Telepathy

I was pleased to see the BBC news website covering a story today on the criticism some sections of the Northern Irish media have received regarding their coverage of Stormonts economic policy and operation more generally. See: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/7999934.stm

I'll be honest though - it's not because I think the criticism levelled at the Belfast Telegraph is vindicated (in fact I disagree with the majority of OFMDFM'S letter) - it's more to do with the ego scratch of knowing I wrote on this issue last week (I always knew the Beeb was reading Join the Q ;))

It seems the Brothers Grim up on the hill have taken exception to the Belfast Telegraph's 'Get the Executive Back to Work,' campaign and various other supposedly negative coverage of the goings on at the heart of the province's government.

As covered in my last blog on the issue (see Bad News is Good news?) I do think there is a tendency for media generally to reflect an entirely more negative view of socety - including the current state of our economy - than is necessary.

However, this is tempered by my enduring belief in the role of the modern media as watchdog for society as a whole. As acknowledged in Article 10 of the European Convention, the role of the freedom of the press is vital for a free and democratic society.

The importance of freedom of expression and a free media is obviously not exclusive to Europe however. The latest moves in South Africa to further censor political satire in the country after banning the political puppet show by Jonathan Shapiro is a sad move by the ANC, and is dangerous for the increasingly fragile post-apartheid country.

Like South Africa, Northern Ireland has in the past, had a media which was communally partisan and restrained in their scrutiny of government. Although the former charge may still be true, the recent criticism of the Belfast Telegraph is an unfair assault on an essential asset in modern Northern Ireland.

It is a national paper holding our elected representatives to account and should be allowed to carry out this important role accordingly.

If anything this latest incident shows that the Belfast Telegraph is doing just that.