Blurred Keys

Dublin newspaper companies given red light for distribution at road junctions

The Irish Times reported yesterday that the Irish Health and Safety Authority and gardai have told Dublin newspaper publishers to stop distributing at road junctions in the city.

Freesheets Metro and Herald AM as well as the Evening Herald are affected.

Last June the Evening Herald featured a story which announced that people moving between stopped traffic could be a hazard.

That story was referring to window screen washers, but it now seams the HSA think newspaper sellers and distributes are also in danger, while the police are also concerned at any possible affect on traffic movement. 

MORE: Junctions 'unsafe' for newspaper distribution

Are roadside newspaper sellers a hazard?

Whether it’s Evening Herald on-the-road newspaper seller (as pictured above) or distributors of freesheets Herald AM, and Metro, newspaper distributors are a common sight on Dublin roads, on traffic islands, or between cars, trucks, and buses.

Apparently the Evening Herald yesterday featured alarming news that people on roads and moving even between stopped traffic could be a hazard. The story focused on people selling the service of windscreen washing, but don’t newspaper sellers and distributors cause at least similar hazards?

Random photos of media in Dublin

Our digital camera has been filling up with images in the last few months, many of them sights relating to the media in Dublin - so why not share them…

We didn’t go out intending to compile the images into a post, so the reason there’s not a TV3 crew but there is a picture of an RTE News presenter and camera man is because the random opportunity of snapping the latter just happened.

Of course there’s obvious shots we don’t have like the many newspaper sellers on O’Connell Street, sellers of the Evening Herald at on busy roads, fresh stacks of freesheets just thrown on the luggage holders of double-deckers, the Today FM offices Blurred Keys has past countless time and so on. Maybe next time?...

Please post comments, suggestions, abuse, and even complements below (you don’t even have to enter a name or email address)…

The former offices of Independent News & Media on Abbey St.

Photo post: Herald AM & Metro

Above is the common sight of the ‘distributors’ standing side by side handing out Dublin’s two morning freesheets at Heuston Station in Dublin.

The person in the red is distributing Herald AM (Independent News & Media), while the person in blue handing out Metro (Metro International, Associated Newspapers Limited, and the Irish Times).

Metro ‘Duckgate’ resolved; no more quacks

'Red Mum' has informed us, and her readers, that she has been in contact with Metro Ireland and that the issue over the unauthorised use of her photo (pictured above) is now resolved.

The blogger and flickr photographer explained that she was “in contact with Metro yesterday and sent them a link to the orginal flickr pic” adding that “I just received an email back saying payment would shortly be on it's way”

Although some bloggers were almost dismayed over the lifting of the image, one tabloid hack who has done time at a Dublin redtop told Blurred Keys that “it happens all the time”.

Metro Ireland’s rubber ducks

Blogs go ducky as Metro apprently uses photos without permission

A well known Irish blogger and Flickr up-loader, 'RedMum’, has said one of her photographs of rubber ducks was published - without permission or credit - on the front page of last Thursday's Metro in Dublin.

Usually spotted in bath tubs, the rubber ducks were in the Liffey for the Today FM Children's Lifeline Duck Race 2006.

When Blurred Keys phoned Metro, the picture desk told us that if the case was as outlined the photographer should contact and invoice them.

The Dublin edition of Metro is backed by Metro International, Associated Newspapers Limited, and the Irish Times. The morning freesheet newspaper is distributed on streets and at Dart and Luas stations. Their offices are with Associated Newspapers Ireland in Ballsbridge.