A new RTE radio series will examine how Irish newspapers abroad are trying to keep Irish communities connected.

From Shoreditch in London to Sydney, and New York to Newry, Home News is a new five-part radio series in which journalist and broadcaster Brian O’Connell travels the world speaking to editors and journalists in Irish publications abroad.

As part of the series a special feature on the Irish Voice newspaper will be broadcast on RTE radio one on December 8th.

As part of the radio documentary series, O’Connell speaks with new and past emigrants, Pulitzer prize-winning journalists, men on the run, elderly choirs and Pakistani newsagents, and also looks at how communities of the future might stay in touch with home.

Home news interviewed journalists from various publications abroad including the Irish News in Belfast, Irish Post in London, and the Irish Echo in Sydney.

Program 1 will feature the Irish News in Belfast. As part of the first documentary Ex-UDA member Frankie Gallagher explains how during the Troubles, paramilitaries used newspapers as a means of gathering intelligence.

The documentary also features the views of republicans such as Danny Morrison, who feels the Irish News was anti republican.

It will also feature first-hand accounts from seasoned journalists as to how news reporting has changed in Northern Ireland since the Troubles and how the Irish News is helping families to campaign on social issues.

The first program will be followed by episodes on the Irish Post in London (December 1st), the Irish Voice in New York (December 8th), the Irish Echo in Sydney (December 15th), and World Irish, The Irish Times, the Irish Emigrant and online (December 22nd).

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