Remaining two places on Future of Media Commission should be given to working journalists – Cannon

The final two places on the Future of Media Commission should be given to current working journalists, a Fine Gael TD has said.

Galway East TD, Ciaran Cannon said, “The establishment of the Future of Media Commission is a really welcome move by Government. The Commission will examine the global challenges for Irish media including dealing with changing audience preferences.

“While I welcome that the membership of the Commission contains people with a vast array of experience, including media, it must also include those currently at the coalface. There are two remaining places to be filled on the Commission and I believe it is vital they are filled with working journalists.

“If the Commission on the Future of Media is intent on developing a survival plan for Ireland’s print media, membership of the Commission has to include a print journalist.

“There is a wealth of knowledge and real-world experience to be found in our local print media and we really need to tap into that. These are the people who inspire us to put our hands in our pockets in newsagents around the country and buy their output, week in, week out.

“I am urging Minister Catherine Martin to seriously consider appointing people with real world experience of what it takes to publish a newspaper, creating content that people want to read and securing advertising to make it all sustainable. These are the voices that need to be heard if the work of the Commission is to be truly effective.”