Ireland in the Newsreels

Before the advent of television in the 1950s, the newsreels were the only visual news medium available to all sections of the Irish public. They are important records of what audiences were shown about twentieth-century historical events, figures and politics. Constantly seeking to avoid censorship and controversy, the newsreels sought to perpetuate social norms and satisfy public taste. This is the story of how the newsreels depicted the Irish as violent, insular and backward, as well as enterprising, plucky and an asset to Britain, depending on the political climate. It also recounts how governments, north and south, manipulated newsreel producers in order to pursue a particular agenda. The issues covered in this book also contextualize the birth and development of onscreen news, engaging with the problematic nature of media production and its relationship with audiences. This exploration has particular relevance in relation to the storms of controversy still associated with media power, political institutions and the release of information to the general public.