Madam, - I read David Teather's recent article on the inherent bias in US journalism with great interest (The Irish Times, August 24th).
While its focus was on Fox News, similar articles could be written about the media in many different countries, including Ireland. A similar right-wing bias is evident in the dominant newspaper group in Ireland, as also in the large volume of Murdoch-backed titles on sale in the Republic. Even The Irish Times sees fit to print the right wing diatribes of Mark Stein and Kevin Myers.
Those wishing for an alternative viewpoint must turn to alternative media for information. Competition in the media has resulted not in greater choice and diversity of opinion but rather in a continual lowering of standards in the rush for sales and headline-making stunts. Terror and gossip seem to be the standard news diet to the exclusion of all else.
People must increasingly question what they read - and in particular the motivation behind those writing the news stories. It is a sad state of affairs when, instead of reporting events, the media itself becomes the main story. - Yours, etc.,
EAMONN TORSNEY, Osaka Shi, Japan.