TE
Could not agree more re that latter point - as long as the cheque is in the post, that's all that matters. A very acute point is made in that link about 'the education girl' - Emma O'Kelly is without doubt RTÉ's finest domestic reporter. She holds a standard that ought to be aspired to by all reporters.
A lot of focus on this site is (rightly) turned towards the studio and presenting end of things, but the biggest problem RTÉ has, and the area that is most difficult to change, is reporting - the real meat of any news bulletin. Their production values are simply not acceptable in 2006.
You'd have to laugh at Charlie Bird's webchat during the week, where he stated that Joe O'Brien was one of his closest work colleagues: partners in crime more like. The fact that Charlie Bird of all people is Chief News Correspondent for Ireland's national broadcaster says it all really. It is so embarrassing. Similarly having Fergal Bowers on Health is equally shameful - a classic example of how RTÉ News operates, hiring someone purely because of their background in a certain field, in spite of having no experience whatever of television production. What is the point of Bowers having the expertise that he does if he is utterly incapable of assembling a coherent report to impart it?! Likewise with countless other reporters. Theresa Mannion is another one that ought to be struck off the books - good God she's appalling, She's gone through at least three sets of speakers on my television - it won't be long before her camera operators seek another state inquiry into deafness claims.
It really is the quality of reporting and editing that is letting the station down - many people rightly claim that TV3 News is so much easier to watch, regardless of the fluff they broadcast. As the average public they naturally can't put their fingers on it, but of course it is the production values and the dedication of all the (generally younger) people working at that station that make it far superior in almost every respect. I mean, even now for crying out loud The Week in Politics is on and the set isn’t even fitted together properly, with a panel bent outwards beyond its frame
In September there simply must be:
A clearing out of all (rotten) old wood.
The introduction of new dedicated, enthusiastic newscasters and presenters.
A complete overhaul of presentation, preferably by an outside firm.
An investment made in improved and enlarged facilities.
Better training given to all staff, including the director/editor elite.
And last but not least a live, ‘to-the-nation’ final broadcast by MacGrianna involving a public firing and followed by his catapulting from the Montrose Mast deep into the Wicklow Mountains.
As for digital, RTÉ make use of Sky's faclities like EPG etc. It should be possible for them to move away from Sky when the contract ends in 2008?, but until then the DTT trials at least are 'definitely'
starting this summer, so we shall wait with baited breath...
A lot of focus on this site is (rightly) turned towards the studio and presenting end of things, but the biggest problem RTÉ has, and the area that is most difficult to change, is reporting - the real meat of any news bulletin. Their production values are simply not acceptable in 2006.
You'd have to laugh at Charlie Bird's webchat during the week, where he stated that Joe O'Brien was one of his closest work colleagues: partners in crime more like. The fact that Charlie Bird of all people is Chief News Correspondent for Ireland's national broadcaster says it all really. It is so embarrassing. Similarly having Fergal Bowers on Health is equally shameful - a classic example of how RTÉ News operates, hiring someone purely because of their background in a certain field, in spite of having no experience whatever of television production. What is the point of Bowers having the expertise that he does if he is utterly incapable of assembling a coherent report to impart it?! Likewise with countless other reporters. Theresa Mannion is another one that ought to be struck off the books - good God she's appalling, She's gone through at least three sets of speakers on my television - it won't be long before her camera operators seek another state inquiry into deafness claims.
It really is the quality of reporting and editing that is letting the station down - many people rightly claim that TV3 News is so much easier to watch, regardless of the fluff they broadcast. As the average public they naturally can't put their fingers on it, but of course it is the production values and the dedication of all the (generally younger) people working at that station that make it far superior in almost every respect. I mean, even now for crying out loud The Week in Politics is on and the set isn’t even fitted together properly, with a panel bent outwards beyond its frame
In September there simply must be:
A clearing out of all (rotten) old wood.
The introduction of new dedicated, enthusiastic newscasters and presenters.
A complete overhaul of presentation, preferably by an outside firm.
An investment made in improved and enlarged facilities.
Better training given to all staff, including the director/editor elite.
And last but not least a live, ‘to-the-nation’ final broadcast by MacGrianna involving a public firing and followed by his catapulting from the Montrose Mast deep into the Wicklow Mountains.
As for digital, RTÉ make use of Sky's faclities like EPG etc. It should be possible for them to move away from Sky when the contract ends in 2008?, but until then the DTT trials at least are 'definitely'
starting this summer, so we shall wait with baited breath...
