Getting the facts straight

Sir, – Have you had an irony by-pass? The reference in Corrections and Clarifications (December 11th) to Breda O’Brien’s article…

Sir, – Have you had an irony by-pass? The reference in Corrections and Clarifications (December 11th) to Breda O’Brien’s article last Saturday should surely have alluded to the headline “Line between journalists’ opinions and reporting increasingly blurred” .

I agree with Ms O’Brien that we need to be clear in distinguishing between news and opinion, but we might also remember the importance of verifiable facts, even in opinion pieces.

Incidentally, I had hoped that we had long moved beyond the keeping of lists and the demonising of individuals, regardless of their profession or employment status, their religious or political beliefs or indeed their non-belief. – Yours, etc,

SÉAMUS DOOLEY,

Irish Secretary,

National Union of Journalists,

Spencer Row,

Dublin 1.