Churnalism

The new world of churnalism

County View

John Healy

THERE’S a new word about to enter the lexicon of media terminology, and those who ply the trade of journalism will be none too happy that the inventor thereof is one of their own.

Welcome to the world of ‘churnalism’, coined by Nick Davies, one of the print media’s most respected commentators, to describe the prevailing habit in the media of regurgitating material supplied by spin doctors and others with vested interests without even checking the facts.

‘Flat Earth News, an exposure of Falsehood, Distortion and Propaganda in the Media’ is the title of Nick Davies’s new book in which he castigates his journalistic colleagues for their readiness to swallow hook, line and sinker, and then repeat as gospel, stories given them by “influence peddlers, liars and conmen.”

Davies’s big gripe is the manipulation of journalists by politicians and state agencies. The title of the book refers to the practice of recycling stories – his classic example being the ‘Iraqi weapons of mass destruction’ falsehood – that although suspect, are never challenged. These stories, he says, are as profoundly false as the idea that the Earth is flat – a falsehood that went unchallenged for hundreds of years.

But while bringing the lash down heavily on those who, like him, toil behind a newsroom PC,  Davies at least offers an explanation of sorts as to why journalism has become debased.

He says that while the number of working journalists in Britain is roughly the same today as it was 20 years ago, the number of news pages, supplements and websites has trebled. So now, he says, the same number of reporters must now fill three times as much space and cover a wider variety of subjects than ever before.

More time is spent in confined offices turning out material and less time is spent out and about collecting and checking out real stories. The result is churnalism.

Nor are his arrows aimed only at the print media. Davies quotes numerous examples of radio journalists simply reading out, word for word, the latest press releases without pausing to look at whether the spin is authentic or not.

Davies hasn’t won many friends on either side of the counter with his straight-from-the-shoulder candour. ‘The Guardian’, which was to serialise ‘Flat Earth News’, has now decided against it in light of the savaging the book gives to its sister title, ‘The Observer’. Journalists are unhappy with his claim that 80 per cent of the stories carried in Britain’s five national dailies were recycled, unchecked material provided by news agencies and the PR industry.

Interesting too, and of relevance to ourselves, are his reflections on what is the news or, more specifically, who decides what is the news. Speaking on Questions and Answers last week, Gerard Colleran, editor of ‘The Star’, defended the media’s blanket coverage of the Mahon Tribunal, saying “that’s what the people wanted.”

He may well be right, but how does Gerard Colleran know what the people are thinking? Only De Valera proclaimed the ability to look into his own heart to know what the Irish people were thinking.

Another ill effect of ‘churnalism’ is the inability to remain objective. News reporters begin to see themselves as part of the story, unable to maintain the detachment that is their duty. Fed one side of a particular story often enough, the journalist begins to see himself or herself as the defender of that particular line.

The late John Healy, doyen of journalists, once remarked that “it’s OK for journalists to keep asking questions. That’s what they are supposed to do. It’s when they start giving the answers as well that things begin to go wrong.”

The word ‘churnalism’, with all its derogatory connotations, has already forced its way into the dictionary of newly-minted but much-used words, so much so that one reviewer of ‘Flat Earth News’ felt moved to quoting a long-dead British poet:

‘You cannot hope to bribe or twist,

Thank God, the British journalist,

But seeing what the man will do

Unbribed, there’s no occasion to.’

Cutting energy costs in Tourmakeady

THE ingenious John Quinn, driving force behind Surface Power Technologies in Tourmakeady, has made another stride in the promotion of solar power as the cheap and quick alternative energy source. His company has introduce the utility-connected solar-electricity system to Ireland.

In simple terms, the system allows business consumers to slow down their electricity meters by channelling solar-generated energy into their electricity network.

According to Caroline McAndrew, Surface Power’s marketing manager, electricity consumers need to cover their roofs with as much solar PV as possible and wire it down into a utility inverter. The inverter is connected into the actual socket on the wall, so that it slows down the meter, as the draw on the electricity source is reduced.

“Your power is being taken from your renewable source, solar energy, as opposed to your ESB source,” Caroline explains.

Although a prospective user will require a license to install the new method, Surface Power will handle the required licensing, regulatory and network approvals.

The company has received an investment package for research and development and for export growth, as well as a further €400,000 from Údarás na Gaeltacht to support R&D.

In little more than three years, Surface Power has moved quickly to establish markets in the domestic, farm and industrial sectors. Its latest development is seen as a major breakthrough in providing business customers with the finished product – cheaper energy – with none of the technological headaches associated with installation and approval.

A war hero remembered

THE final chapter in a journey of rediscovery will be written in Castlebar Old Cemetery on March 16. The grave of former Connaught Rangers World War I soldier, Private John Roache DCM and his wife, Ellen, will be rededicated. A proud day indeed for the war hero’s family.

The rededication ceremony will take place at noon. The blessing of the grave will be followed by the official rededication by Mr Oliver Fallon, secretary of the Connaught Rangers Association.

The event represents the culmination of several years of research and planning by the organising committee, most notably Ernie Sweeney and John Basquille, who have done Trojan work in developing the grave. As a young boy in McHale Road, Ernie Sweeney remembers well the imposing military figure of John Roache, even though it was many years later that he came to realise fully the esteem in which his neighbour was held and the courageous war activity that earned him the coveted DCM from the army authorities.

Happily, joining the committee for the celebration will be the late John Roache’s relatives, friends and neighbours from around Castlebar. He was a man who lived out his postwar years quietly and modestly in his native McHale Road, never referring to his heroism, his war honours or the citations of admiration he was awarded.

Fitting, then, that as the Peace Park nears completion just outside the walls of the old cemetery, John Roache’s final resting place, and that of his wife, Ellen, should be given the recognition it deserves.

Stephen’s lost operetta

Recently featured on BBC  Radio was Castlebar native Stephen Garvey, now living in Newtownstewart in Northern Ireland, and bearer of one of the most famous names in Irish entertainment history.

Stephen is none other than nephew of his famous uncle whose dance orchestra was one of the most popular in Ireland for well over 30 years and whose skills as a composer and musician are legendary.

Stephen Garvey was leader and conductor of the first ever Big Band live broadcast on Radio Eireann while his brother Jimmy – young Stephen’s father – was the first performer to sing live on RTÉ radio in the ’50s.

One of Stephen Garvey’s unfulfilled ambitions was to see the operetta he had written, ‘Mayo Mary’, performed in his native Castlebar. He himself had directed and produced a succession of light operas to wide acclaim over several years in the Town Hall, and it was universally agreed that in ‘Mayo Mary’ he had written a winner.

Sadly, Stephen’s operetta never reached the footlights, and with his death in Texas, ‘Mayo Mary’ seemed to have been lost and forgotten about.

But Stephen Jr, from his home in Northern Ireland, has not lost the dream, and on BBC Radio he paid tribute to his late uncle by singing the title song, ‘Mayo Mary’. He is now determined, after all those years, to stage the operetta itself, hopefully back home in Castlebar where the story of the talented musical Garvey family first started.

There are many who will wish him well and will be pleased to acknowledge Castlebar’s duty to honour its most famous musical son.

A Reading from the Book of Life

In the beginning God covered the earth with broccoli, cauliflower and spinach, with green, yellow and red vegetables of all kinds so Man and Woman would live long and healthy lives.

Then using God’s bountiful gifts, Satan created Dairy Ice Cream and Magnums. And Satan said, “You want hot fudge with that?” And Man said, “Yes!” And Woman said, “I’ll have one too, with chocolate chips”.  And lo, they gained ten pounds.

 And God created the healthy yoghurt that Woman might keep the figure that Man found so fair. And Satan brought forth white flour from the wheat and sugar from the cane and combined them. And Woman went from size 12 to size 14.

So God said, “Try my fresh green salad.” And Satan presented Blue Cheese dressing and garlic croutons on the side. And Man and Woman unfastened their belts following the repast.

God then said, “I have sent you healthy vegetables and olive oil in which to cook them.” And Satan brought forth deep-fried coconut king prawns, butter-dipped lobster chunks and chicken fried steak, so big it needed its own platter. And Man’s cholesterol went through the roof.

Then God brought forth the potato; naturally low in fat and brimming with potassium and good nutrition. Then Satan peeled off the healthy skin and sliced the starchy centre into chips and deep fried them in animal fats adding copious quantities of salt. And Man put on more pounds.

God then brought forth running shoes so that his Children might lose those extra pounds. And Satan came forth with a cable TV with remote control so Man would not have to toil changing the channels. And Man and Woman laughed and cried before the flickering light and started wearing stretch jogging suits.

Then God gave lean beef so that Man might consume fewer calories and still satisfy his appetite. And Satan created McDonalds and the 99p double Cheeseburger.  Then Satan said, “You want fries with that?” and Man replied, “Yes, And super size ’em”. And Satan said, “It is good.” And Man and Woman went into cardiac arrest.

God sighed and created quadruple by-pass surgery. And then Satan chuckled and created the Health Service Executive.