8 Out Of 10 Nationalists Prefer It……
I was passing through Andersonstown at the weekend when I came across the proud banner announcing the circulation of the Daily Ireland / Andersonstown News Group publications.
The hoarding it is on is sited just up the road a bit from where an earlier monument stood commemorating 10 men who were literally starved for attention.
As I’ve said before, I lived in West Belfast for about 5 years. I’ve read the Andersonstown News. I know what it’s about.
This billboard doesn’t tell me that the Andersonstown News Group has a thriving circulation. No. What it tells me is that 46,000 Nationalists prefer their publications as a way of being told exactly what they want to hear.
It is little wonder the people of those areas where the publications thrive have such a dim and warped view of the world when they have to rely on one-sided reporting that panders to Republican sympathies.
Now…I wonder how the Shankill Mirror is selling these days?
Playing with political definations Mr Levee. As for 80% of Nationalists prefering their republican based propaganda, theres none I personally know off. Five or six Newspapers with a combined circulation of 46042 is hardly ground breaking. For an established publishing company to poster that abmismal figure is another sign of desperation.
Daily Ireland or as its known to its readership, the daily provo, was launched in a blaze of publicity. Nationalists bought it in the genuine belief it was going to give a choice. That choice was short lived, as one woman I spoke to said, ” its good for nothing only wiping me arse”, but I prefer Andrex. At least it has no crap on it before use.
Andrex is probably a better read. And I should have said Republicans, shouldn’t I?
You’ll notice that I included the Shankill Mirror at the end. My point is that these papers play on and exacerbate the views and prejudices of a community.
In a way, I often wonder about the old “Unionist seige mentality” when I read the Andersonstown News, because some of the writing reeks of a desperate attempt to rally Republican sympathies through fear uncertainty and distrust.
Occassionally I pick the rag up when I’m visiting the mother-in-law, but it’s not long before I throw it down in a fit of cursing. I can only hope that some of those people stumble across more questioning media sources like The Levee Breaks, El Blogador, JoBlog, Everything Ulster, Desolation Row, etc, etc, etc.
The Irish News is biased towards the SDLP, as is the News Letter towards the DUP. How come you don’t get on your high horse about these publications?
…how kind and of course, I agree!
I must say I very rarely buy any paper anymore except the Sunday Times and if I am feeling depressed about my job, the Friday or Tuesday Tele. I really dont see the appeal of these small circulation papers, except of course the comfort factor that there is nothing there to challenge.
Mr L
I didnt notice a little floating caption ovr Joblog to the side there - modesty forbids me to suggest what might be put there!
Modesty equally forbids that I believe the word “ardent” should be replaced in relation to one of the other links.
Hello Levee,
Forgive me - my Gaelic isn’t what it shold be - what does the headline on the right-most paper in your pic mean?
BU
Jo: I wonder what you could be talking about….
I didn’t realize I’d forgotten a description of your blog - name it and it shall be updated!
BU: I stopped taking Irish classes in my third year at school (or scoil) - here’s a web translation - [l?] and [latha] nm. pl. l?ithean, day
PS: Thanks for stopping by and commenting. I must say, the Andersonstown News most offends me because I remember living in Lenadoon a few years ago and reading some severely biased stuff about trouble on the Black’s Road interface. Never seemed to report things from those resident’s point of view.
My personal opinion is that the Andersonstown News publications forego any sort of balance or objectivity in the interests of pressing someone’s political agenda. Hence the direct comparison with the Shankill Mirror.
You did well to find the severely biased articles and often sectarian views amidst all that advertising!
I’d say each business in Catholic West Belfast must take out a weekly spot. Then theres the pages of classifieds, mostly selling dodgy playstation games and sim cards!
Oh dear, now I’m on the spot, lol.
I’ll leave it to your own discretion how to label me!
John BU: Mr Levee’s understanding of La is correct. La = Day. The unofficial anglised La is also known as, Chucky, as in Tiocfaidh ar la, pronunced (Chucky Are La) meaning Our Day Will Come.
I get the impression John was referring to the headline rather than the banner title, that headline being:
“D?antar Cuntas” - possibly an attack on the DUP?
Personally I read the Irish Times during the week and the Sunday Business Post or the Irish Sunday Times at the weekend. Quality newspapers are hard to find in Ireland, sadly.
My parents buy the Irish News but I find it disturbingly NI parochial (for example, its Gaelic Games coverage reeks of a DUP siege mentality against those “nasty” southerners). It should rename itself the “Northern Irish News” only I imagine that would severely slash its readership.
I’ve never read the Daily Ireland so I can’t comment.