Richard Downes goes to Washington DC

mike65

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/breaking/2010/0426/breaking58.html

Downes lands RTÉ Washington job

RONAN MCGREEVY

Morning Ireland presenter Richard Downes has been chosen as RTÉ's new Washington correspondent to replace Charlie Bird.

Mr Downes (45), a former BBC foreign correspondent in South Africa and Iraq, said he was a “surprised but rather delighted man” having only found out about his appointment shortly before it was made public by RTÉ.

He beat competition from some of the station’s best known broadcasters for the position which is regarded as one of the plum jobs in Irish journalism.

He is hoping to be able to take up his new role within six weeks with Mr Bird returning home to become chief news correspondent. The initial contract will be for two years.

Unlike his predecessor who has cited homesickness for his decision to return home early, Mr Downes has extensive experience as a foreign correspondent.

He's a smooth operator so I'm sure he'll just along just fine with the golfing/country club set in Maryland and Virginia

jdivision

In fairness the guy seems to work hard and want to do the job. I think he'll put a different slant on it but be successful. After Charlie hard to disappoint

steelcityblues

As long as Downes has already heard of people like Ron Paul, than not a bad appointment!

I don't think the most recent guy in the role had a clue :rolleyes:

FlutterinBantam

Tends to be very long winded in his questioning and loses the trend of his thought.

In other words uses 50 words when 10 would do.

I wonder who else applied for the job, anyone know?

Blobby George

Good appointment I feel. Informed, authoritative, well spoken and experience in a foreign post.

rocksteady36

steelcityblues wrote: »

As long as Downes has already heard of people like Ron Paul, than not a bad appointment!

I don't think the most recent guy in the role had a clue :rolleyes:

What a muppet this presenter is, who is feeding this sht to him to present on, is he the researcher or just the mouth piece..

He obviously never heard of Ron Paul and has consistently ignored him, Prime time just did a piece on the republican hopefuls and he named Rick Perry, whos out of the race, Michelle Bachman, Even CBS are ignoreing her, and Herman Cain, what a joke...........

He is actually in America, how has he missed Ron Paul...Crazy

steelcityblues

rocksteady36 wrote: »

What a muppet this presenter is, who is feeding this sht to him to present on, is he the researcher or just the mouth piece..

He obviously never heard of Ron Paul and has consistently ignored him, Prime time just did a piece on the republican hopefuls and he named Rick Perry, whos out of the race, Michelle Bachman, Even CBS are ignoreing her, and Herman Cain, what a joke...........

He is actually in America, how has he missed Ron Paul...Crazy

That sounds bad. He should not try to ape the major US media, who are deliberately against the likes of Paul, and previously Kucinich for the Democrats.

Also, will we see a hard hitting interview with Mr Obama, like Coleman did with GWB?