time that the National Broadcaster the Late Late Show team, minutes after FMA used taxpayer funds to promote something had highlighted to them the harmful content: which was illegal; but, this time, its actions were “Thanks to all the twitterati for watching the particularly irresponsible. (please see email, Late Late every Friday and giving us the best below). The spectacle of a doctor (whose motto ratings for Jan/Feb in over 10 Years”! An email to Today! From: Dónal O'Sullivan-Latchford [mailto:[email protected] Disorder' problem going on there with RTÉ. Sent: 10 March 2011 11:22 Just a few days ago, the Late Late Show gave a platform
To: '[email protected]' to a promoter of Euthanasia which, as implicitly Subject: Suicide prevention - Thank you and some acknowledged by Ryan Tubridy's directing of viewers consistency needed to the Samaritans, at the end of that broadcast, was always going to undermine his most vulnerable of Re suicide prevention, viewers in their struggle against suicidal ideation.
Thank you, Pat, Now, you, Pat, seem inadvertently to be playing 'good cop' to Ryan Tubridy's 'bad'. For doing this important piece. But it does seem to show up something of a 'Dissociative Identity Some 'joined up', responsible, thinking from RTÉ on this very serious issue would be very welcome. DAY with Pat Kenny (51551) 11:03 21st March 2011 tion to this appalling abuse in Ferns. But isn't there something of a double standard here. On Saturday night RTE TV gave a platform to a school. Isn't this a form of grooming? In addition to the 4% (source S.A.V.I) of abuse victims who were abused by clerics, please protect the , unlike clerical victims (given the measures which the Church has put in place) are very much at risk today, Today. Donal O'Sullivan” 6 Spring 2011
Protecting the interests of Families with respect to the Media Family and Media Association Media Report
'Get Real!'—Pope tells Christian ‘Facebookers’—World Communications Day Message 2011
Seeing the Person behind the 'face'
The neuropsychological disorder prosopagnosia or 'face blindness' is an impairment in the recognition of faces -- an inability to see clearly, who the person is (Greek: prosopon, Latin: persona) behind the face (interestingly, translated by the same word 'prosopon/persona'). In his new book, The Mind's Eye, the the faithful, particularly the young, to evangelize Neurologist Oliver Sacks spends some time the "digital continent" and, last year, he talking about conditions like prosopagnosia, effectively encouraged priests to 'get tweeting'. relating the rarer and more dramatic examples In the latest message, the Pope again "invites (e.g. one where a man infamously "mistook his Christians, confidently...to join the network of wife for a hat") to other more universally relationships which the digital era has made experienced 'everyday life' difficulties (everyone possible". sometimes has trouble recognizing faces, for But, there are also words of caution. For the example). Pope, the use of social networks is not only an Surprisingly, perhaps, Oliver Sacks' recent "opportunity" for the Christian but also a "risk" observations have much in common with those and one such risk is this construction of "a false made, at about the same time, by the Pope. In image of oneself", a "parallel existence". The his message for the 45th World Communications problem of not revealing the person is of even Day, released on Monday 24th January, the more significance for Christians and Christianity Feast of St Francis de Sales (Patron Saint of than one might at first think because Christianity Journalists), Pope Benedict XVI draws attention is not, first and foremost, a religion of rules and to what might be considered a new kind of dogmas but a Person. So when Christians (the 'prosopagnostic' phenomenon, a form of the word means 'other Christs') fail to reveal disorder particular to our digital age and, in the themselves, whether it be on social network sites Pope's judgement, of special relevance for or 'somewhere' else, they fail to reveal Christ to Christians and their ability to evangelize using the world. the internet. The problem? People can't see the "When people exchange information", real Christian behind the face which he or she explains the Pope, "they are already sharing wears on social networking sites such as themselves, their view of the world, their hopes, Facebook. This type of 'prosopagnosia' is not in their ideals, it follows that there exists a the eye of the beholder. It is brought about by Christian way of being present in the digital the Christian choosing to hide behind their world: this takes the form of a communication prosopon/persona (originally meaning a mask which is honest and open, responsible and worn by actors) and failing to reveal to the respectful of others" (emphasis added). world their true 'face'. That concern for depth, truth and authenticity, The usefulness or otherwise of social for what is real betrays, perhaps, Pope networking sites to the Christian Faith as a Benedict's Augustinian orientation. He speaks of means of evangelization has been the source of the danger of living in a virtual world, "the much debate and The Pope and the danger that we may be less present to those Congregation for Social Communications have, whom we encounter in our everyday life". Man's in recent years, been wading right into this tendency not to be present, expressed biblically debate, coming down, a little more than in God's question to Adam: "Where are marginally, on the social networking 'side of the you?" (Gen 3:9b) is a theme taken up by the fence'. In previous World Communications Day Pope again in his recent Light of the World Messages, for example, the Pope has exhorted interview with Peter Seewald. Among the 1.2 Spring 2011 7
Family and Media Association Media Report Protecting the interests of Families with respect to the Media
LAUNCH of Spirit Radio—answer to Prayer (Continued from Front Page) out, every now and again, about involves funding and the blind the ringing of the Angelus on spot that seems to prevent ‘Duc in altum’ RTÉ (see an FMA complaint to Catholics (in sharp contrast the BAI on Page 2, concerning with their evangelical brothers “Duc in altum” (“put out into this issue), there are no such and sisters) from seeing radio the deep”—Luke 5:4). One can public rows about the Angelus as a genuine means of imagine those words, as spoken with regard to Spirit. This is for evangelization. One is by Pope John Paul II in his the simple reason that the sometimes left with the Abba Pater album, booming Angelus bells are not rung on impression that while many out across the airways. Spirit. With issues like Marian Catholics, pay lip service to the But Jesus’ challenge to His devotion, it remains to be seen, idea of Christian broadcasting, Apostles sheds light on some of then, if Spirit will boldly ‘go few actually ‘own it’ so that the real obstacles to Christian there’. Except ‘in spirit’, while hundreds of thousands broadcasting that still exist in perhaps, the new Station may are spent repairing our physical Ireland, just months after the not be willing to get into that churches, it is difficult to get a launch of Spirit Radio. particular ‘deep’ water. tiny fraction of that to rebuild The most obvious of these, The second obstacle is to do His Church “which, as you can for many, is the continued with what constitutes the status see, has fallen into ruin,” in the absence of truly Catholic quo regarding news reporting. words of Jesus to St Francis. broadcasting on AM or FM. Because what generally passes S o , w i t h C h r i s t i a n When the original applications for news in the Irish media is so broadcasting, we have launched were made for Christian Radio, consistently biased against the the barque but not quite arrived it was made clear that a Faith and Natural Law, the at the promised Land, not just Catholic Station would not presentation of truly unbiased yet anyway. have a chance simply because it news—should it ever occur— But, one should not be was Catholic. However, that would, ironically, appear to despondent, the launch of Spirit being acknowledged, as an some, and to the BAI in Radio is much more than just a ecumenical station which is particular, to be biased, itself. It first step. The positive music doing its best to embrace an seems, sometimes, that ‘the and Spirit’s “Passion for Life”, ‘inclusive’ rather than an media’ suffers from its own as its slogan goes, really are a ‘exclusive’ brand of particular type of cognitive vital breath of fresh air in the ecumenism, Spirit Radio has bias—cognitive biases being Irish media scene. And, as a been giving an airing to some mental phenomena which final thought, one must not of those aspects of the Faith distort one’s view of reality. forget the other great work which are uniquely Catholic. Because “the lie has become being done, in Ireland, by One thinks, in particular, of the the truth”—to quote that great EWTN and, indeed, Radio Station’s ongoing coverage of post-conciliar theologian, Maria and UCB. This may not preparations for the 2012 Michael Jackson(!)—the Truth be the ‘beginning of the end’ Eucharistic Congress. would be taken for a lie. but at least it is the ‘end of the But, while little rows break The third obstacle for Spirit beginning’.
billion Catholics in the world there are, says the all, it was Christianity and the early Catholic Pope "many who inwardly are not there". Church who gave us the concept of the 'prosopon', It is appropriate that a Pope should have returned making use of the Greek word for mask. When the to this subject (of the nature of the person), at this concept of the person is under attack -- as is the time, in order to challenge us about what it means case in so many different ways in 2011 -- expect to be a person living in the digital continent. After the Church to defend it. Spring 2011
Protecting the interests of Families with respect to the Media Family and Media Association Media Report
Membership What YOU can do! ‘Where are you?’ Drive - call to Is anybody there? (Pope Benedict’s Action! to help FMA
Light of the World) (continued from front page) (continued from front page) But, be in no doubt, interview when Seewald your country really does suggests that the present need you, needs Pope is "the most ‘kitcheners’ and powerful of all time" ‘officers’—people who given the Church's in their homes and their worldwide “army of offices are willing to believers”. In his inform themselves and response, the Pope points
act! out that “among those 1.2 The Family and Media billion Catholics are Association will inform many who inwardly are you, not only through not there" (emphasis publications such as the 1. PRAY for our mission and for ALL those in added). Where are you? one you are reading but the media. ------also, and very ince the Fall, man has importantly, through 2. BECOME A MEMBER and/or DONATE S often ‘accused’ God of texts, emails and social (Just send €30 annual subscription — greater or hiding. Even, in the spirituality media. The sort of lesser amounts accepted). of St John of the Cross, God immediate information is experienced as darkness. But particularly, in this that these ‘new media’ 3. RECRUIT (Could you get 3 new members?) present age there are many services offer can who question whether God is empower members to really there. It may be worth act quickly, responding 4. START AN FMA BRANCH in your area. remembering, therefore, that to Faith related issues as they arise in the media. 5. GET INFORMED —SIGN UP FOR our Just as we enable you, FREE EMAILS ([email protected]) and/or FREE please enable us. For TEXTS (0868593676) (we’re also on Twitter, what you can do to help YouTube and Facebook). us to continue this vital After the ‘Dark Night’ in Of God’s and Men. work into the years 6. USE THE INFORMATION YOU ahead, please see centre the first time the question RECEIVE FROM US to contact media “where are you?” arose article. producers, regulatory bodies, politicians, between God and man, it was advertisers and others. not man but God who did the asking! This was the ‘original question’. Whereas today 7. PASS ON THIS INFORMATION to family many people , agnostics and and friends. even believers may feel justified in hiding behind it as N a question they ask God, Pope ACTIO d 8 Ask for permission to LEAVE COPIES of Require Benedict has turned the Now! Media Report IN YOUR LOCAL CHURCH. question back on man and Thank you reminded us who it is, in the end, who will really do the Cheques to the Family and Media Association, asking (cf Gen 3.9b & Job 38). 34 Maretimo Gardens East, Blackrock, Co. Dublin