Local radio newsreaders

Ted222

I’ve noticed the standard of newsreaders on local radio stations is a bit awful.

For a while, I think Nova or Q102 had Alan Cantwell who, regardless of what you might think of him sounds like a newsreader.

But it can be very hit and miss. Some sound like school kids who are reading bedtime stories to toddlers.

Is it that hard to get people who sound even semi professional?

dxhound2005

Two stations is not enough to prove anything.

Ted222

It’s not proof. It’s an observation

Glaceon

Alan Cantwell was on TV3 for years, might have been there from the start. I wouldn’t think he’s the worst by any stretch.

dxhound2005

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121914270#Comment_121914270

Mine was an observation as well.

Ted222

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121914277#Comment_121914277

No, he’s quite good but I think he’s the exception.

Ted222

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121914295#Comment_121914295

Without any obvious point though

Allinall

If you can hear and understand what they’re saying, what’s the issue?

TheBMG

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058342448/local-radio-newsreaders

I think Alan Cantwell may be reading on the syndicated news service that Bauer provide to the local radio stations. I’ve heard Teena Gates on there too.

dxhound2005

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121914343#Comment_121914343

It's in there if you make the effort.

Ted222

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121914363#Comment_121914363

You could say the same about any presenters but some are easier on the ear than others.

Glaceon

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121914381#Comment_121914381

That’s exactly it.

chicorytip

RTE had some great newscasters in the past like Don Cockburn and Emer O Kelly whose diction and pronunciation was impeccable but standards have dropped alarmingly. There are people with obvious speech impediments delivering news bulletins and presenting current affairs programmes these days.

alzer100

Firstly there is not any training given bar the insipid "Learning Waves" mafia nowadays. Most are hired if they literally can read (some can't even do that)

You might want to go back and listen to Bob Gallico, Sybil Fennell, Bernie Jameson, Cathy Creegan, Caroline Callaghan, Andrew Turner, Nick Adams, Aidan O'Hara, Justin McKenna, Tina Gates, Ray Billings and others from a bygone, forgotten age. They "talked" the news and had clear voices with their intonation, inflection, delivery and gravitas in the right places.

What is read is dead.

Room 101 of news on radio = LMFM where the newsreaders sound like they've just come in from the farmyard.

GSF

I’m sure local radio doesn’t pay great money for newsreaders so it’s usually an entry level til you find something better

Ted222

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121914998#Comment_121914998

Exactly. But how hard can it be to get someone who understands and interprets what’s put in front of them to read?

I heard someone a while ago telling a story of a dismembered torso with the tone of a story about a newly born panda in the zoo.

Ted222

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121915081#Comment_121915081

I’d do it for coffee and biscuits. Where do I sign?

Tork

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121914616#Comment_121914616

Maybe it's to do with inclusivity? Just like Acasth has thath woman with the terrible lisph doing promos on their podcasts.

thejuggler

Recently RedFM (and possibly other Bauer owned stations) have got rid of local newsreaders at the weekend so Tina Gates has become a regular presence reading news bulletins. It brought to mind the INN news service in the 90s which had people like Gerry O’Connor, Iarla Mongey and Noel Fogerty (great resonance strange intonation). Was this sustaining news service based in 98FM? When did it end?

California Dreamer

Most stations will have their own local news service taking most of their stories from the Burli system supplied by the network (Newstalk) Now some of them might try and put their own local spin on a national story. Then they have local news stories that they have to research and write and also do the death notices as well. Some may act as the producer for daily talk show as well.

When local stations are not doing their own news they can take the network which is top of the hour reader from the same studios as Newstalk. Generally these readers are creating stories to upload to the burli system for local stations as well as reading and then doing the handover for the next day.

Expect to do non-stop 10-12 hour day for little over minimum wage.

Fresh out of college looking for a news gig. Its crap work before you manage to work your way up to a better station/print/online etc. For instance one day you could be doing the sport on the weekend and then someone throws you on the daily talk show. It just fills a void, experience and journalistic knowledge play very little part in what you do.

dxhound2005

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121914616#Comment_121914616

Emer was lucky to get out of the place alive.

Fri Apr 19 1996

An RTE newsreader, Ms Emer O'Kelly, has settled a £30,000 personal injuries claim against the station for an undisclosed amount. Ms O'Kelly, a journalist, of Lombard Street West, Dublin, had claimed she received an electrical shock, was thrown from her chair and knocked unconscious while reading the news on May 26th 1993.

Yesterday Mr Gerry Danaher, counsel for Ms O'Kelly, told Judge Esmonde Smyth in the Circuit Civil Court the action had been settled and could be struck out with an order for costs to the plaintiff.

L1011

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121915476#Comment_121915476

INN was run from their own studios on Mount Street.

Glaceon

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121941836#Comment_121941836

I remember 98FM were in 8 Upper Mount Street for their first few years before moving to the Malt House, were INN using that studio?

L1011

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121942300#Comment_121942300

INN were Lower Mount Street, not sure if the building had any prior radio use.

Pre INN, 98FM and FM104 both offered equivalent services, this would be back in the mid 90s.

Glaceon

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121942319#Comment_121942319

Ah yes, I remember now that IRN was one of them.

QueensGael

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121915275#Comment_121915275

Maybe it is, and would that be such a terrible thing? If someone is annoyed or discommoded by another person's speech difficulty, that's on them. Fair play to that woman for following a career in an area that likely wasn't easy for her to pursue.

TheBMG

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121942487#Comment_121942487

That woman is also a widely respected radio producer and high up the Acast food chain so she’s doing okay for herself 😃. It’s not 1925 anymore and we don’t have to wear dinner jackets when in front of the mic.

ofcork

RED fm have some poor ones constant mistakes and a 96fm newsreader became a co host of their breakfast show although brings nothing imo.

radiotrickster

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121957307#Comment_121957307

Red FM’s newsreaders today have been very poor. Stumbling, sounding like they’ve accidentally punched the mic a couple of times, rustling background noise and some distortion too. I know people have to learn but they should be trained to reach a higher standard before they’re allowed to read live.

zell12

There is a male newsreader currently on nightshift Radio1 and he sounds like a robot (05:00). I kept trying to detect any emotion or change in tone.