Is the Presidential election the most important thing to you right now? The second, third, fourth or fifth? No. Well to pick up a newspaper or turn on a TV or radio you’d be convinced it was top of everyone’s list. It’s top of the media’s list. That’s because the media is full of people who have the horn for the Red C poll. They love being on an election footing, in election mode.
Imagine for a moment that you are energised by speculation over where Michael D Higgins’ transfers will go. Imagine that you are prepared to discuss this for hours on end and seemingly never get tired of it. Imagine that you are prepared to speculate at length why Gay Mitchell has not gained any traction with the voters. Imagine that you want to talk about the minutiae of language that Sean Gallagher used in answer to a question about Fianna Fáil when they were in power. Imagine that you are willing and able to do these things, all day every day.
If you were this type of person do you think it’s fair that you should be setting the tone for national discourse, do you think it’s fair that you bring everyone into it by leading every bulletin or headlining every newspaper with the latest meltdown from Dana’s granny's brother in law? Do you not think you might have picked up a shred of self awareness at some point on your journey through life and thought “you know what, the report on proposals to prevent banks from repossessing homes is probably the most important thing in the news this week. I better make sure it doesn’t get buried underneath an analysis of David Norris's body language”
These people fetishise opinion polls, Prime Time debates and “policy” analysis. Which would be fine if they didn’t continually assume we all want to play.
At the time the date was set for the last general election, the normally reliable Newstalk guillotined their Saturday afternoon sports show to bring us “analysis” of the political developments by the likes of Irish Independent journalist Fionnan Sheehan. It was hosted by Ger Gilroy, the same lad who normally hosts the sports show in that slot. At one stage Gilroy made an announcement for those who have just joined us that the regular show had been shelved in favour of coverage of the political situation. At this point Sheehan interjected and assured listeners that this was the equivalent of the Champions League Final, the FA Cup Final and All Ireland Final all rolled into one. Oh how they laughed, Sheehan and his buddies. But Gilroy didn’t laugh. Gilroy knew that he and the rest of us were being deprived of something of actual significance; Fulham v Arsenal.
Surrounded by loolahs, Ger could not go there.
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