ABSTRACT
The decade or so from 1972 onwards saw major changes in Irish media, particularly in the Republic. The North was more immune to major structural and ownership changes for some time after the purchase of the Belfast Telegraph by the Thomson Organisation, but even here the decade saw the emergence of new titles and the sharpening of competition. In Dublin, the somewhat oldfashioned and complacent ownership and management systems were being reformed or broken up as a more aggressive and modern form of capitalism took shape. New titles were appearing; the influence of UK media was becoming a subject of debate, particularly in relation to their treatment of the Northern Ireland issue; and the evolution of broadcasting reflected not only the allpervasive influence of the Northern conflict but recurrent controversies about national identity, programme choice and political interference.
