Can RTÉ Ever Protray Young People in Good Light?
“The over reaction by RTE to a number of isolated events on St Patrick’s Day is typical, unfortunate and brings little credit on RTE.
Thankfully it is as far removed from the reality of the majority of young people as RTE is from fulfilling its mandate as a Public Service Broadcaster”, according to former Lord Mayor of Dublin Councillor Dermot Lacey.
“Continuing with the hype the same station generated last year this morning we had the Marian Finucane Show discussing young people in trouble. The most interesting aspect of the programme that not one single youth worker was involved in the discussion. The News at One continued the trend dealing with a number of isolated acts in the City on St.Patrick’s Day”.
“When will the Public Broadcaster start acknowledging the huge number of young people who daily participate in positive activity, community work, sports, youth groups, voluntary work. When will it start portraying positive images of the reality of young people in Ireland. When will start giving young people positive role models. RTE would be better off asking why there are no representatives of young people on the Festival Committee. Given the fact that the Festival takes place in the City of Dublin RTE might ask why there is not one single Dublin elected Representative on the Festival Committee. But of course, as always, RTE knows best.”
“I spent St. Patrick’s Day morning with a group of nearly two hundred young people within yards of the RTE studios. Among the activities of that group last year was the raising of funds to travel to Peru and to pay for and engage in the reconstruction of a home for Single Mothers. Was RTE there to cover that? Will RTE be there to cover the many other examples of young people as they live positive lives in this City and throughout the Country? The answer by their record is sadly crystal clear.
