Random but recent examples of RTÉ bias
RTÉ News misleads viewers on abortion poll results
On December 1, RTÉ’s TV News at 6.00 and 9.00pm headlined with a totally slanted take on an opinion poll on abortion. There were two main questions in the poll, one that showed support for abortion and the other which showed the public supported moving the law in a pro-life direction. The real story was that the poll results were contradictory, highlighting the extent of public confusion on the issue. RTÉ, however, only featured the poll showing support for abortion and withheld the pro-life leaning result from viewers. Another classic but inexcusable example of RTÉ bias.
Late Late Show panel totally biased against the pro-life positionOn December 21st, the Late Late Show featured an End of Year Review item with 4 specially invited panellists. The researchers for the programme obviously decided well in advance that abortion would be one of the topics discussed. However they made zero effort to ensure balance and ended up with a panel that was 4-0 against the pro-life side. Instead of offering viewers a balanced discussion, the panel comments ranged from strident pro-abortion advocacy to ill-informed comments about Ireland's abortion laws. It is the second time in less than a year that the Late Late Show featured an entirely one-sided panel advocating an abortion regime in Ireland.
RTÉ's Scannal programme ridicules and caricatures pro-life advocates Flagged as a history of the abortion issue in Ireland, this Scannal programme was in fact a thinly veiled attack on the pro-life viewpoint from the pro-abortion standpoint. The fact that the very same programme has been screened 3 times (most recently on 10th December) shows the extent to which an unquestioned pro-choice culture in RTÉ has overridden any sense of its statutory obligation to be even handed. No elements of the pro-choice view were subjected to tough questions while the pro-life side was caricatured and ridiculed repeatedly throughout the programme.
Marian Finucane Show gives free rein to attacks on pro-life view
In recent months, the Marian Finucane Show has repeatedly fielded panels heavily weighted in favour of the pro-choice view, often with nobody at all representing the pro-life viewpoint. Outlandish pro-choice claims are not even questioned by the presenter. Two programmes stand out as especially blatant bias in favour of abortion - 25th of November and 30th December 2012. Where is the culture of governance? Where is the ethos of impartiality in RTÉ as far as its statutory obligation under the broadcasting legislation is concerned? Why are the taxpayers who fund RTÉ subjected to such bias day in day out?
RTÉ current affairs programmes drown out the pro-life message
RTÉ has a legal obligation to fairly represent both sides when discussing sensitive issues like abortion. In recent weeks, on one current affairs programme after another, whether it be ‘The Gathering’ slot on Today with Pat Kenny, The Late Debate, or Saturday with Clare Byrne, pro-life speakers have been outnumbered 3 to 1 on average so the pro-life voices are drowned out and shouted down. Apart from it being an incredibly rude and unfair way to treat the invited pro-life spokespeople, the public is being repeatedly denied the opportunity to hear an honest and fair presentation of both sides of the debate.
Drivetime – one biased report after another
There are so many instances of bias on RTÉ's Drivetime that one wouldn’t know where to begin – all you have to do is switch it on and whenever abortion is in the news you’ll soon hear it – one pro-choice person after another interviewed reverentially and never challenged with a hard question, while the rare pro-life person that appears is hauled over the coals – it would be comical if the issue wasn't so serious.
RTÉ bias is every bit as evident in the stories they choose not to report.
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