Introduction
According to Section eighteen of the 1960 Broadcasting Authority Act, it is the agency’s responsibility to ensure that when information and movies are publicized that correspond to a public uproar or are the focus of consistent public discussion, the films and information are provided impartially and independently, without any affirmation of the authority’s viewpoints. Moreover, nothing in this clause precludes authorities from broadcasting political party announcements. This clause was passed in 1960, thereby putting an end to media and cinema control. The censorship limited the films that were being broadcast according to the government orders. The government was headed by the then-current president, de Valera.
History of Journalism Before Censorship
Ireland received its independence in 1922 from the colonization of Great Britain. In 1923, William Thomas Cosgrave, who was Irish, became the first president of Ireland (O’Brien, 2017). During the same year, censorship of films in Ireland was introduced. The Irish Catholic church was very influential during that time and had been very sensitive in maintaining public morality (Magan, 2020). The roman catholic dogma prohibited homosexuality, abortion, blasphemous and pornographic contents. Films were censored in Ireland due to World War 2 sensitivity which was between the years 1939 and 1945, and had affected Ireland and the countries with great power. A film that was produced in 1942 called Casablanca was banned. It was prohibited because it became sexually sensitive to the roman catholic dogma (Magan, 2020).
In Ireland, the major radio station that broadcasted using short waves and was a means of broadcasting was the Radio Eéreann. RN was used in broadcast in Ireland during the World War 2 period. Its broadcasts were restricted during the war because it increased national tensions (Magan, 2020). The radio had become a means of communication of the opposing party, and it aided in the spread of the war because they used the radio waves.
Unlicensed agencies in Ireland started forming radio stations in Ireland which caused radio waves to increase. The increase in radio broadcasting interfered with national military communications during the war. This was another factor that caused radio broadcasting to be censored because it threatened the security of the citizens. Censorship of politically sensitive information in Ireland was made during the political instability era. This was because people were influenced by the contents of the broadcasting platforms and would lead to rapid and increased social insecurity (Magan, 2020). People are also known to mimic behaviors, and the government restricted the broadcasting platforms because the people were influenced greatly by the effects of the war and the political instability. The films and information aired would increase the tensions in the country.
Benefits of End of Censorship
In 1960, it marked the end of film censorship in Ireland by the government. On January 13th, 1960, the broadcasting authority bill formed an authority to the television service. The broadcasting authority is responsible for the licensing of radio and televisions in Ireland. They approved that the films had been approved and there would be a normal display of media after the country had been dominated by the roman catholic dogma. On January 17th, the bill was approved in the senate (Magan, 2020). Furthermore, during a dinner party to celebrate the ending of censorship, the then-President de Valera stated that television may be used for immeasurable good but could also bring irreversible damage.
The authority was formed with the purpose of providing national broadcasts without holding back any essential information from the citizens. It also promoted and extended national telegraphy, and this was seen when there was a rise in the number of broadcasting stations and radio stations in the 60s and the 70s (Cox, 2021). the authority was also responsible for the licensing of the national radios and televisions. Licencing helped the authority to ensure that the information that was broadcasted was credible and that no part was taken when broadcasting the news that influenced the national perspectives.
After the authorization of the broadcasting centers, there was good delivery of the messages to the people through the media because they were given full information after the world war had ended. The cost of broadcasting became cheaper because the government had included the authority in the licensing and funding of the broadcasting stations. Information was no longer limited to time because the news was broadcast without censoring any information (Cox, 2021). There was fast and adequate delivery of news to the people and citizens of Ireland.
The information that concerned the national peace was able to be delivered to the people to date with ease. Entertainment is also provided to the people of Ireland without criticism by the roman catholic church that was so focused on the moral conduct of the people. The media is used now as a major platform to get the attention of the citizens to matters that concern national safety or national politics. After the end of censorship, people are able to find freedom because they can find access to all the information that they need without any exclusion and are free to obtain any data that they need in the 70s (Cox, 2021). There is fast delivery of news because people can obtain information from a variety of sources and have the decision to choose the information that they believe.
People get educated through the information that is broadcast. There are many educational resources for children and people who are studying that can be obtained on broadcasting platforms. With unlimited access to the internet and televisions, people cannot jump to conclusions and perceive other ideas of reality because the information that they obtain is reliable and true. Religion is not misused by religious places because the authority cannot be limited to any of the agencies. Religious people are given equal platforms with those who are atheists, and people are given an equal level of transparency because of the rapidly evolving technology (Magan, 2020). The broadcasting stations cannot conflict the human rights because everyone has a right to freedom, and they get all the information needed.
With adequate and free information delivery to the people, there is reduced tension in cases of political instability or in national insecurity. This is because people can know where the threat is more imminent and can flee to safety. The political outcomes are more conducive and fairer because the people can know the progress of the political events and the outcomes without being there physically. The government is also less prone to having rivalries in matters concerning media and broadcast because the people get all the information without any restrictions. They find the freedom to obtain any information that they need.
Conclusion
Section 18 of the broadcasting act 1960 has benefited Ireland and has seen peaceful and elaborate national and political leadership. It has contributed majorly to the peace and freedom in Ireland. People are now able to access information and films without any restrictions. People have enjoyed the freedom of the media and the information obtained. The authority has bettered and empowered the power of broadcast media.
Reference List
Cox, V., 2021. Independence memories: A people’s portrait of the early days of the Irish nation. Dublin: Hachette Ireland.
Magan, M., 2020. Thirty-two words for field: Lost words of the Irish landscape, Dublin: Gill Books.
O’Brien, M., 2017. The Fourth Estate: Journalism in Twentieth-Century Ireland. Manchester: Manchester University Press