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RHI scheme highlights troubled DUP-media relationship

Arlene Foster and the DUP have always had a troublesome relationship with the media
Arlene Foster and the DUP have always had a troublesome relationship with the media Arlene Foster and the DUP have always had a troublesome relationship with the media

ARLENE Foster and the DUP’s relationship with the media has once again come under the spotlight as the Renewable Heat Incentive steams ahead.

Yesterday, the first minister spoke to two news outlets, Sky News and the Belfast Telegraph, but there have been a number of attacks on other sections of the media.

Following Mrs Foster’s speech to the assembly on December 19, her colleague and communities minister Paul Givan attacked the BBC for "presenting allegations as fact" in the RHI story.

"Clearly, there has been a pursuit of Arlene Foster as an individual," he claimed.

"The entirety of the case has been personalised. It has been made in the absence of fact on the broader issues about how submissions were never brought, the issue was never highlighted and there were failures on the part of civil servants to identify the issues."

Two weeks later, an aide in Arlene Foster’s constituency office used the hashtag "boycott" in a tweet aimed at News Letter's coverage of the RHI scandal, which he referred to as “bias tripe”.

Sinn Féin has also attacked the media this week, with the party's chairman Declan Kearney denouncing what he termed “juvenile journalists” as he struggled to explain his party’s position on an inquiry into the RHI scandal.

A previous DUP leader and first minister, Peter Robinson refused to be interviewed by the Irish News due what he saw as unfavourable coverage relating to expenses incurred during a 12-day trip to north and south America with deputy first minister Martin McGuinness.

The DUP leader faced questions after returning from the trip about whether it was a good use of taxpayers’ money and told a UTV television reporter that people should "Stop reading The Irish News".

Arlene Foster's interview about RNI with John Manley:

Mick Fealty, founder of political commentary website Slugger O’Toole said that there has always been a "cultural problem" within the DUP in how they handle the press.

"When all of this calms down the DUP need to sit down and have a serious look at their backroom team, and ask whether she’s getting the best advice," he said.

"Because acting like you are a small country and the press are the invading enemy is not the best thing to do in the long run."

Mr Fealty also said that, unlike Peter Robinson, Ms Foster had a problem with details and this resulted in her being defensive regarding the story.

"There’s a general evasion in the way she is handing this particular issue," he said.

"She is not being prepared or capable of gripping the story of saying this is what went wrong I’m sorry for what went wrong."