RTÉ News

Almost everybody in Ireland has at least some knowledge of Irish, seamus. And how do you make out that diarmy's post was off-topic?

Anyway I think those logos you designed would suit the website best. I like the news one but the others are a bit harsh on the eyes! But overall they are well exectued so well done. I hope you're not suggesting that RTÉ should start using the 'interactive DOGs'! They're completely superfluous and I'll die before I'll gladly watch television with one of those in the corner.

Well, i didn't mind phen, but at ICDG they just keep ranting on and on. That forum is sorta wick.

Just for the record, and not going too much off-topic, I do speak Irish.

I didn't really explain myself well phen, but i was thinking along the lines of seperate programmes or even seperate end titles... similar to the black and white screen we now see at the end of each rte programme... I don't know of any other TV station that has specifically defined colour schemes (without going crazy such as CBBC) for different strands of programmes.

Just a thought that RTE could classify by colour their programming.... maybe even inspire them into doing more home-grown programming.

I dunno, bit of waffling.

diarmy

Thats a nice idea alright -the colour coding. I'm sure RTÉ would love that with all the branding they're doing!

There have been some slight graphics problems today in the temporary set. Just as Nuacht RTÉ was starting, the sting froze for a few seconds before it started. Then before the Six One, the headline sequence also froze at the beginning for a few seconds and then, during the dissolve after the titles in the Nine, two picture windows appeared on screen momentarily - one on either side of Eileen - bizzare! I suppose there are bound to be little problems like that in the temporary studio but its been fine up until now ...

Yup - saw that too! Very odd that it was replicated across bulletins. For that to happen onewould expect it to be a technical problem on the desk, in which was where are the technicans?!
But it has to be said that tonight's Nine was really fantastic in terms of replicating Studio 3, wide shot lighting aside. The background is now fully up to the normal level of illumination, and Eileen's MCU lighting was superb - really impressive, so well done to those involved. Bit too tight shot of Eileen, but a mere quibble in the broader context of problems they're facing.

Impressive mocks there diarmy - excellently executed, they look very professional. Agreed about the eh, brightness of the colours , but otherwise an interesting and possibly workable concept re colour coding, thugh I would say that the present genre branding works equally well too.

On that gaudy green mic Tony Connolly has, it looks okay in itself, but in the context of a warzone is gratutious in the extreme - branding gone insane. It totally distracts from the content and impinges on the scene being set by the camera, i.e. it breaks the illusion of television, as if they're deliberately hyping up the 'broadcaster in the field' format, heading increasingly towards ITV's farcical presentation during times of conflict. Even at the basic level of having a mic in shot during to-camera deliverances it is so unprofessional and naff - lifted straight out of the American broadcast journo handbook, as if reporters have to stand holding mics as a matter of regulation. A ridiculous state of affairs across RTÉ News's presentation, and it drives many directors up the walls in the UK. It's so contrived, invasive and distracting, yet RTÉ insist on it in order to shove their brand into your face at every opportunity.
Richard Crowley is being forced to use it every night of the week on his stand up act, resulting in his hands being tied down and him not being able to gesture or make his deliverance in any way more natural or visual interesting. The same with countless other reporters.

The rule is, aside from music performances, and use in difficult terrain, the mic does not appear in shot - ever . And this extends to sat links in difficult territory – these locations are controlled an there is no excuse. The same goes for clothing by the way – what the heck is with the manky floppy shirts with rolled up sleeves Richard Crowley insists on location. He’s a fantastic reporter but for goodness sake make him wear something more decent. The same goes for Charlie Bird and Paul Cunningham when abroad – they look absolutely terrible and make no effort at all. Like a pair of manky wide-eyed tourists when they appear on camera.
Grow up and make an effort RTÉ – lay down the line for once.


Agreed about waht you say channel2tv about other people being given a chance - very much so, especially those in the lower ranks replacing them in the middle if they prove better than them. But if you're at the 'top' - well you're generally there for a reason, i.e. because you're good, and there's no replacing you. Admittedly this can barely be said for Doyle anymore alas, but Dobson and Una are top notch broadcasters - arguably RTÉ News's top two assets. They work excellently as a team - you couldn't ask for two broadcasters better matched to present a flagship news programme. There's nothing broken, so why fix it. Sharon, as diarmy notes, is just not up to a flagship yet for the reasons he notes and others mentioned here before.
And I think Una is even better when working closely with someone else, espcially with Dobson where is an obvious and logical rapport - it's too contrived with Sharon I think. As such, Sharon ought to be given an alternative role - preferably back on an expanded News on Two. In that case there is a logical and apparent rapport with Murnane - do you see where this is going? And I hope Una makes a return to Six One as soon as she can - it's all the poorer without her.

I don't know if this is relevant or not but a poster on boards.ie quoted an email he recieved from RTÉ saying:

I wonder does this suggest that they are going to launch the new look a week sooner than we think i.e. on August 28th? Interesting. (And also notice how they refer to it as ST3 )

Back home for a few days... and already irritated to see Aengas Mac Grianna on the One, I don't like the way he poses statements to interviewees or other reporters rather than asking them in the form of a question. Still reminds me of Peter Levy on BBC Look North Hull.

Is it usual for the host of the Nuacht update on RTE1 at 5.20 to go on to present the immediately following News for the Deaf? As I think Siun Ni Gearalt has done well presenting two bulletins in two languages on the back of each other. Also noticed that the copyright slide after the News for the Deaf brands the N& CA department in Irish - has this always been the case?

I think so yes Col. Yup – isn’t Siun absolutely superb. She's so competent, natural and friendly – really a great broadcaster. Haven’t really seen her fully in English, but she should definitely be trialled as a more regular mainstream newscaster.

MacGrianna was his usual appalling self today, making yet another farcical script error. Watch his first link on the top story and see if you note the problem (aside from the usual slurring and general inability to speak coherently):

http://dynamic.rte.ie/av/2164111.smil

I love his shocked expression when he realises

And again at 8.25, watch his flounder as the autocue goes down. Like Anne Doyle, he goes into robot mode, only even worse, without the slightest attempt to smooth things over – his only aim is to desperately clamber out of the hole as quickly as possible, just churning out the script. Unbelievable.

It will come as no surprise to discover that Aengus wasn’t even a newsreader to begin with! An extract from a website: “He was always at the hub of the news room and the excitement that is our national broadcaster. It all began one day when there was a shortage of one of the staff members in the radio newsroom and somebody noticed that our man Friday could type, write and sub stories, so it seemed natural to give him a shot of going on air and filling in. From there he went onto to reading the news on TV.” !!!

“seemed natural”?!!! What are these guys taking?!


An interesting Sunday Independent Q&A with him here:

What car do you drive and do you still have a no-claims bonus?
I believe in good value for money and to me very little beats the Skoda range - I am now on my second Skoda and don't plan on changing for another two years - unless I win the Lotto. Thankfully I still have my no-claims bonus.

What was your first job and salary?
Arnotts Sports Department, where my salary was in the region of 80 pounds a week.

At what times do you start and finish work?
I can start as early as 5.30 when reading early-morning news and can finish as late as 1am if doing the late shift.

Do you conduct any business online?
A friend of mine said recently he didn't think the internet was really going to catch on. However, I use it for internet banking, buying concert and airline tickets.

Who would you like to see as Minister for Finance?
Bring back Charlie McCreevy.
Do you have a will?
No - I keep meaning to do it but somehow never got around to it. But then I would hate to cause a rift by singling any one person out. Where there's a will there's a row -

What are your favourite TV and radio programmes? (excluding news)
I'm a classy bloke and enjoy the finer things in life - I'm a big Desperate Housewives fan, not to mention Green Wing, Six Feet Under and Coronation Street. I really miss good comedy and satire on RTE Radio.

What type of credit card do you have and do you ever borrow on it ?
Bank of Ireland MasterCard - and I live on it - champagne and chocolates must be in the fridge. I hide the Aldi and Lidl groceries in the back press.

Are you ever overdrawn or always in credit?
Darling, what a question?

Do you know exactly how much you are worth?
Yes I do, and like most people I am worth more dead than alive -

Today would you invest in property, shares, cash or other?
Somehow I think property. It's a proven long-term investment and certainly looks better than my pension plan at work.

Your investment of the year?
A two-euro quick-pick Lotto ticket. Overnight I made a profit of 300 per cent and took home the princely sum of €8.

Favourite restaurant?
I just love Danny Minnies Restaurant in Anagaire in the Donegal Gaeltacht - great food and ambience - and it's only a short taxi ride when I can no longer remember my name and I need to get home to nearby Gaoth Dobhair.

Where do you holiday?
Gaoth Dobhair in Donegal when in Ireland. There is usually a ski holiday and, of course, a sun holiday, mostly outside Europe.

Greatest sporting moment?
Apart from working in Arnotts Sports Department - I think it was winning the men's downhill ski championship in my ski school in Westendorf.

Do you belong to any clubs?
A group of my friends got together to establish an informal movie club. We meet once a month. The movie is kept a secret until the performance begins.

Which businessman/woman do you most admire?
Richard Branson - he still has lots of new ideas and would appear to have great fun spending his money. I wonder does he still remember a young reporter interviewing him after he was brought to court for selling condoms over the counter at the Virgin Megastore on the Quays in Dublin. It seems so funny now.

Do you have a computer at your desk?
Yes, there is a computer, but it's not mine. We all share desks, chairs and computers. The glamour of TV.

What is your business ambition?
To make a load of dosh and retire early so that I can enjoy it. I had better update my CV now . . .

How did you do in your Leaving Cert?
Quite well, really - given that I didn't work very hard for it at the time. But I managed to make it to UCD where I did a BA. My subjects were Irish, Politics and Geography.

How long is left on your mortgage? (If any time)
No chance of my taking early retirement, given that there is still a good 17 years to go to clear my mortgages.

What type of SSIA do you have?
As far as I can remember it's a straight savings plan with the credit union in RTE - God bless them.

Which gets more of your time - work life or family life?
I'm a firm believer in work/life balance, be you single, married, with or without children to care for.

Best moment in business?
When I know it's time to go home.

What is your salary?
a) E20-50K, b) E50-100K;
c) E100-200K
d) 250K+
I am really bad with sums - I recognise some of the figures, but can't remember which is my overdraft, my credit card debt, or my salary - butafter tax and running three homes, one in Dublin, one in Donegal and one in Brussels - it's not easy, it's not easy, Gay.

What football team do you support?
Dublin for Gaelic Football, Man U in soccer.

Who makes the decisions in your house? You or your partner/spouse
Believe it or not, I'm on holidays writing this and I have just been told to get up and put my laptop away. We are going out!

Aengus MacGrianna is an RTE newsreader


Also a funny little poll here, to stoop low for a moment - he's not doing too badly

http://www.gaire.com/e/f/default.asp?page=view&xid=&nav=1&parent=388313

What I want to know is who are the people who voted for Anne Doyle?

No comment

Another question - when did Eircom's sponsorship of RTE/TG4 weather come to an end? For as long as I can remember, Eircom, and Telecom Eireann before it, were constant sponsors of at least the RTE weather forecasts. I remember in the early years, TnaG's weather was sponsored by ESB but by last year they were using the same stings as RTE ONE and TWO.

Also, why is the Smart Telecom sponsor sting for An Aimsir Laithreach as Bearla, when the forecast itself is as Gaeilge?

If this has been discussed before, ta an-bron ormsa...

It was discussed on boards.ie alright. Eircom just decided to 'end' their agreement both with RTÉ and TV3 - for what reasons we don't know. Hence, Smart Telecom have moved to TG4 and Avonmore to RTÉ. Its a pity that the stings on TG4 are in English. I don't really watch TG4 because I'm not fluent but it would be nice to have kept the continuity going. The new stings on RTÉ are very bland. Thats not necessarily a bad thing - they kinda go unnoticed. They could have been worse!