RTÉ News

Yes relaunches have always been discussed well in advance on TVF and to be honest I can't see why you're complaining. Thats just the way it is.

Nice to see Úna back again. I'd tend to agree about her not returning to 6.01. Sharon has settled in and viewers have become used to her so there's no real point in shuffling around with the rota. Even though you mightn't like her, you have to admit she works well with Bryan Dobson.

There's an interesting report on Sky News today about ITV in which they show a very good shot of a remote camera like the one used in Studio 3. I was quite surprised to see just how quickly it can move and how high it can extend. RTÉ should make more use of it in the new set (assuming they don't install a rail-cam).

Yup – they can elevate very substantially, including Studio 3’s robot. One need on;y look at the incredibly high wides that we get on occasion to realise that it extends to six feet, if not more.

Just to clarify, a remote camera in news production generally refers to a fixed pedestal with a remote controlled head (given all cameras in news are remotes anyway), whilst a robot refers to a camera that can remotely track about the floor. RTÉ News has four remotes and one robot.

I’d like to see Una return to Six One, as she’s very good as what she does, and complements Bryan better than Sharon. Not Sharon’s greatest fan, not that I dislike her or think she doesn’t have good qualities, but there’s much room for improvement, and she’s not quite good enough (yet at least) for a flagship bulletin. Certainly in terms of competency in presentation, she’s equal to Finnerty in handling cues, being conversational and moving things along nicely.

On Anne – I image Nine will remain a sit-down affair, and should remain as as such, which if the case, she’d have little problem. But I do agree that she has gone terribly downhill in recent times – it’s such a shame. Her constant inconsistencies make you like her most of the time, but others she’s utterly infuriating in her handling of situations, bizarre turns of presentation and generally overly-staid performance. It’s not even as if she’s steely and neutral anymore, as that is a quality, but rather she’s just lazy in how she churns out the autocue without even attempting to disguise her apparent boredom at reading it, difficulty at certain points, or even her eyes lazily scanning across the screen. But her overall performance is equally wooden though – it genuinely seems as though the gracious impenetrable persona that the media has forced on her is making her think that she must live up to this, forgetting that she was by no means always this way, not even till recently, where she’d be engaging, interested in the story and equally interesting to listen to and observe.
Anne, if you’re reading (:) – you’re a broadcasting legend, but it doesn’t mean you’ve to act like a granite garden statue. Look across to Anna Ford and note how she managed to remain gracious and dignified while also being conversational, engaging, and competent in interview setups. Take note and apply please!

Don’t know what you mean about Dobson channel2tv. It seems that you believe newscasters ought only be appointed on the basis of youth and stunning good looks. Are journalistic competence or presenting ability not valid concerns anymore? Sorry, but the notion of Bryan presenting a Crimecall-like programme is so preposterous as to make one wonder if we’re even talking about the same person here!

As for MacGrianna, well, what do you think?!

Ya. You think correctly

Whoa there, Telefís, caisg!

I never said "youth and stunning good looks" are the only factor in choosing news presenters. Competence matters, of course, but I don't like seeing News Directors or those in power in the newsroom cutting presenters just because they are not as "senior" as those old geezers on the set, when in fact they are as good, if not better, in presentation skills.

As a person who was cut from the audition for a news presenter spot at my university's student TV station, I hate that notion of "seniority first, last, and only" a lot.

I might not have too much experience in college TV presentation, but I have better presenting skills than anyone who was chosen that semester.

(before you all call me bitter, do take note that A: I eventually became the Station Director of that station a year later (present day), and B: Most of the paid directors in that station said that the News Director's decision to cut me was a huge mistake)

With that said, I think it is not fair for everyone to judge Sharon like this just because she is not as "senior", therefore "not as experienced" as Una. Una might be good, but I think Sharon is good as well. She needs time (who doesn't? I am sure Una needed time in her much younger days!).

Time on Six-One is exactly what Sharon needs, and not, as Telefís suggested a while back, the weekends (look at Aengus MacGrianna for an example as to how the weekends fare as a training ground!)

So please, let Sharon stay, for she is good. She can be better, and she will get better. I think the worst thing right now is to shaft Sharon over Una. That is something that can possibly wreck a career!

If anyone noticed, in Lebannon the reporter for RTE is using a green headed mic with RTE on it. I haven't seen this anywhere before on RTE. Would I be wrong or insane to suspect the green type mic could have a relevence to the relaunch, or am I just speculating too much!

Mabey, but that is the most ugly mic I have ever seen full stop.

And youve probably... oh no wait, i shouldn't say it. you might report me again.

No you're not the only one! I noticed that as well. I was going to post it but I thought I was only being daft. I thought it looked quite nice actually! And Telefis has been going on about a green theme ... you never know.

in fairness guys, that green mic looked like something a pre-school kid did in clay class. it was horrid - mainly because the green was such a pukey version of the green on the national flag (the same hue as the RTE green.)

I dunno guys, I may have said bad things in the past (goldfish memory) about Una O'Hagan, but in fairness, she's a heck of a lot better polished than Anne Doyle. Really that woman is like John Aldridge on Celeb You're a Star - just wants to get out of it. I agree with Teilifís (as per usual) about Nine staying a sit-down show, leaving any standups by the 'news wall' to the Six One and News at One. Finnerty would be an excellent example of a competent 'news-waller' in my opinion. Even Education Girl (can never remember her name) would be excellent at that task. Dobbo mightn't be so good. I can remember a stand-up shot from him the time the Pope died, and he looked desperate (maybe it was the khaki pants) but he has an oddly-proportioned torso (very VERY common in Irish men.

If the poker were surgically removed from Aengus MacGrianna, and the kiss of life given to him my some comely maiden, he'd be a good 'news-waller' too. Sharon would not however - no matter what anyone says, her diction and cadences are all wrong... too raspy and sharp.

diarmy

Anyways, to get back on topic, As much as I like Eileen Dunne, I can't imagine her standing up. Mabey they should make the nine a dual presenter bulliten, so give the boot to Anne, and have Eileen and Una together. That would be good. And they should sit down during that bulliten.

On the subject of logos/mocks, i wrapped up these babies this evening.... Open to comments!


http://www.rp-networkservices.com/tvforum/uploads/rtebuttons.jpg

diarmy

I only like the blue one, nut nice, but I think they would be well suited to the website.

Edit:
I saw your name with the Irish spelling. DO you speak Irish?

I like them diarmy, well done.