(See updates at end of post for latest on this saga..)
The nude pictures of Brian Cowen which appeared in the National Gallery over the weekend have been widely covered online. (Yes I know I can hear you groaning.)
From RTE Website
‘Mr Cowen’s Closeup – The painting, though well-hung, was quickly taken down’
Last nights RTE’s Nine O’Clock News reported on the story. Playing back the programme online it has been removed. According to the ‘coming up’ trailer from Eileen Dunne before the break for part 2 of the programme it is flagged as to be included. (About 13 minutes into the playback).
The RTE website report includes a link to the film package but it no longer appears to be available to view.
It seems the Government Press Office is continuing it’s strong arm ‘be nicer to Brian’ tactics with RTE and the film package was removed from the second part of the programme uploaded to RTE.ie (as played back on RTE.ie by me this morning) and RTE’s website as a separate report. This incident of press interference by Cowen’s handlers follows reports of pressure being put by RTE on Nob Nation creators to tone down the portrayal of Brian Cowen.
Update – Via Damien - the clip has been found!
Update 2: It’s becoming Picturegate and it’s not about who painted the picture. Fianna Fáil obviously were not happy with RTE’s website coverage. The captions under the photos were changed.
This is the page earlier today complete with ‘well hung’ caption as quoted above and there was a link to video report which did not work.
Then the caption was changed and link to the video removed.
Now the pictures have been removed altogether.
Update 3 – RTE issue an apology at the end of the Nine O’Clock News tonight.
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Stephen Spillane - Cowen Nude // Mar 24, 2009 at 15:44
[...] I this is probably everywhere, but meh! Suzy was giving out earlier that RTÉ have taken this off their website, but Damien Mulley has up on [...]
Bare Arse Biffo « 200 Words // Mar 24, 2009 at 16:20
[...] the film clip is no longer available on the RTÉ website. Only the written reports [...]
It was on the 9 o’clock news, no?
Yes it was on the news – but not on the copy of the programme uploaded onto the website – or the clip as an individual story on the site as per usual practice.
oh, your post suggests they pulled it off the actual Nine O’Clock news, bit confusing.
I’ve edited it to clarify that the programme as aired has been edited for the website – well at least I hope it reads like that now!
Ok- who’s going to be the first to reval the artist? Now that would be a scoop!
Brian Cowen - The Nakedness RTE were ashamed of : Alexia Golez // Mar 24, 2009 at 19:42
[...] that PictureGate, we see? Suzy is watching the edits to the RTE.ie news article on the paintings. Interesting [...]
I’ve just been told RTE is to “apologise for running the story” on the 9pm News tonight.
Thanks Gerard – I’d planned on tuning in
This is getting ridiculous. I saved the webpage this morning more for offline reference than anything else, and I’m glad I did since they’ve started editing it. I’m not sure which is more depressing, that Fianna Fáil is so thin-skinned, or that news editor are so easily cowed.
By the way, your clock settings are off. I wrote the last comment at 7.59pm, and it’s timestamped an hour later.
“Oh me oh my you’re such a goood looooking womaaan”.
This is just delicious!!
Bring on Nob Nation… or was *that* actually in the picture?
“RTÉ would like to apologise for reporting reality…”
Oh my God. They’ve just apologised for any personal offence caused to Brian Cowen and his family, or any disrespect shown to the Office of the Taoiseach.
Unbelievable.
Maman Poulet » RTE apologise for disrespect to Office of Taoiseach // Mar 24, 2009 at 21:49
[...] Press Officers to stop or deter any negative criticism of Brian Cowen or government. This includes reporting on the hanging of paintings in galleries or on their potential value or how they got to be hung in the galleries in the first [...]
Cowen: Did You Catch My Good Side? - Kevin Coleman.ie // Mar 24, 2009 at 22:09
[...] Maman Poulet is running updates on the Cowen scandal. [...]
Cannot believe that it was on BBC website all day and not on RTE site. Did anyone get the apology on youtube, I’m mortified for RTE…was the artist on camera at the galleries, it’s gotta be an inside job. Can we get copies of this picture anywhere? I love the one where he’s holding his jocks very gingerly. The artist deserves a medal..cheered us all up no end.
Apology is on youtube and included here….
Irish Election » RTE Apologise to Cowen for Nudie Pics Report // Mar 24, 2009 at 23:33
[...] from last night’s Nine O Clock news of Cowen’s nude art this morning see here and here. No one to hang for the crime of comission so the crime of reportage gets punished [...]
Caricatures Ireland » The Taoiseach has no clothes and RTE has no balls: the Brian Cowen Nude Caricature // Mar 25, 2009 at 00:36
[...] You may be familiar by now with the anonymously donated nudes of Brian Cowen in the RHA and National Gallery. Well RTE has been gradually censoring itself over the course of the day. [...]
Culch.ie » Blog Archive » The Taoiseach has no clothes and RTE has no balls: the Brian Cowen Nude Caricature // Mar 25, 2009 at 01:10
[...] RTE has been gradually censoring itself over the course of the day . First the report which should be viewable on the RTE website was withdrawn. Next the captions on [...]
Maman Poulet | Dotblog // Mar 25, 2009 at 01:28
[...] of Government Press Officers to stop any criticism of Brian Cowen or his government. This includes reporting on the hanging of paintings in galleries or on their potential value or how they got to be hung in the galleries in the first place.on 24 [...]
The Naked Taoiseach « 200 Words // Mar 25, 2009 at 01:56
[...] at this point to Maman Poulet, who’s blog tipped me off to the [...]
The Taoiseach has no clothes and RTE has no balls | The Hoff - Seamus Whelehan // Mar 25, 2009 at 02:37
[...] RTE has been gradually censoring itself over the course of the day . First the report which should be viewable on the RTE website was withdrawn. Next the captions on [...]
dropsafe / Irish Govt has sense of humour failure. // Mar 25, 2009 at 14:07
[...] this and then watch [...]
Cowen, the dangers of Picturegate and how like a Hydra, the public responded : Alexia Golez // Mar 25, 2009 at 15:01
[...] Fáil have learned throughout the this whoel debacle, is that nothing is immutable on the web. Suzy traced the backtracking of RTÉ’s editorial voice on it’s website. Damien recorded and published the [...]
Elf in Amsterdam | From my 'Gar-espondant // Mar 25, 2009 at 15:17
[...] on Twitter, everyone in Ireland and outside may have been talking about [...]
cearta.ie » Cowengate and Freedom of Expression // Mar 26, 2009 at 06:51
[...] | Le Figaro | Liam Murray | Little Beloved | Lucy Takes Off | Lucy’s drowning | Maman Poulet here, here, here and here | Media Lens Message Board here and here | New York Times | Niall [...]
The Emporer has no Clothes. RTE are such puppets. Have no TV b/c won’t give that overbudgeted, self- absorbed incestuous (interviewing themselves) lot any of my money.
Thanks for the clip!
cearta.ie » Cowengate: Pictures at an exhibition // Mar 26, 2009 at 20:31
[...] Mail Online | Maman Poulet here, here, here, here, here and here | McGarr Solicitors | Media Lens Message Board here and here | [...]
Saints, censors and satire « Sentence first // Mar 27, 2009 at 11:38
[...] small sample of related blog and media coverage: Eoin O’Dell, Suzy Byrne, Tuppenceworth, Bock, Damien Mulley, Alexia Golez, Twenty Major, Caricatures Ireland, Irish Times, [...]
Lally Links - Friday 27th March 2009 // Mar 27, 2009 at 19:47
[...] here’s that RTÉ news piece about the Brian Cowan paintings. It’s been written about here, here, here, here, and here, to name but a few. I have nothing to add to what’s been said, [...]
More FF nonsense « A Word To The Wise… The Jackanory // Apr 3, 2009 at 15:35
[...] redundant. Damien has been been pretty on the ball. Alexia covered it (here and here) Gavin, Alan, Suzy… basically I’m the one of the last to jump on the [...]
i thought there was freedom of speech in this country, or has Hitler rose from the dead and ordered us all off to the gas chamber….
hopeless. you dont have any respect for anything. you ridicule everything, even your own country. the painter being a hero? i am sorry for anyone who thinks like that. you have lost it completely!