Blurring the media lines

Recent debate has highlighted issues of editorial independence, ownership and media diversity in the digital age. But there are no easy answers, writes Kevin Rafter.

In a digital world, preparing new media ownership guidelines, such as the government is proposing under new legislation, will be a tricky task.

Presenting the news of the day “without colouring and prejudice” was a promise made in the Irish Independent’s first edition on January 2, 1905. This objective – however difficult to achieve – remained as the share roster of what is now Independent News & Media has shifted over the last century from William Martin Murphy to Tony O’Reilly and, more recently, to Denis O’Brien.

O’Brien’s €500 million investment in acquiring his 29.9 per ...