Framing propaganda: Print media coverage of Irish public service workers

Equality of access to the public sphere is considered by many as a prerequisite to the operation of a functional democracy. Equally important is the existence of a print media that promotes reports that are honest, accurate and comprehensive, and analysis that is informed, fair and based on the facts. This article summarises a longer piece of research that tests these important assumptions. Using a Framing Analysis approach this research critically examines the representation of public service workers in the Irish Independent. It finds that this representation is symbiotic and reflective of the dominant discourse of government, business and employer elites that seek to shift the burden created by the casino capitalism of the free market on to ordinary workers and the most vulnerable in society. In general this research suggests that the print media coverage of the Irish Independent is reflective of the editorial ethos at the Independent News and Media group which is aimed at maintaining the status quo rather than challenging it. This research suggests that the media representations circulated by the Independent News and Media Group are ideologically driven and that due to its status as the leading media company in Ireland this raises serious issues that strike at the heart of democracy and citizenship of the republic.