Irish Examiner view: Council relationships with media

A code of practice is needed to prevent local authorities from exerting undue interference in the editorial decisions of local newspapers and radio stations, an anti-corruption group has said.

The call from Transparency International Ireland for a statutory guidance for city and county councils in dealing with media outlets may have raised eyebrows this week, but their argument is a persuasive one.

The freedom of media outlets to report without fear or favour at any level is essential to the safe operation of a democracy, and it could be said that that freedom is as important at local level as it is when it comes to national events.