BBC Radio 5 presenter Nicky Campbell did not exactly lead from the moral frontline of journalism this morning when he asked Mitchel McLaughlin whether in the days of the IRA’s offensive campaign Gerry Adams might have been shot as an informer whefor suggesting that people with evidence should give information on the killing of Robert McCartney to the PSNI. Unedifying for journalism certainly. But it may also reflect the party’s dramatic loss of control of the news agenda over the last few months.Over on RTE, Arthur Morgan took a blistering round of questions (sound file) over his role in previous IRA operations from Vincent Browne last night, contrasting Alex Maskey’s late January threat to leave an earlier edition of the programme to go and iron his shirts instead!
Mick is founding editor of Slugger. He has written papers on the impacts of the Internet on politics and the wider media and is a regular guest and speaking events across Ireland, the UK and Europe. Twitter: @MickFealty