Broadcasters take to social media as referendum media blackout ends
As the media blackout on referendum reporting ended when polling stations closed their doors, some broadcasters swiftly took to social media to voice their unrestricted opinions on the referendum and on their enforced silence.
Some broadcasters were particularly critical of RTE's ban on employees from publicly expressing their opinions on the referendum.
A moratorium which bans all broadcast media from reporting on the referendum was effective from Thursday at 2pm until Friday at 10pm. The Broadcasting Authority of Ireland bans all reports that may influence voters in the hours immediately before polling day and throughout the hours of voting.
RTE had gone one (or some may say many) steps further, by banning their employees from publicly voicing their opinions on the referendum in the weeks prior to the vote, in an effort to remain impartial.
Finally I can say it! I believe equality of rights for all, gay or straight, is a no brainer. That's why #iVoted YES. pic.twitter.com/VtYhUQSGPg
— Rick O'Shea Is No Longer Here (Links In Bio) (@rickoshea) May 22, 2015
Oliver Callan breached RTE’s gagging order, when the comedian called for a Yes vote in the referendum, in defiance of RTE’s stance, and was cautioned by the public service broadcaster for it.
And a RTE presenter Scott De Buitléir, resigned as the presenter of RTE’s only LGBT radio show over the restrictions on how he could report the equality debate.
The ban was controversial, particularly as it applied to such an emotive issue.
Questions were also raised about the necessity for the 50:50 split in time and space given to both sides of the referendum debate, with people calling for more focus on quality and fairness, not just airtime and column inches.
Other countries use 'fairness & equality' to guide their broadcast regulation not balance as understood by absolute 50:50 allocation of time
— Theresa Reidy 🇺🇦 (@theresareidy) May 18, 2015
Ridiculous understanding of 'balance' doesn't help either side in a referendum. Leads to disjointed broadcasting with stop clocks.
— Theresa Reidy 🇺🇦 (@theresareidy) May 18, 2015
Govt must see these broadcast regulations r crazy Ronan Mullen gets 2 mins to refute something Frances Fitzgerald mentions in long interview
— Theresa Reidy 🇺🇦 (@theresareidy) May 18, 2015
