Lynn Boylan MEP urges Broadcasting Authority to stop INM swallowing up more media

» John Hedges

An Phoblacht Editor

If you’re concerned with the state of media ownership or the lack of media diversity and media plurality in Ireland, make a submission to the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland

THE Broadcasting Authority of Ireland (BAI) should block a merger of Celtic Media Group by Independent News & Media – including the Irish Independent and Sunday Independent – which already owns a significant slice of the newspaper market, Dublin MEP Lynn Boylan said.

The new deal would allow INM to take over a further seven regional newspapers, including the Anglo-Celt in County Cavan, the Meath Chronicle and the Connaught Telegraph.

“Ireland already has one of the most concentrated media markets of any democracy,” the Sinn Féin MEP said.

“I believe that Communications Minister Denis Naughten has passed the buck on this issue by referring the matter to the BAI for a review instead of having the bottle to adjudicate on the matter himself.”

She added:

“It is blatantly apparent that such a deal would further concentrate the media market and reduce media diversity and plurality.

“This is surely a bad thing for the people of Ireland as the accumulation of such communicative power can give wealthy individuals and organisations the power to distort the media landscape to suit their interests and personal views.”

The National Union of Journalists has expressed its concern at the “dominant role of INM” and had called on Communications Minister Denis Naughten “to use his powers to order a comprehensive review of INM’s influence, direct and indirect, on the media market across all platforms in this country”.

The proposed Celtic Media merger also raised issues of “editorial independence”, the NUJ said, adding:

“Concentration of ownership has very real consequence for employment standards and for democracy.”

◼︎ Lynn Boylan has urged anyone concerned with the state of media ownership or the lack of media diversity and media plurality in Ireland to make a submission to the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland.