Media monopolies a threat to press freedom

A European project looking at media pluralism has found that ownership of newspapers and broadcasting outlets is becoming concentrated in fewer hands, says Roderick Flynn

THE extent to which media constitute a pluralistic public sphere has been an issue in Ireland for some decades. Concern has focused on the concentration of media ownership but this is just one dimension of media pluralism and diversity.

The publication of a European Commission-sponsored research project represents the beginning of an attempt build up a more comprehensive picture of media pluralism in Ireland and across Europe.