Tag Archives: RTE

Beyond denial and grief and towards solidarity on climate

Posted on April 4, 2021 by John Gibbons

This piece ran in the Business Post in late March as my take on the revised – and considerably improved – Climate Bill. Since it was written, it has become clear that the absolute maximum ambition the agri sector is … Continue reading →

Posted in Global Warming, Irish Focus, Media | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

From Climate Week to ‘climate weak’, RTÉ coverage falters

Posted on February 22, 2021 by John Gibbons

Here we go again, slagging off the national broadcaster. What about the independent broadcasters, why not go after them? Well, in short, we expect more, much more, from RTÉ as our public service broadcaster, heavily subsidised by the licence fee … Continue reading →

Posted in Irish Focus, Media | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

Stirring up tensions between farmers and environmentalists

Posted on November 1, 2020 by John Gibbons

This piece appears  in the current edition of Village magazine. As a rule, I steer clear of articles focusing on individuals, preferring when possible to stick to the issues rather than personalities. Given the central role of RTÉ presenter Damien … Continue reading →

Posted in Agriculture, Global Warming, Irish Focus, Sceptics | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

RTÉ finally spins spotlight onto concerted climate action

Posted on November 18, 2019 by John Gibbons

Over the last decade and more, I’ve been in an uncomfortable position regarding RTÉ. On the one hand, I’ve long been a stout defender of public service broadcasting as a vital bulwark against total domination of our media landscape by … Continue reading →

Posted in Global Warming, Irish Focus, Media, Sceptics | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

RTE bog broadcast sinks into mire of low standards

Posted on May 30, 2018 by John Gibbons

Below, a piece I ran in a well-known satirical magazine in May 2018. It was subsequently picked up by the Sunday Times, who also gave the show a bit of a scalding under a piece headed: ‘RTE turfed into trouble over … Continue reading →

Posted in Global Warming, Habitat/Species, Irish Focus, Sustainability | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

A crisis in media and climate communication

Posted on November 3, 2016 by John Gibbons

Overlaying the climate crunch, there is a parallel full-blown crisis, in Ireland and elsewhere in the Anglophone world in climate change communications. This will not be news to regular visitors to this blog, but happily, there is now a lot … Continue reading →

Posted in Global Warming, Irish Focus, Media, Sustainability | Tagged , , , | 4 Comments

What next for the apes who went to space?

Posted on November 21, 2014 by John Gibbons

I have no idea where I was on the night of July 20-21, 1969, being far too young to grasp the historic events that were unfolding, as Apollo 11 became the first spacecraft to land humans on a world other … Continue reading →

Posted in Global Warming, Irish Focus, Media, Sustainability | Tagged , , , , , | 6 Comments

A Prime lesson in how not to cover climate change

Posted on March 26, 2014 by John Gibbons

On Tuesday of last week, PrimeTime did something extremely unusual – at least for RTÉ. It had a programme on climate change. Well, ok, that’s not strictly true; the one-hour show actually carried three items, so climate change was wedged … Continue reading →

Posted in Economics, Global Warming, Irish Focus, Media, Sceptics | Tagged , , , | 20 Comments

Myths and mischief-making in renewable energy reporting

Posted on August 31, 2012 by John Gibbons

I couldn’t have claimed to be Ireland’s greatest fan of wind energy. Not because I don’t think it’s a good idea – it is – but rather, my concern is whether it will ever be deployed on a scale sufficient … Continue reading →

Posted in Energy, Global Warming, Irish Focus, Sceptics, Sustainability | Tagged , , , , , | 7 Comments

Media throws in the towel on coverage of climate change

Posted on January 24, 2012 by John Gibbons

Below, my article, as it appeared in last Thursday’s Irish Times (and fair play to the IT for running a piece that is openly critical of its own editorial policy in this area; that’s the true mark of a serious … Continue reading →

Posted in Global Warming, Irish Focus, Media, Sustainability | Tagged , , , | 9 Comments

A sceptic on the couch

Posted on December 6, 2009 by John Gibbons

I’ve had my say on KennyGate, as have a good many other people (to my new cadre of hate-mailers, sorry for not posting all your anonymous spleen. Life’s a bitch, eh? Give my regards to Elvis). Meanwhile, a regular correspondent, … Continue reading →

Posted in Global Warming, Irish Focus, Media, Sceptics, Sustainability | Tagged , , , , | 6 Comments

John The Apostle Walks The Plank

Posted on December 2, 2009 by John Gibbons

Hell, it seems, hath no fury like a broadcaster scorned. After my recent adventures with RTE’s Pat Kenny, it was only a matter of time before the veteran broadcaster would try to even the score for what he no doubt … Continue reading →

Posted in Global Warming, Irish Focus, Media, Sceptics | Tagged , , , , , , | 46 Comments

Keeping our heads above (rising) water

Posted on November 26, 2009 by John Gibbons

In these dark November days, as parts of Ireland lie submerged after a virtually stormless deluge, it’s natural to want to look for some positive news. Images of tens of thousands of people using the public sector strike on Tuesday … Continue reading →

Posted in Global Warming, Irish Focus, Sustainability | Tagged , , , , | 13 Comments

Nothing new under the sun?

Posted on November 19, 2009 by John Gibbons

Around seven years ago, I read a history of the planet in the 20th century, entitled ‘Something New Under The Sun‘, by Georgetown University professor, JR McNeill. The book examined the biosphere, slice by slice, and concluded that, whatever else, … Continue reading →

Posted in Global Warming, Irish Focus, Media, Sceptics | Tagged , , , | 36 Comments

Now we’re getting somewhere

Posted on October 28, 2009 by John Gibbons

Earlier today, at a very well attended press conference in Leinster House, the all-party Oireachtas Committee on Climate Change and Energy released their report, ‘The case for a climate change law’. Committee rapporteur, Liz McManus likened the position we now … Continue reading →

Posted in Global Warming, Irish Focus, Media, Sustainability | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 29 Comments