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ICRfm ‘regrets’ press lockout
29.09.11
INISHOWEN Community
Radio has expressed regret for the way it handled a
key meeting last week when members of the local
media were denied entry.
In a statement released to this paper yesterday new
chairman of the board at the popular station, Gerard
Moyne, said the decision to leave journalists
standing outside an EGM on Tuesday, September 20
last, was a mistake.
“Prior to the meeting the board of directors decided
to hold it in private which led to local media being
prevented from entering. The newly elected board now
understands that this decision was incorrect and
media outlets should have been granted entry,” he
said.
“Looking back on it now, members of the media should
have been granted access to the meeting as ICRfm is
a publically funded organisation. Currently, the
station is in a period of great change as the new
board sets about addressing the serious issues that
have come to light in recent months. |
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ICRfm offices in Carndonagh. |
“ICR is a community
station and the wider Inishowen community should be
made fully aware of how the station conducts its
business as the station is there to serve the local
public. It is for this reason that local newspapers
should have been able to report from inside the EGM,”
Moyne continued.
“Over the years ICRfm has built up a tremendously
beneficial relationship with local newspapers which
has helped to raise the profile of the station
amongst the public as well as improving the output
and coverage of local news and events. The new board
is very keen to continue this into the future and
would like to think it could be further developed.
“The new board has been in dialogue with all
stakeholders involved with the station since the EGM
and will continue with this process in the coming
weeks in order to resolve all outstanding challenges
which the station faces. There is a strong will for
the station to overcome its current difficulties
which is extremely heartening to see. The problems
won’t be addressed overnight but I am confident the
station will emerge stronger and better as a result
of this dialogue,” added Mr Moyne.
(Inishowen Independent) |
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