Yes side "quoted 36% more" than No side in media
A new media-monitoring survey claims that those campaigning for a Yes vote in the upcoming referendum receive more media coverage than No campaigners.
According to a Newsaccess Media analysis of 1,400 of these articles published in the Irish media between May 4th and May 20th, the Yes side was quoted 36 per cent more than the No side.
"Press articles were shown to quote significantly more Yes side politicians and commentators than No side politicians and commentators," according to the [Dublin-based media firm](http://newsaccess.ie/).
"This does not mean that the article content was one-sided, but that only Yes commentators were actually quoted."
The survey also claims that Fine Gael was the most talked-about political party in the time period examined, referred to in 649 articles.
It also claimed that Fianna Fáil and Sinn Fein received "almost identical" media coverage in the two-week time period.
"Fianna Fáil was the second most talked about party at 363 article mentions followed very closely behind by Sinn Fein with 362 mentions," said Newsaccess.
"Labour received the fourth largest coverage with 314 mentions."
The company said that, in advertising terms, the value of the column inches dedicated to the fiscal referendum between May 4th and May 20th was €5,278,788.
Newsaccess listed the eight most discussed referendum-related themes in the two-week period in question.
1) Increased Austerity (432 articles)
2) Future Funding (290 articles)
3) Loss of Jobs (179 articles)
4) Foreign Investment (143 articles)
5) Timing of the referendum (81 articles)
6) Cost of borrowing (55 articles)
7) Loss of Sovereignty (42 articles)
8) Emigration (16 articles)
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