Cassells calls for supports for provincial newspapers

Fianna Fáil Senator Shane Cassells has called on the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media to offer the same supports and funding schemes to provincial newspapers as is being offered to independent commercial radio.

Senator Cassells’ call comes after the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland announced its latest €2.5m commercial radio funding round under the Sound & Vision Scheme.

It also comes at a time where journalists have been laid off from a number of provincial papers across the country in the last week.

“The preferential treatment of radio over local print media by the Minister needs to be equalised,” remarked Senator Cassells, a former journalist who is the party's media spokesperson in the Seanad.

“We need the same support for our local papers or quite frankly they’ll be gone and with them the coverage of local news and sport in towns right across Ireland.”

Commenting on the need for support for local papers Senator Cassells pointed out that 91 per cent of advertising revenue for provincial papers comes from local businesses in their areas and the impact on their revenue streams during lockdown has been devastating.

“There are 46 paid for local newspapers in this country. There was a call for funding from the provincial newspaper representation group - Local Ireland - in December and I made that further call for this in the Seanad last week.

“The reality is that if supports for the local print media sector are not brought in, that all those local court sittings and council meetings could go uncovered in the future, and where would that leave the transparent functioning of our democracy?

“Support from the Minister needs to be provided urgently in order to address this or we will be extending condolences in a few months on their demise.”

Today, the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland said it is now accepting applications for funding under a special round of the Sound & Vision Scheme. The purpose of this special round is to provide support to the independent commercial radio sector to produce programming which will strengthen public awareness and understanding of COVID-19.

The COVID-19 Funding Initiative is being implemented in response to a request by the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, Catherine Martin, TD, who secured an additional €2.5 million for the BAI’s Sound & Vision Scheme to support this round.

From today, independent commercial radio stations can apply for amounts ranging from €40,000 up to €100,000 to assist them in communicating to their listeners on COVID-19. Funding is available to cover costs directly related to the achievement of enhanced public awareness and understanding of the COVID-19 health emergency, including costs that support the achievement of these outcomes. The maximum level of funding to be awarded will have regard to the type of service provided. The closing date for applications is Tuesday 23rd February. Funding awards will be announced as soon as practicable.

BAI chief executive, Michael O’Keeffe said: “The BAI is pleased to support the request of Minister Martin to make funding available specifically for the independent commercial radio sector. We implemented a similar initiative last year, which provided the sector with much needed funding and resulted in the production and broadcast of a wide range of programme content which provided valuable information to Irish audiences at local, regional and national levels through the pandemic in 2020.

“COVID-19 continues to have a significant impact on the independent commercial radio sector and this additional funding for 2021 further recognises the role that the sector plays in supporting public awareness and understanding of this health crisis and its value as a trusted information source for listeners during the pandemic”