My Media - Fiona McCann, Features Writer, Irish Times
17 August 09
Newspapers
I read a smattering of daily newspapers, I read the Irish Times everyday and I will also check out what's in various other Irish newspapers. I am in the fortunate position that in work we get all of the tabloids so I can have a quick flick through and check the headlines but I tend not to bother buying them myself.
I am a particular fan of the weekend newspapers. I read the Guardian on Saturday and Sunday. I obviously buy the Irish Times on Saturday (but I don't want to be saying that too much cause it sounds like I'm plugging it). I'd also buy the Sunday Tribune, the Observer, and sometimes I get the Sunday Business Post, so I am a bit of a weekend newspaper person.
There are a few columnists that I would always look out for. I am a big fan of Sarah Carey of the Irish Times, who I think writes equally well on social and political issues. I always read Una Mullally's column in the Sunday Tribune and I suppose along with everyone else I read Charlie Brooker in the Guardian. Even though I don't watch much television I always turn to Patrick Freyne's television reviews in the Sunday Tribune because they are laugh out loud funny and some of the best writing you'll get in the newspapers these days.
I am a features and arts journalist so I read an a lot of arts, features, and lifestyle coverage. There are a few people who do really interesting interviews including Lynn Barber who writes for the Guardian. She is a great writter, she always turns out a great interview and has a really interesting interview style and technique. I also like Hilary Fannin who writes for the Irish Times. She is someone who can always write really eloquently and brilliantly about pretty much anything. In general terms I also like Cathy Sheridan who writes for the Irish Times and Anna Carey who writes for the Independent is also someone I really admire.
Magazines
In general the only magazine that I subscribe to is the New Yorker. I love the Sunday Times Style magazine particularly for Ms. Manners at the end, she is hilarious. I always read the Guardian magazine, I like Tim Dowling's column in it. The Observer magazine is also excellent.
I tend to avoid purely fashion and gossip magazines. If I am in the airport and want to indulge myself a little bit I will pick up a copy of The Gloss, its got beautiful high end photographs and wonderful images. I like Wallpaper magazine as well. Occasionally I will pick up something with a little juicy gossip and some good fashion and beauty advice.
Books
I am always in the middle of a book. I read a lot of fiction. I have just finished John Banville's latest book 'The Infinities'. It is a fictional account of a man on his death bed, with his family coming around him and the various activities that insue. It has a few cameo appearances from some of the Greek Gods. It is an interesting, very lyrical, fictional book with a lot of wry humour, which John Banville is really good at.
In general terms I am also a big fan of Jonathan Safran Foer, who is an American fiction writer.
Radio
I tune into Morning Ireland to get an insight into the state of the nation. Depending on the time, if I am any where near the radio, I would tune into Matt Cooper on The Last Word, I particularly like him as an interviewer.
The only thing that I really can't listen to is the Joe Duffy Show, which is not his fault because I do feel it serves a very real purpose, I just can't bear listening to that much whining sometimes.
I love listening to John Murray from The Business on RTE, he is the only person that could make me listen to a business show. In terms of music I really like Donal Dineen but I don't get to listen to him as much as I'd like and I like Jenny Huston on 2FM.
Television
I don't watch a whole lot of television apart from the news and the occasional documentary. A programme that really stood out for me was Charlie McCarthy's documentary on John Banville - 'Being John Banville' - it was just brilliantly done. He also did one on Seamus Heaney that I missed but I am trying to get my hands on a copy. I am a big fan of the box set - I am working my way through Mad Men which I am really enjoying. I also love 6 Feet Under, but I missed it the first time around so I'm working my way through the box set.
Arrested Development is one of my all time favourite shows and it broke my heart that they didn't make any more.
Advertisements
Personally I don't think visual advertising has an effect on me, I tend to absorb an advert if it is funny but would not necessarily be able to tell you what product it is for. I think that the biggest mistake with adverts is when someone tries to patronise you so my least favourite adverts are usually for tampons or diet things, because they just make me so suspicious. I really enjoyed the Carlsberg ones, and the Esat Digifone one way back, 'It's me - the guy from the bar.' I thought it was good fun. I think if ads are localised and Irish that also appeals.
New Media
I am a big fan of new media, I tend to absorb a huge amount of information from the internet. I am on Facebook, Twitter, I blog and I am a total email junkie, so I am definitely a web 2.0 kind of girl. I read a lot of news on the web, I read the NY Times and the Guardian online. I also have bought books on Amazon.
I buy an awful lot of music on itunes. I read a huge amount of blogs on the internet, like Madame Poulet who is an Irish blogger. I read the Huffington Post and I read Damien Mulley because he tends to do a very good sweep of what is going on.
