Below is more information on the media agencies visited during our trip.
ICELAND
Visit Iceland
Visit Iceland is a part of Promote Iceland, a public-private partnership established to improve the competitiveness of Icelandic companies in foreign markets and to stimulate economic growth through increased export.
The goals of Promote Iceland are promoting Iceland as a tourism destination, assisting in the promotion of Icelandic culture abroad, and introducing Iceland as an attractive option for foreign direct investment.
Promote Iceland also assists Icelandic companies seeking to grow internationally through competence building programs as well as international events, such as trade fairs, press trips, and trade delegations. This is done in close cooperation with Icelandic embassies and consulates abroad, as well as bilateral chambers of commerce.
Reykjavík Grapevine
The Reykjavík Grapevine is a free alternative magazine in English published 21 times a year. 4 times (monthly) during the off season period of November-February. 17 times (bi-weekly) between March and October. The magazine is distributed all over Iceland to about 1000 locations. Each issue is printed in 25,000 copies, and is usually 48-64 pages long.
The magazine covers everything Iceland-related, with a special focus on news-related events, human interest stories, music, culture and events. The magazine’s main goal is to remain a reliable and trusted source for information and entertainment. Due to our excellent distribution network and dedicated readership, The Reykjavík Grapevine is by far the Icelandic tourist market’s most prevalent publication.
Grapevine.is is an entertainment and information website that caters to Iceland enthusiasts, English-speaking Icelanders and travellers planning a trip to the country. At its core, Grapevine.is is the web-edition of the biggest and most widely read tourist publication in Iceland, The Reykjavík Grapevine, adding to that a wide selection of materials that make full use of the web’s potential.
The site contains articles on all of the main topics of discourse in Iceland at each time: in cultural life, politics or general social affairs. Naturally, a high emphasis is placed on tourism in Iceland and the many options visitors to the country are faced with. The site also features a thorough events listing section where one can find updated information and recommendations for shows, concerts, clubs and events and a grand, continuously updated database of Iceland’s main restaurants, clubs, cafés, shops, museums, tours and tourist attractions. Every back issue of The Reykjavík Grapevine may be read and downloaded from Grapevine.is, and new issues are made available upon their street date.
REPUBLIC OF IRELAND
DUBLIN
Lecture
Dr. Eileen Culloty, post-doctoral researcher, Institute for Future Media and Journalism, Dublin City University (FuJo) Dr. Culloty works on a number of projects relating to digital journalism including the Reuters Digital News Report and the EPA project Climate Change in Irish Media. Her PhD (2014) from DCU examined the production and distribution of Iraq War documentaries. Her research interests concern visual and factual media with a particular emphasis on war and conflict media. Her research has been published in Critical Studies on Terrorism, Studies in Documentary Film, New Uses of Bourdieu in Film and Media Studies (Berghahn 2016) and The Visual Politics of Wars (Cambridge Scholars 2017). In addition to research, she has taught BA and MA courses on communication theory, media theory, film studies, and media expression.
Harmonia Ltd.
Harmonia is Ireland’s largest magazine publisher, printing almost 5 million magazines each year.
MAGAZINES: We publish award-winning lifestyle titles such as Irish Tatler, U Magazine, Woman’s Way, FOOD&WINE Magazine, Irish Tatler Man, Irish Tatler Business, Ireland of the Welcomes, and the Woman’s Way Cookbook.
EVENTS: National events such as the Ultimate Girls Day Out, FOOD&WINE Christmas Show, FOOD&WINE Restaurant of the Year Awards, Irish Tatler Women of the Year Awards and the Woman’s Way / Lidl Mum of the Year Awards are just some of the events Harmonia has managed and grown over the past decade.
Norah Casey’s award winning company Harmonia is home to Ireland’s market leading consumer magazines publishing in both print and digital format. The company occupies a 360ᵒ media space incorporating the virtual and offline world of publishing. Strong brand extensions and innovative spin-offs enhance the portfolio and market reach. The company is now run by Norah’s brother Ciaran Casey since October 2013 and she is the Chairwoman of the business.
Market leading titles include the top three women’s magazines, Irish Tatler, Woman’s Way and U Magazine, which have an unrivaled female reach. These enduring brands have been serving the needs of Irish women for generations and have adapted and evolved to maintain a strong and multi-layered market penetration.
Brand extensions include events, websites, spin-off magazines and campaigns with the clever use of competitions and social media enhancing interactivity and proximity with the target market. Readers events, conferences and an annual showcase solidify the relationship between the brands and the consumer.
Innovative new ventures such as U Fashion (the first magazine online retail brand partnership in Ireland) building on consumer trust and loyalty.
Key strands for growth for 2014 included women in business with the first ever Women of Influence directory published in 2010, followed by a monthly business women “marketplace” in Irish Tatler and an annual conference for women entrepreneurs The Irish Tatler Business Academy.
In 2014 Norah Casey led the first ever branded women in business course From High Achievers to Future Leaders in partnership with the National College of Ireland.
Another first in February 2015 saw the first Spark Within motivational seminar in Dublin based on Norah’s writings in her book Spark!
Harmonia also published a strong portfolio of specialist consumer titles including Irish Tatler Man – the first and only consumer magazine aimed at Irish men. Launched in 2010 Irish Tatler Man has quickly established a foothold in this previously untapped market. Harmonia’s food portfolio includes the flagship title FOOD&WINE Magazine and the home-maker’s recipe bible CookBook. Brand extensions include The Restaurant of the Year Awards and The FOOD&WINE Readers Club.
Harmonia’s events division has grown significantly in recent years handling launches, awards ceremonies, conferences, catwalk shows and exhibitions. Annual shows include The Ultimate Girls Day Out; The Irish Tatler Women of the Year Awards; The Spa Awards; The Woman’s Way Mum of the Year Awards; The U Beauty Awards and many others.
Contract publishing remains a strong growth area for the business having published many leading customer magazines. To stay in touch with the fast-moving world of Harmonia log on to the company’s website www.harmonia.ie.
Cirian Casey, CEO, is Norah Casey’s brother. He has been CEO since November 2013. His specialties are Business Operations, IT and Change Management. He holds degrees from Dublin City University.
Heneghan PR
Established in 1990, Heneghan PR is a leading strategic corporate communications company, which represents some of the leading names in Irish and international business across a wide range of sectors. The agency’s core offerings are corporate public relations, financial public relations, public affairs and crisis communications.
Heneghan PR’s senior consultants have vast experience across the blue-chip corporate sector, public sector and Government. Combined with this experience, is a team of highly talented client managers and executives.
The agency has a broad scope of experience and strong media relations capability built up since our establishment in 1990, working with traditional industry sectors.
Heneghan PR is the Irish Affiliate of Burson-Marsteller, a leading global Public Relations and Communications firm, which provides clients of Heneghan PR with European and global reach – www.burson-marsteller.com
As Managing Director of Heneghan PR, Nigel Heneghan provides strategic communications counsel to a number of leading national and international clients and is widely recognised within business circles, as one of the country’s foremost corporate communications advisers. Responsible for strategy formulation and overall management of the firm, he specialises in corporate and financial public relations, and crisis management. His clients include Independent News & Media, Saint John of God Group; Actavo; NTR plc; Amarenco Solar; and Mutual of America.
Before joining Heneghan PR in 1990 as a founder director, he worked in London and the Middle East. Nigel is a former president of The Public Relations Institute of Ireland. He is former Chairman of the Public Relations Consultants Association.
He is a Government appointed member of Social Innovation Fund Ireland company, and also to the Compliance Committee of the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland.
The Press Photographers Association of Ireland
The Press Photographers Association of Ireland, the PPAI, is a not-for-profit, volunteer lead organization comprising of the best photographers in Ireland, both established as well as up-and-coming talent.
Dedicated to encouragement, promotion & public engagement, as well as rewarding and recognition of the highest quality of excellence in the field, the Association is an inclusive, member focused, public facing organization, advancing the craft and its perception.
Commenting on the portfolio of the ‘Press Photographer of the Year 2017’, Gerry Mooney, the judges said; “The broad range of strong images demonstrates the photographer’s talent across the many disciplines of press photography.”
GALWAY
Galway Bay FM
Galway Bay FM brings you the best in current affairs, music and arts programmes live from Galway City. Founded in 1989.
The Keith Finnegan Show airs every weekday from 9am to 12 midday. For all your current events and information on news and events relevant to Galway plus much more, tune into ‘The Keith Finnegan Show” every weekday morning from 9am to 12 midday. Play your part by sending us your thoughts and comments.
Regular Features:
- Tuesday brings the Employment Services Job Spot and the Garda Slot.
- Wednesdays see the resident Doctor for all your medical queries and Gerry Murphy our motoring correspondent rotate the slot fortnightly.
- Thursdays are Dave Mc Carthy dealing with all your business and finance issues plus our farmer’s slot in association with the Farmers Journal rotating with Ann McKeon talking about all things gardening.
- Monthly features include Des Kenny from Kenny’s Bookshop, Galway Volunteer Association and much more.
Katie Finnegan – Radio Producer, Galway Bay FM
Degree: BA (Psychology and Information Technology), NUI Galway
“I am a producer on a three hour current affairs programme. This involves finding between 15/20 guests every day. It covers a broad range of local and national issues which affect the people of Galway. There is a broad mix of politics, live music and human interest stories, as well as the weekly regular contributors.
My BA gave me several useful skills that I can apply in my current job. To some people, my subject choice seemed like an odd one, Psychology and IT don’t exactly go hand-in-hand. However, much of my current work involves dealing with people and being someone for them to talk to. Almost every day, a sensitive issue will come to me and require sympathetic and discreet attention. Having taken Psychology this definitely prepared me for the issues I encounter on a daily basis. Information Technology was something that I really enjoyed and knew I wanted to take further. I learned how to build websites, create databases, learned about moral issues surrounding the internet, programming and much more. As well as being a producer I also look after the online content for Galway Bay FM. The undergraduate course in IT and subsequent studies in IT at a Masters level has been invaluable.”
Keith & Katie Finnegan – Independent.ie Weekend Magazine– June 2015
Keith Finnegan, 53, is a radio broadcaster and CEO of Galway Bay FM. He’s married to Joan and has two children, Katie, 24, and Aidan, 22. Katie works as the producer of The Keith Finnegan Show which airs weekdays.
“Ever since I could talk, I’ve only ever wanted to work with Keith, as he has always been my hero,” says Katie. Last year, her wish came true when her dad’s producer of 10 years moved on. Having acquired two master’s degrees in journalism and digital media, Katie had also worked part-time at the station for years – providing holiday cover for her dad’s previous producer – so she was a natural successor.
“Katie always has a great eye for a story,” Keith says. “There is a huge trust thing with our listeners phoning in to tell me their stories, and having another Finnegan in the camp encouraging them to come on helps that. Katie is very persuasive.”
Keith adds that Katie is very generous, and will make a coffee cake for him at home if she thinks he’s had a bad day. She’s very structured and organised, and once they’re on air, she’s the boss of the show.
“I’m very lucky to get to spend so much time with my dad,” she says. “What I love about him is that he’s very compassionate and giving with people.”
Katie still lives at home and Aidan is in London, so she and her dad had to agree not to talk about work at home in fairness to Joan. “Mum and Aidan are the fun ones, and Keith and I are the boring ones,” she smiles. “I know what makes Keith tick, and we work well under pressure and never panic. We debate about some stories and try to bring each other around if we disagree on them, but we only fight if I make his tea too strong at 10am!”
The pair say they know how each other thinks, and Keith only has to give Katie a look or flick his wrist in a certain manner when he’s on air, and she’ll know instantly what he wants.
“We’re a two-person team producing three hours of live radio every day, so it’s very challenging and a fantastic experience. I couldn’t be in a better position starting off my career,” she says. “Keith always looks out for me, and he and Mum go for dinner with myself and my boyfriend Ronan once a month, so we’d be friends as much as father and daughter.”
NORTHERN IRELAND
BELFAST
Irish News
The Irish News was founded in 1891 as a direct result of the involvement of Charles Stewart Parnell, one of the great figures in Irish Nationalism, in a celebrated divorce scandal. However the origins of the title lie 36 years earlier.
1855 The Read brothers launched the Belfast Morning News as Ireland’s first penny newspaper. The Morning News first appeared on 2nd July 1855 in a highly competitive market.
1890 Charles Stewart Parnell’s affair with Kitty O’Shea became public knowledge. Parnell led the Irish Nationalist campaigners, but his ensuing divorce scandal split the Nationalist camp into pro and anti Parnell factions.
1891 Whilst the Belfast Morning News remained loyal to Parnell, the Irish News was launched on an anti-Parnell platform on 15th August 1891. The anti-Parnell view prevailed and within a year the Irish News had taken over its failing rival.
The paper saw a dramatic growth in its circulation with historical events:
- Great War (1914 – 1918)
- Easter Rising 1916
- Second World War (1939 – 1945)
- Outbreak of the “Troubles” in 1969
1982 The paper came under total control of the company’s present owners. This saw major investment in equipment and reorganisation of the editorial department.
1991 Re-launch of the Irish News including a new masthead
2000 Moved to new Euro format – 64 pages, full colour
2005 Switched to new Compact format – 96 pages, full colour
Today the Irish News is Northern Ireland’s largest selling morning newspaper.
BBC Northern Ireland
http://www.bbc.com/northernireland
http://www.bbc.com/news/northern_ireland
Dan Stanton is an experienced broadcaster and writer. Having worked at the BBC and ITN as a reporter/producer for almost 20 years. Started off in journalism working as a reporter on newspapers, including the Birmingham Post, Birmingham Post and Mail, the Observer and the Irish News. He has been at the BBC Northern Ireland since 2005.