Media Bias

I have chosen a news broadcast from the RTE nine o'clock news that was broadcast on Sunday the 14th April. The specific report I have chosen covers the vote at the constitutional convention that same sex marriage should be legalised in Ireland. Politicians and a panel of citizens representing the electorate discussed the issue over the weekend and on Sunday they voted a majority of 4 to 1 for change.

The news broadcaster reporting on this referred to it as a 'controversial issue' and informed us that a spokesman for catholic bishops expressed dissappointment with the outcome. The picture shown to us on screen while the newsreporter was talking was that of a crowd of people holding up different coloured signs with the word 'equal' on them. I think these colours represent the rainbow colours of the gay pride flag. Although there is no headline to accompany the report I think that the word 'equal' can be seen as the headline for this story. As this is the only time that the catholic church is mentioned in this report we can see that it is biased in favour of same sex marriage and therefore shows us that the role of the catholic church is no longer as important as it once was in Ireland.

A video then plays of a crowd of people in the street cheering and holding 'equal' signs.  We can see here that this is a celebration as people are cheering and smiling. It is being portrayed to us as something positive. It then goes to a shot of the convention with people casting their ballot and we are informed that people voted 'overwhelmingly' for civil same sex marriage.

Gay and lesbian couples are given priority in this news report. Senator Katherine Zappone is interviewed after we are informed that she is fighting in the courts for legal recognition of her lesbian relationship as a marriage. The vote is described as 'sweet music' to her ears. She describes her feeling as being 'overwhelmed'.

With words such as 'overwhelmingly', 'equal' and phrases like 'sweet music' being used to describe the participants and their actions we are shown a happy, positive side of this report in favour of the gay and lesbian couples.

People who were at the convention and politicans who are in favour of gay marriage are given priority in the report as these are the people being interviewed. They are interviewed at the convention and outside the hotel it took place in. However one of the expert witnesses who addressed the convention was acused of being biased. We are told his name is Professor Jim Sheehan who teaches in Norway and who is a social worker and and experienced family therapist. Senator Ronan Mullen was then interviewed and assused him of showing his true colours more than he should have done as a neutral expert. The Charimain of the convention, Tom Arnold, was then mentioned for standing over Professor Jim Sheehan's comments calling them impartial and objective and said that there was no evidence that same sex parenting was bad for children. We are not told the full extent of what Professor Sheehan said but with the chairman saying that there was no evidence that same sex parenting was bad for children again shows support for same sex marriage.

The next piece of information we are given in the report is that Fine Gael has no position in legalising same sex marriage so the question is posed can cabinet ministers who are in favour bring the largest government party with them.This shows that the report is in favour of same sex marriage. If they were against it they could have said can ministers who are not in favour bring Fine Gael with them. The wording used here is favourable to same sex marriage. TD Frances Fitzgerald is then interviewed saying that they would have to tease out the possible consequences if such a referendem were held, she goes on to say that there are many issues that need legislation and detailed attention. This tells us that it is still a controversal issue with some people and it's not as straight forward as it may look after this vote.

The camera shots then go back to the people on the street showing them posing for photos and there's a close up of a gay couple holding hands where you can see an engagement ring on their finger. The camera shots show the point of view of the gay coulples and how much a vote like this means to them.

The sequence of the story begins and ends with the happy crowds on the street to leave the lasting image in our heads that this is something good and positive for Ireland and that all these couples are being supported.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HTNmQBkZHxY