RTÉ News

Mmmm. Not sure that I agree with that Phen, sorry. I have yet to watch a bulletin where Sharon hasn't fluffed lines or mispronounced something. Agree totally with Teilifis on that point about her questioning technique...or, er, lack of it. Reading pre-scripted, bland questions in the way that she tends to...less than impressive. Lacks authority and dynamism. Likes to play on her looks at times too - cheeky grin to camera etc etc. (But, you've just gotta agree with Podge and Rodge on that one!!).

It'd be rather nice if the likes of Sean Duignan or Eamonn Lawlor were to return. But I'm sure there's got to be some fresh talent at RTE just itching to get on screen. There have been one or two new faces appearing on News 2 but sadly, still a little staid. At least they're not just resorting to rolling out the barbie dolls like TV 3 (well...we do have Anne Doyle I suppose).

Hey!

Leave Anne alone! For all her faults, for some reason I have a liking for her, as do most people I think for whatever reason...
God she's flippin useless at cues, and all those wary eye flicks to off camera, and scripted questions etc etc - but she's still in a league of her own

I wonder if at this stage the notion of a dedicated newsreader like Anne is dead and buried? The problem in RTÉ is that they don't have the same size pool to choose from as the BBC or others do to get decent newsreader-journalists.

So here you either get excellent newsreaders who are useless at the journalistic end of things, or young journo-types who are useless at newsreading!
Notably the likes of Vivienne Traynor who often do News 2
Not the best choices to be making....


The problem with changing the newsreader line-ups for the flagship bulletins is that there's too many old stogers still around to be given 'their turn' as it were.
Notably Ken Hammond and Eileen Dunne - how could management go over their heads and give the flagships to a younger crowd when/if Doyle or Dobson decide to move on?
As much as I'd like to see Murnane get the Nine one day, Dunne is in the running to grab it should Doyle move on, with Hammond there to take over during the summer and Christmas etc.
What a disaster that would be - was watching her only tonight and really, she'd send you to sleep.
Just

so

slow

and

predictable

in

everything

she

says....

I'm sure Ken in particular is none too pleased in having worked for the station since time began and still has no bulletin to himself - not even a regular Nine or Six One during the summer.
He's still justed chucked in for bank holidays and musty old Sunday evenings.

And this is part of his newsreading problem I think - he often rattles off the autocue etc as if just wants to get the bulletin over with as quickly as possible, and often shows no interest in the stories featured or the 'interviews' he conducts.

I'd say if he had a regular bulletin he'd be that bit more dedicated to forming a certain style and rapport with a loyal audience.
Don't think he'd ever fit in with the pace required for Six One, but the reflective Nine may be more suited.
If only he'd polish up those interview techniques - he'd be the next Charles Mitchell.

Just as an aside, TV3 'News' is getting a new look in September along with the introduction of widesreeen, and the revamping of the station as a whole.
Interesting to see how RTÉ reacts to this, if at all.

If RTÉ are going for an overhaul, it'd be well underway by now - probably since May as the current look was according to TV Room.
Anyone get wind of anything?

well i say with tv three, hopefully, it brightens up, and possibly have a news desk in the ireland am studio!!

hope it puts rte to shame!!!

It does already.

I hope both RTE and TV Three keep the same news themes, they sound really good.

Really? I think RTE's news theme could, at the very least, be tweaked so it doesn't sound so ear-piercingly screechy!

TV3 have had the same news theme since the previous look (their second), so perhaps they will keep it again this time. RTÉ on the other hand have never kept a news theme for more than one look. For me the 1990 theme is the one I most remember (que dramatic ending to title sequence and appearance of "RTE NEWS" in serif font)). I know people here seem to like the purple (directly previous to present) look, but I could never stand the music that went with it. Always seemed too serious and downbeat.

I hadn't heard TV3 News was being revamped - I know the station is however getting a new look (and it had better be better than the current one, which after two wierd looks is just uninspired). Oh and one thing. TV3 have had since their beginning one of the cleverest pieces of presentation on TV - their start up sequence "Three Is The Magic Number" (yes, the same Schoolhouse Rock piece used by BBC Three, but TV3 have a far clever use for it). Please don't drop it!

Yes, it's a great piece alright!

I see you've been tweaking Wikipedia rdd

Ignorant question time:

Is Vivienne Traynor any relation to the lovely Donna from Newsline?

Just after the Nine O'Clock News tonight we experienced what must have been the shortest ever weather forecast from RTE. Jean Byrne just about had enough time to say hello and was cut off. We immediately went to the closing weather summary chart and closing sponsorship sting. No apology whatsoever...just straight on with the film.

actually it was about 9:50 or so, they seemed to of put the weather bullitain on, wierd to be honest