Independent Newspapers: A History

Brief Description: "For over a century, Independent Newspapers has been the most successful media organization in Ireland. From William Martin Murphy to Tony O'Reilly, the newspaper group has long been at the centre of public life, often in controversial circumstances. In this revealing volume, fourteen leading scholars examine the interaction between proprietors and the newspapers, the company's journalists and journalism, and the relationship between the newspapers and Irish society." --Publisher description. Table of Contents: List of illustrations -- Notes on contributors -- Preface -- 1. Parnellite politics and the origins of Independent Newspapers / Patrick Maume -- 2. The life and career of William Martin Murphy / Padraig Yeates -- 3. No longer a political side show: T. R. Harrington and the 'new' Irish Independent, 1905-31 / Felix M. Larkin -- 4. Nationalist in the broadest sense: the Irish Independent and the Irish revolution / Ian Kenneally -- 5. Tom Grehan: advertising pioneer and newspaperman / Colum Kenny -- 6. 'Irish Ireland' and the Irish Independent, 1905-22 / Aoife Whelan -- 7. 'The best interests of the nation': Frank Geary, the Irish Independent and the Spanish civil War / Mark O'Brien -- 8. 'May we safely refer to the Land League?': Independent Newspapers and Emergency censorship, 1939-45 / Donal o Drisceoil -- 9. The politics of despair: Independent Newspapers and post-war Irish society / Gary Murphy -- 10. A tale of 'womanly intuition': Hector Legge at the Sunday Independent, 1940-70 / Kevin Rafter -- 11. The changing of the guard at Middle Abbey Street, 1961-73 / John Horgan -- 12. 'The sense of history': working at Independent House / Ida Milne -- 13. Heavy lifter or great news-hound? The editorship of Vincent Doyle, 1981-2005 / Joe Breen -- 14. Independent Newspapers and Irish society, 1973-98 / Mark O'Brien -- 15. Global players: Tony O'Reilly and Independent News & Media / Gavin Ellis -- 16. Profits, politics and personal position: the role of the proprietor / Kevin Rafter -- Index. Publisher Marketing: For over a century, Independent Newspapers has been the most successful media organisation in Ireland. In this revealing volume, 14 leading scholars examine the interaction between proprieters and the newspapers, the company's journalists and journalism, and the relationship between the newspapers and Irish society.

Contributor Bio:  Rafter, Kevin Kevin Rafter is Assistant Editor of the Sunday Tribune newspaper. He has held senior editorial positions at RTE, the Irish Times and the Sunday Times as well as lecturing in Irish politics in Dublin. His publications include biographies of Martin Mansergh and Neil Blaney as well as a history of Clann na Poblachta.