Current Affairs in Irish Media

Newspaper industry faces online financial burden

NEWSPAPERS worldwide face economic challenges, as the industry moves from print to the web, Press Ombudsman Prof John Hogan said.

Newspapers will have to compete with other media resources to generate advertising revenue in order to support the rising costs of their own websites, according to Prof Horgan.

He said that the example of the New York Times must act as a stern reminder to all newspapers as they aim to find a way to convert online visits into cash. The New York Times was forced to borrow $250 million (€193 million) to pay off a $1 billion loan.

Prof Hogan, who was speaking to journalism students at the opening of the University of Limerick’s newsroom, said that while these challenges pose a threat to the industry, he expects the press to win the battle.

‘‘Journalism is constantly reinventing itself and I have no doubt that journalism will see itself into the new era with verve,’’ he said.

Prof Horgan added that journalism will survive and flourish ‘‘only if it remains credible.

‘‘There are few more satisfying jobs in the market,’’ he said.

However, he warned that trials and tribulations by media sources against certain people in the public domain are no longer tolerable, unless they are in the public’s best interest.

‘‘There is a tendency in the media to kick people who can’t kick back. Some newspapers have a very narrow view as to who is vulnerable and who is not,’’ he said.

Prof Horgan added that journalists should not interfere with the role of the justice system, but if journalists feel that these institutions are not operating effectively, then criticism is warranted.

‘‘It is important not to forget that we, the people, employ the gardai to catch criminals, and judges to sentence them. If journalists don’t think that these institutions are doing their job properly, then criticism is in order. That is what a free press is for, and very important it is too,’’ he said.

After a very interesting and lively discussion, Mr Horgan added that the current crop of journalism students face exciting times ahead, and that they must adopt a ‘get up and go’ approach to succeed in their future career.

All in all it was a well received discussion and the students were given a great chance to learn about the many positions that journalism graduates have open to them in the future at home or further afield.

In what I felt was an accurate account of the media today and the problems it faces, both economically and physically, Prof Horgan was realistic on the prospects for the media in the future. He noted that accuracy and correct sources must be at the heart of all good journalism, which is a view that good journalists must share.

He discussed the sensationalism of stories by some newspapers, both tabloid and broadsheet, which I thought was an interesting and critical view towards the industry.

It was the first seminar of a 12 long series on Current Issues in the Irish media, designed to give student journalists an insight into the many career options available to them after their degree.

‘‘Comment is free but facts are sacred,’’ says Murtagh


PETER Murtagh is a man who has been through testing times: the Haughey era, the shoot to kill policy, the Troubles and the infamous Geraldine Kennedy phone tapping scandal. He is quick to admit that as an investigative journalist living in this period he had his fair share of the media machine.

He’s worked as a Foreign Editor at the Irish Times, an Opinion Editor, an Editor with the Sunday Tribune and the Guardian. He currently is the Managing Editor of the Irish Times and a motorbike blogger on Outsidein.

In the words of Rubin Frank ‘‘News is what someone wants to suppress. Everything else is advertising,’’ said Mr Murtagh.

Investigative journalism is no routine processing exercise said Mr Murtagh.

‘‘You must act like a police detective,’’ he added.

Verifying sources and using them wisely are the key tools for any investigative journalist, he said.

‘‘Your really only as good as your sources,’’ he added.

He echoed the Press Ombudsman, Prof John Horgan’s comments that journalists cannot assume the role of the gardai and justice systems when investigating crime. There is a danger where people think they are ‘elitist’ and take the law into their own hands, he said.

Mr Murtagh, who was speaking to University of Limerick journalism students, urged them to have the tenacity to keep going when finding a lead story. ‘‘If you knock on 55 doors and get no answer, knock on the 56th,’’ he said.

‘‘Freesheet papers are often scot on,’’ he said before congratulating the UL Graduate Diploma/MA journalism students on producing their own paper The Moyross Voice.

Mr Murtagh, a co-author of ‘The Boss’, discussed the reign of Charles Haughey and the paranoia that surrounded his term in office. Haughey demanded a pledge of support from cabinet ministers in October 1982 and wondered whether he could have a number of Fianna Fail TDs or senators arrested en route to Leinster House to prevent them voting against him during coups against his leadership, he said.

He said that his worst experience during the Haughey affair was when Haughey told him he knew a lot about his family. I wanted to kick the head of him, but I couldn’t, he added.

In a very informative speech delivered to the journalism students, they learned about the life of an investigative reporter, the challenges they face and also about the uniqueness of the career.

Students were also told about the importance of the Freedom of Information act in gaining important documents, which could, in turn lead to front page stories.

Mr Murtagh’s speech concluded the second seminar in a 12 part series of Current Affairs in Irish media at the University of Limerick.

CONOR Kavanagh began his career writing obituaries for his local paper the Dundalk Democrat, now he produces the Pat Kenny show on RTE Radio 1.


He says that his first job set him up for his career as it demanded accuracy and a high degree of knowledge. If you got a Priests name wrong you would certainly know about it, he added.

He’s worked on several RTE programmes including Morning Ireland, Drivetime and Today FM. He attributes his success to his father, who was a photographer and cameraman with the Dundalk Democrat during the Troubles in Northern Ireland.

‘‘From an early age I was out with my father during the Troubles taking photographs,’’ he said. He recalls the IRA car bombs in Newry and the riots in Derry and he showed us some images from his father’s camera, he recalls the early days of his youth.

The Pat Kenny show covers a broad range of topics such as Lisbon debates, alternative transport, economic turmoil, right down to reviewing a book, he said. It involves a lot of organization and planning, he added.

‘‘We do a lot of brainstorming, we start at seven and go through the papers and exchange ideas,’’ Mr Kavanagh said.



"We kick around ideas and sometimes each other. My day really starts when it ends,’’ Mr Kavanagh said, referring to the allocation of time slots for the next days programme.

It’s wonderfully dynamic, a great team spirit, he said before discussing the range of subjects the Pat Kenny show aims to cover. The economic crisis, the FAS scandal and fat cats having a good time at the public’s expense are all in the public interest.

He is quick to issue a stiff warning to the journalism students about judgment and accuracy. There is a ‘‘rush to print and a rush to judgment’’ in today’s media, he said.

‘‘Our reputation rests on accuracy,’’ he added and as RTE is not driven by the need to make money this rarely ever occurs.

In my opinion he summed up broadcast journalism in the words; ‘‘It’s a place apart.’’

He carried himself very well and he was very interesting and easy to listen to. He was eager to learn about what we thought about broadcast journalism and you got the sense that he knew what people were affected by and what makes good news.

It was a stark reminder, however, of the impact of the Troubles, when he told us about a loyalist bomb that went off in Dundalk in 1974, just around the corner from where he worked and two people were killed. He was so open about nearly being killed and he was non-judgemental.

Mr Kavanagh’s speech concluded the third seminar in a 12 part series of Current Affairs in Irish media at the University of Limerick.

DERMOT Mullane is a man who has been around the block. He has worked in both print and broadcast journalism, with the Irish Times and RTE and with TG4 on a consortium technology project.


He also was an anchorman for the evening news and the first Editor for RTE’s Six One and 9 o’clock news respectively.

He echoed the words of the Irish Times managing Editor Peter Murtagh, ‘‘Comment is free facts are sacred,’’ he said. It’s as valid today as it was some 50 years ago, he added.

He discussed the high prestige of the Irish Times and said that it has an international reputation and it is the reporter’s newspaper.

He urged journalists to remember the ‘‘Where, what, when, where, who and why’’ rule when preparing to write any article. He also said that they must not forget the one foot rule, have a dictionary not less than one foot away at all times.

‘‘It’s a question of professionalism, not a matter of pride,’’ he added. He said that if journalists are in doubt about any aspect of their article they should leave it out. Otherwise, he said the threat of legal action against your paper could spell the end of your career.

Grammar and language are the key tools in good journalism, he said. He took the example of ‘‘Man killed in fall off of bus’’ as the worst constructed headline he had ever seen. He also said that while advancements in technology have helped speed up the process of news writing, it has removed vital checking stages and the likelihood of correcting errors.

‘‘The concept of a style book has also vanished,’’ he said and this has removed a certain degree of clarity, he added.

Mr Mullane called on all journalists to follow the KISS method of news writing-Keep It Simple Stupid, he says with a profound smirk on his face. He added that trust also plays a huge role in news and ‘‘people have in the past gone to jail to protect their sources.’’

The reporter should be a facilitator, he said and they must seek to give the right of reply where possible to all sides in their article.

He added that the news agenda dictates the order of stories covered by RTE news and that the people who deliver the news must have a speed of three words a second or 180 words a minute. Mr Mullane said that broadcast journalists give the news in a short and direct manner, referring to them as the ‘‘fighter squadrons’’ and print journalists go into broad and descriptive detail. They are the ‘‘heavy bombers,’’ he said.

‘’Reporting is the bedrock of journalism. Don’t bring yourself into the news,’’ he said.

In a very interesting discussion on print and broadcast journalism, I found the points on grammar and language to be very interesting. Mr Mullane seems to be old fashioned, but he is right about the use of ‘Americanisms’ and words that convey an opposite meaning to their original use. ‘Presently’ and ‘in what’ were two good examples.

Another interesting point that he mentioned was technology as a hindrance to good journalism. It had never occurred to me that errors could be easily missed by today’s technology, so it was a bit of shock to hear this revelation from Mr Mullane.

The emphasis that he placed on trust and protecting your sources really hit home and was another topical issue which had never before crossed my mind.

Mr Mullane’s speech concluded the fourth seminar in a 12 part series of Current Affairs in Irish media at the University of Limerick.

BRENDAN Keenan is a Group Business Editor with the Irish Independent. He is a man who tells it how he sees it and is not afraid to speak the truth whatever the consequences.


He started his career with the Sunday Times business desk over 30 years ago and he is glad to see that business pages have become a more lucrative attraction today, than they were in the 1970’s.

‘‘Business has moved from the specialist back pages to the front pages,’’ he said.

Business Journalism appeals to two kinds of readers, the specialist reader and the general reader. ‘‘Business Journalism is a bit of a haven for serious matters,’’ he added.

He compared this years recession to that of the 1980’s and said that it will take three years of ‘‘touch and go’’ for the economy to get back on its feet. ‘‘People have not understood how serious the situation is and what we say or write can magnify the effects,’’ he said.

He called on journalists to avoid the blame game and to report on what happens, not what should happen or what might happen. ‘‘There is a question of reporting vs. advocacy,’’ he added.

He said that the banking crisis has also created a bad reputation for Ireland, where confidence and belief is low. He said that eastern countries may blame us for the recent state of the economy and it is up to the Government to punish those involved in the banking scandal.

‘‘It wasn’t just wrongdoing and law breaking.

‘‘Giving capital to a bank is like giving money to an alcoholic,’’ he said.

He urged journalists to stay away from future predictions as they can impact on the economy. ‘‘You can’t talk your way out of the recession, look at what happened at Northern Rock,’’ he said.

He added that those who were involved in the banking scandal may never be brought to justice. ‘‘Our liable laws are draconian, our company laws so complex,’’ he said.

The future will be bleak for the foreseeable future, with 35 Bn in taxes needing to be raised, we face the worst challenge since the civil war, he said.

‘‘Public spending will drop for four years,’’ he added.

He said we must remain optimistic for the future and added: ‘‘History gets re-written very quickly.’’

In a very lively speech, Mr Keenan spoke about the economic crisis in simple terms. He was quick to state the mistakes that were made by bank officials and the Government and the pension situation, which will affect public sector workers.

He was an interesting character and he spoke his thoughts, even tough they caused some outrage and commotion amongst the journalism group. ‘‘Politics and sports are repetitive, business is not,’’ he said.

I admired his tenacity about how the banking perpetrators must be brought to justice and how the Government has got very bad at politics. His analysis of the economic challenges that face the global business world was interesting and well researched.

FRANK McDONALD knows all too well the cause of this recession. The Irish Times Environment Editor pins the blame on the Government, the banks and the property market.


The Builders, a book which he co-wrote with his fellow Irish Times journalist Kathy Sheridan chronicles how the property market went from boom to bust and why the only way the property bubble could go was down.

The share of the blame lies with Government. They, along with the banks led ordinary people on the notion that ‘‘the only way the property market could go was up,’’ he said.

The bust is worse here than in other countries because everyone lost in the property game. People forget that the Celtic Tiger was an export lead boom, which lasted for six years, he added.

‘‘Houses were being sold at inflatable prices and house prices in Dublin were greater than those in Paris. Something had to give and unfortunately for us it was the property market,’’ he said.

Our property market has since evaporated, our migrants have gone home and it is impossible to get credit from the banks. We are in a bad state, he added.

Ireland owes billions in property debt and these loans have to be covered. In turn, people are losing their security, their cars, their homes, their business and livelihood, he said.

Despite this Mr McDonald predicts the market will revive itself within two to three years.

However, he remains critical of the re-zoning process, which he describes as a ‘‘level of squandermania of community resources.’’

He argues that Ireland hardly functions anymore. With parts of Dublin now in Leitrim, Cavan, Laois and Wexford, he does not see an end to our problems.

Councillors are doing individual favours for individual constituents and money is exchanging hands, he said. ‘‘The view of a lot of Councillors is build wherever you like whenever you like.’’

Councillors are acting as retail agents and auctioneers and until we establish a zoning commission and project money into sustainable development we are at nothing, he said.

It is time for our ‘‘roguish’’ banks to start paying their way too, he added.

Mr McDonald’s analysis of the current recession was a valid one. His focus on the property market and why we relied too heavily on it, just as we had over-relied on the

Potato before the famine, allowed students to see the full extent of damage caused to our economy.

He gave a thorough account of what exactly happened and he called it as he saw it. He also spoke about local government and how it is plagued by corruption, which also linked into Dr Fisk’s speech on conflict and war in the Middle East.

He spoke about urbanization and parts of Dublin moving into other counties. This was another valid point because more and more houses are going up in the outskirts of Dublin and beyond, but they are remaining empty. Who will have to bare the brunt of the cost should they fail to be sold?

‘‘I LOVE a cut off Mr Grandeur and Mr Self.’’


Those are the words of the Irish Daily Star Editor Ger Colleran, who is used to cutting chunks out of our politician’s and celebrity’s ego.

Mr Colleran began his career with the Irish Daily Star in 1999, following 15 years with the Kerryman. He knows the trade, the challenges it faces and its strengths.

‘‘Newspapers are in freefall, there has been a collapse in advertising and share price,’’ he said. However, since 1988 the Star has gone from selling 16,000 daily copies to over 111,000 in 2008, an increase of over 95,000 copies in 20 years.

The intrusion of foreign imports and newspapers is what Mr Colleran puts the downturn and economic climate down to. With competition from the Irish Independent and the Irish Times, Mr Colleran’s fears may well prove to be valid.

‘‘My main concern is survival. There has been a 40 per cent drop in advertising and this is worrying,’’ he said.

Among our biggest challenges and problems are deformation reform and the Press Council, he added.

Mr Colleran is very much a man who believes in letting the truth be heard. He does not believe in privacy for celebrities and those in the firing line.

‘‘Privacy has very little to do with ordinary people,’’ he said.

Our human characteristics should penetrate their way onto the paper, he added. ‘‘Freedom of speech, Brits and overlords need to be pushed back,’’ he said.

He defended his papers reputation of ridiculing people in the public domain and coverage of sensitive issues. ‘‘Good journalism is good business,’’ he added.

He said that there used to be three things that you could rely on: the church, GAA and Fine Gael and that only one remains-GAA. He was critical of RTE and said it was not doing its job of acting as public sector broadcaster. ‘‘RTE is in the Government’s back pocket,’’ he added.

He advised students to pay attention to detail, but not to be afraid of making inconsistencies.

In a very lively and topical speech, Mr Colleran described the style of his paper and voiced his opinion on many topics, including the Government, what makes news and privacy. His views were very extremist and radical and as a student myself, I don’t think they went down altogether well.

Firstly, I don’t believe journalism should be about ‘‘good business’’. Journalism should be about passion and love of the job and about informing people of what is going on in their world. Business has to take a back seat before accuracy and relevance.

Secondly, privacy does affect everyone and everyone should have the right to privacy. I would not go into the house of a dead person and ask for a picture and statement of a grieving parent as Mr Colleran said must be done. Even celebrities deserve privacy, not intimidation and harassment.

He also had a hate campaign against the Irish Times for some unexplained reason which put me off. It comes down to a matter of taste and values as to which paper you buy.

His comment on RTE being in the Governments pocket is a false accusation. RTE is for the people and they have been just as critical of the Government as anyone else has. RTE gives viewers two sides of every story in a balanced and fair way and it is up to the viewer to seek the truth. I don’t think I can say the same for the Star though, it is not my cup of tea.

Mr Colleran’s speech concluded the eight seminar in a 12 part series on Current Issues in Irish Media at the University of Limerick.

Collison predicts recruitment drive for journalists to restart within two years


GERARD Collison is a man who has been around the block. He’s worked with the Irish Press, the Broadcasting Complaints Commission and the Clare Champion.

Today, he has helped to establish perhaps one of the finest regional papers, a rival to the Clare Champion- the Clare People.

He believes the news industry is in a ‘‘depressed’’ state at the moment, but news media will survive and prosper. He is a man who calls it as he sees it.

‘‘I predict a recruitment drive in two years time. Jobs will change more than those two or three years ago,’’ he said.

He added that the narrow skill base of journalists in the past is no longer a viable option and these changes have been driven by technology and what the market demands.

Not only was this change accelerated by the market, but also by the change in press ownership. ‘‘Ten to fifteen years ago regional papers were privately owned, now Irish media groups have transformed the landscape beyond all recognition,’’ he said.

Editing skills and software are a must. Reporters now are required to have sub editing skills, it is a one way process. Our style book is our ‘‘Bible’’, it allows us to troubleshoot and learn our trade, he added.

He said that among the best newspaper performers are the freesheets, such as the Limerick Post and the Galway Advertiser. He was sceptical of relying on websites and podcasts to generate revenue. They should only be used as a ‘‘backburner’’, he added.

He gave students some helpful advice on what their job will entail. ‘‘It’s a passion, you are never in it for the money,’’ he said. He warned students to ‘‘own up to mistakes as you have the capacity to destroy people.’’

‘‘I look for curiosity, passion, and bravery in a journalist. You may not be the best writer but being honourable covers a multitude.’’

Mr Collison’s speech covered a lot of issues surrounding the media. His focus on both the print and broadcast media allowed students to envisage what work they will be carrying out on a daily basis.

His emphasis on journalism being a passion, not a job and being enthusiastic couldn’t be more true. If you are passionate about something you love then it is easier to do.

His analysis on what job prospects are out there now was bleak, but truthful. ‘‘Sixty jobs are going in the Irish Times and most of the jobs have still to go because we over egged the pudding.’’

Mr Collison’s speech concluded the tenth seminar in a 12 part series of Current Affairs in Irish Media at the University of Limerick.

LIMERICK’s Live 95 FM Head of News and Current Affairs Joe Nash had a career with UTV’s Public Relations team before joining the popular radio station.


It was little surprise when UTV announced it was buying the radio station for €16 million in 2002. Mr Nash’s influence was clear and since then the station has gone from strength to strength.

‘‘We have an 81 per cent of the average population of Limerick and Munster on an average week, which accounts for 44 per cent of our market share,’’ he said.

Our programmes include: News and Currents Affairs, Sport and Entertainment, General information and Job line, he added.

However, with the emergence of Spin South-West as a popular music and entertainment radio station targeting teenagers across Munster, Limerick’s Live 95 faces stiff competition.

To deal with this, Mr Nash is responsible for speech output and selecting stories that run. ‘‘We are half-way between Jerry Ryan and Morning Ireland,’’ he said.

When running with stories I judge them on their merits, their accuracy, relevance and their fairness and balance, he added.

‘‘If it bleeds it leads,’’ is Mr Nash’s dictum. Among the most appealing stories that run on his programme are: the gangs of Limerick, crime in general, news of sport, the local economy and politics.

However, Mr Nash is quick to remind the broadcasting industry of the challenges they face in the coming years. ‘‘We have to be careful of being trial, judge and executioner,’’ he added.

The public’s feeling of ownership of Live 95 FM is what is important. ‘‘Cork people love themselves and they have a strong loyalty to the brand that is Cork, they have inner confidence,’’ he said.

With Limerick’s ‘’unique reputational perspective’’ and focus, it is safe to say that Limerick’s Live 95 FM is safe in the hands of its producers and listeners. With the station adopting its own values and guidelines, Live 95 FM is on the up.

Mr Nash’s thoughts on these core values: balance, relevance and accuracy showed his enthusiasm for the job and what his station strives to achieve. His insight into Limerick stories that fly proved very beneficial, showing students what makes news and how to make news relevant to your reader or listener.

He raised the issue of the media adopting the role of ‘‘trial, judge and executioner’’ which is, as important in today’s world as ever, for example, the Irishman shot dead in Bolivia has already been judged by certain Irish papers and portrayed as a terrorist despite the ambiguity between fact and fiction.

Mr Nash’s speech concluded the seventh seminar in a 12 part series of Current Affairs in Irish Media at the University of Limerick.

‘‘Work first and last for yourself,’’ says Molloy


‘‘I WAS lucky to be involved in a train crash within my first three months’’.

That is the view of former Editor of the Mail on Sunday and the current Editor of the Irish Independent Philip Molloy.

Renowned for his work with the Irish Press, a supposed Fianna Fail paper which he questions, a film critic and working with RTE Radio One’s Art Show, Mr Molloy said that this disaster helped to establish him at the ‘‘best training paper in the country-the Evening Press.’’

Referring to the train crash which killed five people at Gorey in County Wexford during December 1975, Mr Molloy said that it was left in his hands to report back that days horrific events.

‘‘There is an absolute necessity to work on your own initiative. There are always avenues, wider ways, possibilities to look at things,’’ he added.

‘‘You can never have enough contacts. They are invaluable, develop them, drink with them,’’ he said.

He urged journalists to ‘‘work fist and last for yourself and to decide your own values.’’

He said that blogging culture is a niche market where journalism is heading. Although he did not say whether it would be viable for newspapers to go on the net, he said: ‘‘Bloggers are hungry, cheap and deliver copy once an hour. It is a quick response approach, but more suitable to colour writing where it acts like horses for courses and could sell like crazy.’’

He reiterated Gerard Collison’s advice; ‘‘have an interest that will stand to you, think as a freelance, your job is a vocation not a vacation.’’

He said journalists must attend conferences and meetings. ‘‘Nothing is beneath you,’’ he added.

He described his time with the Irish Press, a supposed Fianna Fail backed newspaper. ‘‘I was never hit on the knuckles or told to write an article a certain way whilst I was there,’’ he added.

However, he was angered and offended by what happened in the lead-up to the General Election of 1997. ‘‘Fianna Gael were in power and Fianna Fail were trying to get back into power. We were covering the election in a balance way and giving it coverage for at least three weeks during the final month. The final article was published prior to the election and it went on the front page having bypassed me. It stated: It’s Payback Time.’’

Never before had I lost my temper, I was furious for months on end after that and I think the Irish Independent lost some credibility as an impartial paper after that, he added.

Mr Molloy’s insight into the world of journalism was met with applause and students felt that what he said was very relevant into how they hope to start and end their career in journalism. Taking heed from his opinions on establishing good contacts from every walk of life, such as the gardai outside the courthouse as he suggested and following up on what interests you, we were left with a better insight into the world and mechanics of journalism.

His idea of a mentoring arrangement in the future, where journalism students would be able to bounce ideas off him and other newspaper editors and get them published was great and students were open to the idea of enhancing their talent in the public domain.

Overall, it was a great speech from a highly influential and charismatic man and the journalism students were impressed by his enthusiasm, passion and love of his job.

Mr Molloy’s speech concluded the eleventh seminar in a 12 part series of Current Affairs in Irish Media at the University of Limerick.

HIS CAREER has spanned some 40 years to date and he is not done yet by a long shot. He has worked as a Foreign War Correspondent during the Portuguese revolution, the Iran-Iraq war, the war in Lebanon and more recently, the Israel-Palestine conflict.


Today, Dr Fisk is the Middle East Correspondent with The Independent in England. He has a strong connection with Ireland however, having covered the Troubles in Northern Ireland with The Times in London. He has a PhD from Trinity College Dublin and has won many prestigious awards for his books, which include In a Time of War and Pity the Nation.

His father was a soldier based in Cork during World War 1 and escaped being sent to the Somme because of the 1916 War of Independence. ‘‘In a way I owe my life to Padraig Pearse,’’ he said.

He is very critical of journalists doing what he described as ‘’50-50 journalism’’, where they mask the truth and give only one side of the story. ‘‘We should be neutral on the side of those who suffer,’’ he added.

He said the Iraq war was a failure. ‘‘Liberation will compete with our occupation,’’ he added.

Today’s journalists and reporters are not speaking the truth. ‘‘Television has made war normal and I fear that,’’ he said.

It is injustice that fuels Hezbollah and Hamas, he said. When you see the Israeli’s speaking of Palestinian’s they are portrayed as terrorists. It’s all about perspective, he added.

The source of many of these conflicts is us, he said. ‘‘They want freedom from us (the west). We wanted the oil, we didn’t want the people,’’ he added.

We forget about the illegal Jewish colonies on Arab land and the Palestinian struggle. American President Barack Obama will not bring change to Gaza, to Israel or Palestine. ‘‘He spent 24 minutes in the West Bank and 24 hours in Israel,’’ he said.

He argued that Washington will let these settlements continue and that we must all now question ourselves and challenge those in power to act now. ‘‘Challenge authority, the Middle East is not a football match,’’ he added.

Dr Fisk believes that religion is not the problem and argues that the West has been the ‘‘enemy at the gates since the 16th Century’’. He remains sceptical of our political leaders. He said: ‘‘Corruption goes from the book boy to the president.’’

He is also critical of our failure to initiate war crimes against Israel and refuted claims that their army is a ‘‘moral’’ army. We set new rules in each war and until we re-introduce reality and suffering in a serious way, we are at nothing, he said.

This is the job of the journalist, he added.

Dr Fisk’s speech was the highlight of the seminar series. His impeccable account of war and conflict and its futility left the aspiring journalists in awe. His account of the injustice, not only of the Palestinian’s but of those in Bosnia and Northern Ireland was frightening but needed to be told.

His insight into the corruption and flaws of the Western democracy left students with a valuable taste of what goes on behind closed doors. Having heard such graphical descriptions of many conflicts worldwide how could one not be inspired to change our stance on war and help those in suffering?

His point on television desensitising the viewer was very valid. Everyday we see films and series of a graphical nature and this has shaped how we view reality. Just because we have not experienced war or conflict does not mean it does not exist.

Dr Fisk’s speech concluded the final seminar in a 12 part series of Current Affairs In Irish Media-entitled ‘The Middle East, Politics and Journalism in a Globalised World’ at the University of Limerick.