Calls Grow for All-Island Journalism toโค Fuelโฃ Informed Debate on Future of Ireland
BELFAST – A leading communications executive is urging Irish โคpublic broadcasters to prioritize shared journalism initiatives,arguing a more informed and nuanced public discourse is critical ahead of potential constitutional change and to capitalize on burgeoning cross-border businessโ ties.Kieran Donnelly, managing director of Morrow Communications, contends that lessons from the Brexit debate underscore the need for โevidence-based discussion, especially as the possibility of a border poll gains momentum.
donnelly believes both RTร and BBC Northern Ireland have a โpublic duty to lead by example, fostering a greater understanding between communities in the Republic and Northernโข Ireland. He emphasizes โคthat any future debate on the island’s constitutional future must extend beyond narrow politicalโค or ideological lines, incorporating the โขperspectives of business leaders and civic society. โคA failure to do so, he warns, risks repeating the pitfalls of the Brexit referendum, where informed debateโ was โnotably โขabsent.
The call for collaborative journalism comes as cross-border business collaboration continues to expand, presenting aโค compelling narrative โคthat deserves greater attention. Donnelly highlights the importanceโ of a “fourth estate” that accurately reflects and informsโค this evolving landscape,ensuring a wider audience understands the โeconomic and societal benefits of increased all-island cooperation.
“Both public broadcasters โon this islandโฆshould lead by example,” Donnelly stated, adding that shared journalism can โคhelp “inform some crucial debates, educate their audiences and close the cultural and civic gap โbetween Ireland’s north and โsouth.”
Kieran Donnelly โขis managing director at morrow Communications, a creative communications consultancy based in Holywood.