If you’ve got questions about the March 8th referendums on Family and Care you’re not the only one.
Here at Beat, we want to break down the ballot box and help you in the lead-up to making your decision.
This week on Beat, our news team looked at both sides of the two separate votes, what they mean to people in Ireland, and the impacts of those votes when everyone has had their say.
Presenter Orla Rapple hosted the special as part of Beat's flagship weekend breakfast show; The Sunday Grill and it aired on Sunday, March 3rd.
Each member of the newsroom team was allocated a topic to investigate that looked at different aspects of voting in Ireland.
From registering to vote to celebrity trends, this Beat News special covered a wide range of areas surrounding the importance of voting, how to vote, and where to find your factual information.
Your Vote Matters - A Beat News Referendum Special
Paraic Fearon began the documentary by outlining what the Irish Constitution is and explaining to listeners what voters are being asked to amend on March 8th. Paraic spoke to Kilkenny Historian Davy Holden about how Bunreacht na hÉireann was established.
Dayna Kearney reported from the South East and got the views from members of the public about what they think of the upcoming referendums. She heard a wide range of opinions and views from the people in Waterford. The mixed opinions made for an interesting insight into how people have been thinking in the final days as the voting draws closer.
This may be the first time people who turned 18 during will be going to the polls to make their vote. Lily Kennedy who joined the Beat news team in recent months, is in her first year in college. She explained how to register to vote by taking us step-by-step through the process. She spoke to college students about their thoughts on voting now that they are of age. She says being part of the documentary encouraged her to register to vote for the first time.
Michelle Heffernan from Bring The Beat shed a light on how people can look to celebrities for inspiration on how to vote. In particular, the impact Taylor Swift had when close to 170,000 people registered to vote in the two days after Taylor posted about voting in 2018.
When it comes to finding factual information, Joleen Murphy spoke to Media Literacy Ireland about the importance of being media aware for large campaigns. The Electoral Commission distributed over 2 million booklets to peoples homes in the lead up to the vote to ensure accurate information was on hand for voters. Eileen Culloty from MLI outlined the importance of tackling misinformation and disinformation.
Rachael Dunphy produced the package looking at the first vote, being labelled The Family Amendment. To cover both sides, she spoke with Waterford Social Democrat Councillor Mary Roche, who is advocating for a yes/yes vote, while Wexford’s Jim Codd, an Aontú Councillor is advocating for a no/no vote.
Rachael said she is proud to have been part of challenging but rewarding production: "Broadcasting a piece like this is important for our demographic as it lays out clear, objective points for the referendum. In a time where misinformation and disinformation is so prevalent, it gave facts and figures without bias. Working on this piece was as much challenging as it was rewarding. Ensuring both sides received equal air-time while making sure they each got their point across, was difficult, however the final result was a work I was proud of."
Jayde Maher worked on the Care Amendment. She spoke to Stan Phillips, a long-standing member of the Men's Development Network in Waterford. He is hoping for a Yes/Yes vote in the referendum. She also spoke with Catherine Monaghan, a stay-at-home mother who is hoping for a No/No vote.
Orla Rapple says she was delighted to be involved in the project. "This was compelling documentary that informed Sunday Grill listeners on the main aspects of the upcoming referendums as swell as giving details on what a referendum is. It really worked for our 15 - 34 year old demographic some of whom may have never voted before."
Beat News and Sports Editor Aoife Kearns said it was a tremendous effort from all involved. "This was the first major department production put in place since I began my role as Editor earlier this year. At Beat, I'm proud to say that we have a team of established journalists; full-time, part-time, and freelance of all ages and levels of experience.
"The collective effort from each member of the newsroom has contributed to the production of Your Vote Matters. Voting is a hot topic right now and this may be the first time that someone is registering to vote since they turned 18. It is vital to our demographic that we broadcast a well-rounded piece that highlights what it means to change the constitution and the importance of knowing that your vote really does count."
To listen back to the Beat News special, check out our website at beat102103.com/podcasts.
