Broadcasters take to social media as referendum media blackout ends

As the media blackout on referendum reporting ended at 10pm tonight when the 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.

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.

Explicit language warning

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.

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.

more courts articles

Man appears in court charged with false imprisonment of woman in van Man appears in court charged with false imprisonment of woman in van
Man in court over alleged false imprisonment of woman Man in court over alleged false imprisonment of woman
Coronation Street actor William Roache (91) given three months to settle tax debt Coronation Street actor William Roache (91) given three months to settle tax debt

More in this section

Government examining payments to carers after referendum defeat Government examining payments to carers after referendum defeat
Drug death in Cork Prison could be linked to nitazene opiate Drug death in Cork Prison could be linked to nitazene opiate
Four people hospitalised following suspected arson at West Dublin home  Four people hospitalised following suspected arson at West Dublin home 
War_map
Cookie Policy Privacy Policy Brand Safety FAQ Help Contact Us Terms and Conditions

© Examiner Echo Group Limited