Local news publishers highlight critical challenges facing independent journalism

Declan McGuire of the Connacht Tribune with Senator Padraig Ó Ceidigh and Minister Sean Canney at the Oireachtas Open Day as the newspaper industry lobbied for libel reform and reduction in VAT.

placeholder image — Declan McGuire of the Connacht Tribune with Senator Padraig Ó Ceidigh and Minister Sean Canney at the Oireachtas Open Day as the newspaper industry lobbied for libel reform and reduction in VAT.

Over 30 representatives from Ireland’s local and national publishing news publishing industry – including the Connacht Tribune – gathered in Leinster House last week to speak with members of the Oireachtas on the challenges facing independent journalism in Ireland.

The media representation included CEOs, editors and journalists, while over 50 Oireachtás members – including Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin and Government Ministers Michael Ring, Regina Doherty and Helen McEntee.

Galway/Roscommon public representatives included Minister Seán Canney, Deputies Anne Rabbitte, Denis Naugnten and Eugene Murphy and Senator Pádraig Ó Céidigh, while the Connacht Tribune was represented by Declan McGuire, who is also Vice-President of Local Ireland.

Also among the TDs were Brendan Smyth, Timmy Dooley, Catherine Murphy, Dara Calleary, Jan O’Sullivan, Roisín Shorthall and Mattie McGrath.

Organised by Local Ireland and Newsbrands Ireland, the representative bodies for the local and national news publishing industries, the event highlighted practical steps the government could take to ensure a sustainable future for journalism in Ireland.

These include a reduction of the VAT rate on print and digital newspapers to 5% in Budget 2020 – and ultimately to zero on printed newspapers as is the case in Britain and other EU countries.

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The industry has also called for action on the long-overdue review of the Defamation Act.

It’s now almost three years since the review was announced and 40 submissions were made to the Department of Justice. The laws, as they currently are, have a chilling effect on democracy and a free press.

And the industry also wants to see an extension of the Minister for Communications’ brief to include all media and not just the broadcast sector, ensuring the Minister has full oversight of a complex and ever evolving media landscape and that public service journalism is supported across all media.

“Our titles are newspapers of record in their communities,” Local Ireland President David Ryan told the Leinster House gathering.

“We are trusted to record and report local news and sport. As you know we lead on issues that are important to our communities.

“Imagine a community without a local paper, no local government reporting, no health, education, court, sports covering, leaving a huge democratic deficit.

“The measures we are proposing today will go some way towards ensuring a sustainable future for my members, but the time for action is now,” he added.