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Irish Churches and Mosque • Towards a Model of Media Relations

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Irish Churches and Mosque • Towards a Model of Media Relations Irish Churches and Mosque • Towards A Model of Media Relations Breda O’Brien Masters in Communication Studies Supervisor: Dr. Colum Kenny, School of Communications, DCU Acknowledgements I am grateful to the following for their help in producing this thesis Dr Colum Kenny, for his constructive criticism, his insightful and perceptive suggestions, and his ongoing support which was particularly helpful to me as a mature student with many commitments All those who agreed to be interviewed for this thesis, and who gave their time so willingly ) Andrew Weltch, who provided helpful ideas and moral support at a time when it was particularly needed Sr Rose Pacatte, for help m sourcing literature on the subject Michael Breen, Paul Soukup, William Thom, Jolyon Mitchell and Claire Badaracco for suggesting useful reading My husband Brendan, for shouldering uncomplainingly an increased burden during my studies, and my children, Ben, Robyn, Eva and especially Matthias, who was bom durrn the process DECLARATION I hereby certify that this material, which I now submit for assessment on the programme of study leading to the award of Masters in Communication Studies, is entirely my own work and has not been taken from the work of others save and to the extent that such work has been cited and acknowledged within the text of my work. Signed: _ Student LD. Number: $ 0 Breda O'Brien Date: t ^ ABSTRACT Irish Churches and Mosque - Towards A Model of Media Relations This thesis looks at current media relations practice as conducted on behalf of the Roman Catholic Church, the Church of Ireland, the Methodist Church, the Presbyterian Church and members of the Islamic community m Ireland It also asks what model of media relations is most appropriate for religious organisations In the academic world, there has been growmg interest in analysis of the intersecting fields of media, culture and religion, yet the practice of media relations conducted on behalf of religious organisations has not been closely examined There is a great deal of literature in the broad area of religion and media, but far less about religious media relations, and less again about the situation in Ireland The thesis begins with a review of what has been wntten about the topic and related areas It then addresses three questions Firstly, what do religious representatives hope to achieve through a presence m the media7 In other words, what do they see as the objectives of media relations9 Secondly, what do media practitioners think about the avowed objectives of religious representatives, and what do they believe are the flaws in the way in which religious communities deal with the media9 Thirdly, what aspects of interaction with the media do religions representatives perceive as adding to the difficulty of their task9 Finally, the interviewees were asked to suggest ways in which the current, often unsatisfactory state of affairs could be improved These latter suggestions form the basis for a model of media relations which is appropnate for, and takes into account the ethical demands of religious organisations Fifteen interviews were conducted with representatives of the four mam Christian churches and the Islamic community In the main, these interviews were with press and communications officers, or with those who had significant responsibility for dealing with the media In addition, six journalists who specialise in religion were interviewed, and one public relations consultant who has had significant input in this field Breda O’Brien I.D. 99146610 Supervisor: Dr Colum Kenny, School Of Communications TABLE OF CONTENTS Abstract Table of Contents List of those interviewed for thesis Chapter 1 Introduction 1 Chapter 2 Literature review 20 Chapter 3 The Churches and mosque - A rationale 64 for media relations Chapter 4 The journalists’ perceptions of religious 116 media relations Chapter 5 The religious representatives’ views on 164 the news media’s treatment of religion Chapter 6 The way forward 192 Chapter 7 Conclusions 216 Bibliography 237 Appendix A LIST OF THOSE WHO WERE INTERVIEWED FOR THESIS Note: Some of those who are interviewed no longer hold the same position, in such cases, I have given the position of the person at the time of interview, and the dates when they held that position. Imam Yahya M. Al-Hussein. Imam of the Dublin Mosque and Islamic Centre, and president, Islamic Foundation of Ireland, Dublin. Interviewed Mar 27th, 2002. Ms. Rachel Andrews. Journalist with the Sunday Tribune, with a particular interest in social and religious affairs. Interviewed Jan 21st, 2002. Fr. Bruce Bradley. S.J. Director of Communications, Catholic Archdiocese of Dublin, 2001-2002. Interviewed Dec. 18th, 2001. Dr. Jim Cantwell. Director, Catholic Press and Information Office, 1975-2000. interviewed Mar. 26th, 2002. Fr. Martin Clarke. Director of Communications for the Catholic Bishops’ Conference and spokesperson for the Bishops, 1997-2003. Director Of Communications, Catholic Archdiocese of Dublin, August 2003- Interviewed Dec. 18th, 2000. Mr. John Cooney. Journalist. Former religious affairs correspondent for the Irish Times, and political journalist with among others, the Irish Times, I.N.N. and Ireland on Sunday. Also a historian and author of a biography of John Charles McQuaid. Interviewed Jan 25th, and Feb. 1st, 2002. Rev. Roy Cooper. A parish minister and communications and press officer for the Methodist Church in Ireland. Interviewed Jan 8lh, 2002. Ms. Mary Curtin. Radio producer, RTE, who has worked extensively on religious programmes, in particular, the magazine programme, Cross Currents. On leave from RTE to work as Senior Communications Officer, Catholic Archdiocese of Dublin, October 2002 - September 2003. Returned to RTE as producer, September 2003. Interviewed Jan 15th, 2002. Fr. John Dardis. SJ. Director of Communications, Catholic Archdiocese of Dublin, 1995-2000. Interviewed Oct 31st, 2000 and Dec. 7th, 2000. Ms. Rabia’a Golden, formerly Rabia’a Murt Najjair. Women’s Co-ordinator of the Islamic Foundation of Ireland. 2000 - 2002. Interviewed Nov. 21st, 2000. Fr. Tom Hayes. Director of Communications for the Catholic diocese of Cork and Ross. Interviewed Oct. 18th, 2000. Mr Pat Heneghan Executive Chairman, Heneghan Public Relations Interviewed Jan 17th, 2002 Fr Brendan Hoban A pansh priest and also Communications Officer for the Catholic diocese of Killala He has a long-standing involvement m local radio as a presenter and in a local newspaper as a columnist Interviewed Dec 12th, 2000 Ms Valerie Jones Diocesan communications officer for the United Dioceses of Dublin and Glendalough in the Church of Ireland Interviewed Feb 23 rd, 2001 Mr Joe Little Religious and Social Affairs correspondent with RTE news Interviewed Dec 12lh, 2001 and answered follow-up questions by email on Jan 18Lh 2002 Mr Stephen Lynas Information Officer with the Presbyterian Church, based in Church House, Belfast Interviewed Jan 8th, 2002 Sr Elizabeth Maxwell Secretary General of the Conference of Religious m Ireland (CORI) 1998-2003 Interviewed Nov 29th, 2000 Ms Janet Maxwell Director of Communications for the Church of Ireland, based m Church House, Dublin Interviewed Jan 29Ul, 2002 Dr Jim McDonnell Director of the Catholic Communications Centre for the Catholic Church m England and Wales, London Interviewed by email, Apr 9th, 2001 Mr Patsy McGarry Religious Affairs Correspondent, the Irish Times Interviewed November 27th, 2001 and answered follow-up questions by email, Jan 15th, 2002 Mr Fazel Ryklief Administrator, the Islamic Foundation of Ireland 1984-2002 Interviewed on Mar 8th, 2002 Mr David Quinn Columnist, ihtSundav Times, 1997-2003 and editor of the Irish Catholic, 1996-2003 Religion and Social Affairs correspondent, Irish Independent, 2003- Interviewed Nov 28th, 2001 li CHAPTER ONE INTRODUCTION Background According to Clark and Hoover, ‘Practising journalists and religious adherents gaze at each other across a wide cultural gap of misunderstanding/1 This thesis explores one of the areas where attempts are made to bridge the ‘wide cultural gap’, that is, media relations conducted on behalf of a church or a mosque. The research examines what the current state of religious media relations is in Ireland. It asks whether religious media relations needs improvement, and if it does, how might positive change be brought about? It looks at the aims and objectives of religious representatives who act as a link with the media for a religious institution as they attempt to communicate various messages and an underlying worldview on behalf of their organisations. It explores how journalists who report on religion on a regular basis perceive these attempts to communicate. It examines what the journalists perceive to be the strengths and weaknesses of the churches and mosque concerned in terms of their expertise in and commitment to media relations. The relationship between journalists who cover religion regularly and religious representatives has frustrating aspects for both parties, which sometimes stem from the fact that these two areas of expertise have different priorities and constraints. Finally, suggestions made by the media relations personnel and the journalists as to how the current situation could be improved are drawn together to form the basis for a model of religious media relations. This model identifies in a systematic way both changes in attitude, and practical suggestions which could improve the professional relationship between journalists and religious media relations personnel.
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