Standards in Irish journalism good, says Horgan

The new Press Ombudsman, Prof John Horgan, has said that standards in Irish journalism are "already good", evidenced by the fact that newspaper circulation on this island are stable compared to the other side of the Irish sea.

In his first formal policy statement since his appointment in August, Prof Horgan said his role is not to "put manners" on the tabloid press, stressing that good tabloid journalism was "as vital to our democratic system as good broadsheet journalism".

Referring to recent criticism by Mr Justice Paul Carney of the tabloid newspapers for their coverage of the victim impact statement made by Majella Holohan, mother of Robert Holohan, Prof Horgan said the legal issues raised by the judge were outside the scope of his powers to investigate. But he cautioned against the use of the word tabloid as a "synonym for biased, unprofessional or unethical journalism".

Mr Justice Carney had said any chance of Robert's killer, Wayne O'Donoghue, having a future in Ireland was ruined "by a coalition between the victim and the tabloid press" because the tabloid had stirred up such hatred for O'Donoghue.

Addressing the National Union of Journalists' (NUJ) biennial delegate conference in Tullamore, Co Offaly, Prof Horgan said public opinion was often "volatile and atavistic" on the highly emotive subject of crime and criminals, and newspapers that reflected or reported such views were not necessarily responsible for them. However, newspapers also had opportunities to lead, as well as temptations to follow, public opinion in this and many other areas, he said.

Prof Horgan said any complaints to his office regarding newspapers' coverage of crime would be dealt with solely within the framework of the 10-point code of practice, which covered issues of accuracy, balance and fairness and to which all journalists were expected to adhere.

The Press Council and Press Ombudsman's office is funded by the newspaper industry, but is independent. Prof Horgan's role will be to examine complaints from the public. More difficult cases or those where his rulings are disputed will be referred to the 13-member Press Council, which will have a lay majority. One lay member of the council, Séamus Boland, was in attendance for Prof Horgan's speech.

A meeting of the Press Council takes place next month, at which a decision will be taken as to when it will start taking complaints from the public, but the aim is still for January 1st. It is hoped that the ombudsman's office will secure premises on Westmoreland Street, Dublin, later this week.

Newspapers will be obliged to publish the results of a ruling, but neither the ombudsman nor the council will have the power to discipline journalists or to fine newspapers. Prof Horgan acknowledged that some commentators would see the lack of disciplinary powers as a weakness, but he said the aim of the council and his office was "neither blame nor revenge". "The two simple objectives to which they are dedicated - redress for the public and the defence of the freedom of the press - can readily be achieved without coercion," he said.

Prof Horgan said his role would be to address grievances of the public and would issue decisions only in cases where it was impossible to reach agreement on a resolution between the reader and the newspaper.

He added that his office would not institute inquiries, get involved in proceedings that were before the courts, or examine complaints based on matters of taste. The Press Council would make journalists accountable in a way they were never accountable in the past.

In return, the public would know that newspaper journalists were often doing an "extraordinarily difficult job" and that mistakes are often "more cock-ups than conspiracies".

"In the future, journalists, like members of every other professional group, will no longer be able to count on public acceptance and respect that has not been earned," he said. "They will earn that acceptance and respect insofar as they continue to serve the public interest."