Madam, – RTÉ Radio occasionally enters into contractual relationships with publishers to publish books that accompany and enhance public service radio output. The Judging Devproject is an example of such a contractual relationship (Letters pages, April 25th, 27th and 28th). In common with many such projects, RTÉ may also enter into commercial arrangements that allow RTÉ to recoup a portion of its investment in a project.
These relationships do not impinge in any way on the editorial independence of RTÉ programmes. If part of the contract with a publisher includes commitments by RTÉ to promote a book on air, this promotion takes place outside of the editorial processes of programme-making and appears in the form of radio advertisements. RTÉ does not give any commitments or guarantees in respect of coverage within programmes. I hope this clarifies matters. – Yours, etc,
Madam, – I found Denis Fahey's contribution to An Irishman's Diary (April 28th) most interesting in so far that it covered an unfortunate sequence of events in Clonmel in the 18th century. Curiously, on the same day a letter appeared from Diarmaid Ferriter about the ongoing storm in a tea-cup concerning the marketing of Judging Dev.
There can be no doubt that publishers engage in marketing and promotion. However there must be a question-mark over the topics publishing houses select for publication.
I have noticed a curious paucity in the number of publications in areas such as 18th-century Irish history, with the exception of perhaps 1798, which if you’ll forgive the pun – has been done to death. The same is the case regarding the revolutionary period, 1916-1922. Publishers seem to select a few discreet topics and a few discreet personalities – which amount to safe bets, and then exclude large tracts of history and important personalities. Whereas there is no shortage of biographies on Eamon de Valera, Michael Collins etc, where are the biographies on William Molyneux, Charles Lucas, or Henry Grattan?
There have been some biographies in the past, many of which are out of print, and indeed some excellent academic works, but little in recent times. Perhaps the reading and indeed the viewing public could do with a change once in a while. – Yours, etc,