The Irish border dilemma shows that we in the media ignore issues at our peril

The Irish border is everywhere.

From the rabble of Twitter to the very top of the prime minister’s to-do list, the 310-mile stretch that slices through the emerald isle is arguably the main Brexit sticking point, and subsequently, it is the biggest political issue in this country. But its rise to the top of the news agenda has been a long time coming.

Throughout the entire referendum campaign in 2016, the Irish border barely featured. Despite immigration and borders being key issues for voters, inexplicably, no one paused to think about the wide open land border the UK shares with the EU. More people were up in arms about Calais than they were about Donegal or Dundalk.

Now, media organisations are quickly playing catch-up, attempting to understand the complexities of a part of this country which is ignored by the British public, and too often, by the British media.

Having been born in Northern Ireland, on the border itself, I understand the political and physical landscape there more than most, and have channelled that knowledge into the first-class journalism produced by all staff here at The Independent.

We have a responsibility in the media not just to chase the breaking news stories of the day, but to keep our ears to the ground on the stories which could quickly develop into something bigger, and transform the world as we know it.

The UK media was found wanting when the DUP suddenly emerged as kingmakers in the 2017 election, and from the post-Brexit arrangements to the growing likelihood of reunification, the island of Ireland will continue to produce stories which will have a direct impact on the UK.

It is reminiscent of the never-ending stream of New York journalists, furiously scribbling think pieces and voyaging out to find the “real people” of Trump’s America – only after they had rocked the system. By that point it was too late.

We all need to wake up very quickly to the big story that is the Irish border, for we will ignore it at our peril.

Yours,

Ben Kelly

Deputy Social Media Editor