Opinion: Sports media face a difficult balance between supporting their international team and asking difficult questions when necessary
In the build-up to the 2023 FIFA World Cup, an interesting debate has surfaced about the role and duty of the media in its coverage of the Irish international team. Earlier this month, as Ireland prepares for a historic first-ever Women's World Cup appearance, an article was published by The Athletic that made allegations against Irish manager Vera Pauw, all of which she has strenuously denied.
The Dutch coach was named in a report by America’s professional football league last December which alleged that Pauw's coaching methods were "abusive and inappropriate" towards some of her players while working with the Houston Dash in 2018.
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From RTÉ Radio 1's Today with Claire Byrne, Iowa-based attorney Thomas Newkirk representing Vera Pauw rejects allegations made regarding past behaviour
When the story initially broke, the Football Association of Ireland firmly defended Pauw, who is also taking legal action to clear her name. "The allegations are false," the manager said again last week, claiming there was an intentional campaign to ruin her reputation. "There is a person that is targeted to destroy my career...How can you defend yourself against a lie? I'm afraid it will follow me during my life and that has been the agenda."
The story's publication last week - with very little new information - had some questioning its reapparance after six months. Asked if it had been an interruption to preparations for the World Cup, Ireland captain Katie McCabe said the timing was "not great".
All of this has placed members of the Irish media in a difficult position and raises important questions about the role of the media in setting the news agenda, the stories that should be covered and the prominence they receive. Many of the questions at the pre-match press conference at the friendly against France were about The Athletic's story and some Ireland fans have criticised the media for raising these questions. Instead some fans believe the media should "get behind the team" and write stories about the achievements of the players ahead of the World Cup.
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From RTÉ News in December 2022, 'insult to my personal values': Irish manager Vera Pauw refutes US allegations
Historically, female Irish athletes and soccer players have been given little attention by the media for their achievements. It is only in recent years that improved media coverage of women athletes has grown across television, print, radio and online.
And yet, the media falls into dangerous territory when it chooses to ignore stories that are difficult to grapple with. A core role of the media in any free democratic society is to draw attention to injustice, hold powerful people accountable for their actions, and ask difficult questions when they are necessary and justified. Not simply bury its head in the sand.
Sports journalists have always grappled with the difficulty of reporting on international sporting events involving their own nation. One of the most famous rules in sports journalism is that there should be no cheering in the press box, even if it is an Irish journalist reporting on an Irish team, for example.
READ: Why media coverage has been crucial for the Irish soccer team's rise
The easy option for any journalist is to drape themselves in the green flag and join the feelgood atmosphere that is generated by an international competition like a World Cup, or a Six Nations, or an Olympic Games. To blindly get behind the team. To be fans.
But it is a fundamental duty for good reporters to ask difficult questions when required, even if it means producing stories that are negative and difficult to read. The only way to stamp out abuses is to firstly draw attention to them, which is what good journalism aims to do.
For example, in hindsight, many Irish journalists have looked back and questioned their own coverage of Michelle Smith's performances at the 1996 Olympic Games. Likewise, many ponder why more questions weren't asked sooner about the FAI during the John Delaney era.
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From RTÉ 2fm's Game On in Sep 2019, analysis of the resignation of John Delaney from the FAI from RTÉ Soccer Correspondent Tony O'Donoghue, RTÉ Soccer pundit Richie Sadlier, Dundalk's Pat Hoban and Ireland's Louise Quinn
The difficulty of the current situation facing Irish media is that many fans will view it as wrong and unjust that the news agenda is focussing on a negative storyline at a time when the Women's National Team are preparing to make history and inspire the country at a World Cup. Many feel this is a golden opportunity to give Irish women’s soccer its moment in the spotlight. Pauw and the members of her squad have battled against inequality and sexism to qualify for a World Cup, despite a host of barriers in their way.
At a time when the public wants to read stories about inspirational role models, elite level athletes, and high quality World Cup soccer, it is unfortunate that much of the news agenda is focussed on allegations which the Irish manager has labelled false, lies and an attempt to "destroy her career."
But choosing to ignore the story also seems irresponsible. All of this places the media in an immensely difficult position. On the one hand, they don't simply want to be cheerleaders and "fans with laptops" (an accusation labelled at sports journalists for decades), but to do their due diligence and ask the tough questions. Yet, at the same time, they do not want to be partaking in what Pauw has deemed attempted character assassination against her. All the while, this is taking the spotlight away from the achievements of the Irish players qualifying for the World Cup.
It all calls into question the very fundamental roles and duties of the media. The need to ask difficult questions when necessary and required, in order to call out injustice. But also the need to validate which stories deserve coverage and prominence in the news agenda.
The views expressed here are those of the author and do not represent or reflect the views of RTÉ
