Blurred Keys

Writer and director Graham Linehan, who has just one an International Emmy for Best Comedy for 'the IT Croud', has outlined a number of factual errors in an Irish Times profile of him which was printed on Saturday.

On his blog, Linehan says now the article is available from irishtimes.com, other journalists will presumably use it in their research:

And after listing a number of points which are incorrect in the profile, he adds:

Finally, the main reason I am writing this and the most annoying
part of the whole thing. A purported quote from a friend which states ”
I do know he was a bit disappointed with a documentary RTÉ made of him
last year.”

This is nonsense and worse, hurtful to the people behind ‘Funny
Business’. I was absolutely delighted with Adrian McCarthy’s
documentary. It’s an exhaustive and (to me, at least) moving portrait
of a very important year in my life, and it is as accurate and
well-researched as one would hope from a serious profile.

Adrian, I hope you read this–I loved that program and if there’s a link
to an online version of it, let me know so I can post it up.

Village Magazine has returned to newsagents shelves last week with Michael Smith, a former backer, as the new editor.

The new Village is described as "left-wing, investigative," and in this regard it is offering a €10,000 reward for "comprehensive, verifiable information about the
funding of the Libertas campaign on the Lisbon Treaty" sent exclusively to them before December 31.

Early this month, the Sunday Independent quoted former editor Vincent Browne saying: "Michael Smith made loans of €70,000 to [the former publisher of the magizine, Village Communications Ltd]. In return for
writing off those loans, the title Village has been leased to him."

The new publication will not take on the debts of the old, most of which are said to have been paid. In a statement to the Sunday Independent, Browne added: "I am by far the major creditor of Village. Arrangements had been come
to with the other creditors and almost all of these have been paid."

Browne will also write a regular column for the relaunched magizine.

In an editorial published online, Smith notes the "current
economic straits" and how the magizine will need to prove viable quickly.

"Village was never profitable. It is the intention of all concerned that
that will change. This will be a formidable challenge in the current
economic straits," writes Smith. "…Village Magazine will be published twice before the end of January. If it proves viable it will continue monthly from March".

A round-up of news, comment and other information from news sites, blogs and message boards etc…

November
Moriarty tribunal bid to gag press
O’Brien has face-to-face meeting with O’Reilly (SBP, Nov 30)
Our survey says . . . well, nothing, really
(SBP, Nov 30)
How to court the media
(SBP, Nov 30)
INM's London-based titles relocating to save costs
What lies behind Indy's move into the arms of the Mail group
Judge's comments on media criticised by legal expert
Supreme court judge criticises media
Script supplied by Mr Justice Adrian Hardiman
Judge's criticism of court reporting
Justice Media Awards
Kerry & Clare scoop Justice Media Awards
Negative coverage causes 'serious damage' to Limerick rep
Department denies it excluded Irish media from briefing
Government media monitoring compared to MI5 operation
My way to save Indy - kill off print edition
INM set to sell off its interests in Australia
Brady urged to ban priest's 'anti-EU' paper from church
RTE Lisbon coverage criticised
Radio stations to pool news services
Don't let Rupert Murdoch decide Ireland's future
How Irish Times lost the Lisbon plot
Eurosceptic element in Irish media - MP
RTE Lisbon coverage criticised
Digital radio issues that must be faced

TD says RTE Budget coverage 'unbalanced'
Today FM / Newstalk merger moves to the next level
Newspaper seeks voluntary redundancies (reg reqd)
TVC boosts stake in UTV Media with €2.7m deal
15 axed from newspapers 'due to downturn'
Paper to shed 60 jobs as credit crunch bites into ad revenue
'Irish Times' to seek up to 60 voluntary redundancies
TV3 lays off 15 and cuts news coverage as ad revenue slumps
Programmes hit as RTE cuts €50m from budget
IN&M to shed 90 jobs at two London-based newspapers
Indy's price rise not a 'bright decision'
Now Murdoch gets the blame for Ireland's rejection of Lisbon
Indy's fate in the balance as O'Reilly sorts out financial crisis
Indy 'is not up for sale'
O'Brien objects to INM's Australian sale
Media still planning to party at Christmas
Why I have to take a stand against RTE's blackballing

October
Bashing blogs
RTE.ie said Christmas is canceled
O'Brien still stalking O'Reilly's company
Irish language paper to close
Minister to get veto on media mergers
PR firms weak on internet 'tracking'
TV3 plans GAA streaming
RTE rules out redundancies
NUJ recommends Irish agreement
Press Council rules against 'Sunday Independent' appeal
RTE, Evening Herald pull stories about property developer
RTE.ie removes/deletes story about property developer
RTE damages own argument against the Sound and Vision fund
Mr Bird goes to Washington
Belfast Telegraph journalist wins Slugger award
Coverage of North fostering 'spoilt' attitude in politicians
Spreading licence fee around 'to hit RTÉ's public role'

September
Ethical trends and issues in Irish journalism, 1973 to 2008
Not such a perfect storm
NUJ welcomes new freelance rights in Ireland
Staff vote for strike action at Drogheda newspaper group
'We know dirt sells,' says owner of photo agency
Time marches on
Privacy issue tops media complaints list, study shows
Why it may be time to consider handing in my Irish passport
Richard to front Irish Dragon's Den
Extra stories from September are here.

So, if you've missed the media-related coverage of the great Lisbon issue in the last few weeks, here's a bit of a round up…

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