Blurred Keys

We previously reported that the Irish Labour Court said regional
newspapers’ plains to wind up pension scheme was unjustified, but Independent
News and Media are still determined to have their way…

Independent News and Media (IN&M) is
planning to replace the defined benefit pensions of its regional journalists
with a cheaper defined contribution scheme, according to industry sources.
 
The move comes as the National Union of Journalists called off
a planned strike over regional journalists’ pensions. This happened after the
Regional Newspapers Association of Ireland (RNAI), which represents the owners
of more than 20 regional titles, agreed to fresh talks.
 
However, IN&M has refused to take part in these talks and
is now considering withdrawing from the RNAI. Industry sources said that the
company viewed the stance of the other media owners as over-conciliatory. - Sbpost.ie [MORE]

Village.ie the online presence of Vincent Browne’s Village magazine is set to re-launch later today. Premium subscribers will have access to the “best from Magill magazine 1977-1998”.

This week’s edition of Village promotes the new site on the cover, but at the time of publication of this article (1am) there was no sign of the new site going public.

The new Village.ie, which will be branded ‘Ireland’s Current Affairs Website’, has a focus on paid subscriptions, although it is understood that as well as other content such blogs magazine content will still be free a week after publication as it is now.

A test version of the site seen by Blurred Keys still needs some polishing, however, the design features correspond with the lay out of some of the best newspaper or magazine sites. It’s a marked improvement from Villages’ old online presence.

A page on the test site lists free content as daily news and commentary, blogs on politics and media, an Election 2007 section, and daily news updates. 

Future plains on the same page are listed as podcasts of interviews, transcripts of interviews, and extended blogging facilities.

Pricing according the test site is €59 for 12 months premium access, and print edition subscriptions will also include full website access. PayPal is being used as for payment.

Privacy Bill on shelf, for now, McDowell says it’s not gone away

Yesterday the Minister for Justice, Michael McDowell, accompanied Irish media groups to announce the Irish Press Industry Steering Committee’s proposals for an independent  and Press Ombudsman, this morning he was present in the Seanad to debate the defamation bill.

The council and ombudsman are recognized in the proposed defamation bill, a code of practice.

According to the Irish Times all national newspapers, Irish editions of UK newspapers, local newspapers, a majority of national magazines, and the National Union of Journalists have agreed on the structures.

"The Government is not establishing a press council, the Government is proposing legislation to the houses of the Oireachtas under which a press council would be recognised for certain purposes" said McDowell.

- Seanad debate on defamation bill 2006 (oireachtas.ie)
- Defamation bill goes before Seanad (IT, no sub req)
- McDowell unveils ‘overdue’ defamation bill (Bre/news.ie)
- New press complaints rules unveiled (Indo, free reg req)
- Print media reaches consensus on watchdog (IT, sub req)
- Press council: how it will be composed (IT, sub req) 
- Code of Practice (IT, sub req)

In the last few weeks, the Sunday Business Post contained two
high-quality news features relating to the Irish media - one on the
Mahon Tribunal and the media, and another the possibility for court TV
in Ireland…

Last week the article ‘Mahon Tribunal injunction against paper ‘confused’’
(03 December 2006) reported how a Supreme Court judges said the
tribunal seemed to be trying to implement ‘‘a very high level of
generality’’ in regards to confidentiality, and their actions were
‘‘confused’’.

The second article ‘Jury still out on court TV’
(November 19, 2006) reports “Ireland has no law relating to court
television, radio, photographs or sketches. It is a matter for each
judge to decide whether such activities should be allowed”. Right well,
for now, Blurred Keys is keeping on judges’ good sides by keeping away
from the record button. Both were written by journalist Kieron Wood.