Why do RTE keep sending their employees abroad and wasting taxpayers money?

catallus · 27-02-2013 10:41PM

What's so pathetic about it vic? It's a news story; they cover the news; they have people to deal with religious affairs and it's a story of international significance so they have their big guns on the scene...

Just as many would be complaining if they had none or even just one reporter there.

Vizzy · 27-02-2013 10:42PM

vicwatson wrote: »

Hang on we're not finished just yet ....

Joe Little accompanied Dobbo on a free trip to Roma along with the others

4 reporters in Rome covering this sh1t.

Pathetic

Vic,I would be looking at this the other way around.
Poor Joe Little has been studying for this day for all of his life( he's the religious correspondant after all) and I'm sure the other journo's must have been taking the p1ss out of him for years-"the Pope is gonna retire ?,you better go easy on the juice Joe",and what happens ?
Tony Connolly takes the limelight first,then Samantha Librieri and then out walks Dobbo and gets to interview all the leading lights.
And to rub salt in the wound,poor Joe looks as if he has been smuggled to Rome in Dobbo's suitcase

Atlantic Dawn · 27-02-2013 10:46PM

catallus wrote: »

What's so pathetic about it vic? It's a news story; they cover the news; they have people to deal with religious affairs and it's a story of international significance so they have their big guns on the scene...

Just as many would be complaining if they had none or even just one reporter there.

September 11 was perhaps the largest news story of the last 20 years, they didn't send a team of 4 out for that. A leader of a church retiring has the same importance to some people in this country as if Alex Ferguson handed in his notice. The Pope retiring warrants at max 1 reporter and of that it should be someone already in Europe who gets the gig.

27-02-2013 10:46PM

*sigh* I'm really tired of the RTE bashing in here. I'm sure your precious BBC have reporters over there too.

rednik · 27-02-2013 10:46PM

The question is, 'Why bring them back' ?

vicwatson · 27-02-2013 10:54PM

Karsini wrote: »

*sigh* I'm really tired of the RTE bashing in here. I'm sure your precious BBC have reporters over there too.

You don't have to contribute.

Oh and there is simply no comparison to RTE and BBC (though the way RTE carry on you'd swear they had the budget of BBC or Fox News)

catallus · 27-02-2013 11:01PM

It's just that some people seem to be getting very upset that a big story is getting "extra" coverage: the people in RTE (and as far as I can see, most other news organisations around the world) probably made the editorial decision to send extra reporters over there.

Didn't RTE send over about 10 reporters for Sept11 2001? They were doing pretty heavy coverage as far as I recall.

ArmaniJeanss · 27-02-2013 11:05PM

Atlantic Dawn wrote: »

September 11 was perhaps the largest news story of the last 20 years, they didn't send a team of 4 out for that.

Poor comparision, as it was basically impossible to send anyone to America on either the 11th or 12th, even the 13th was tricky. 36 hour flight embargo from what I recall.

mikom · 27-02-2013 11:06PM

catallus wrote: »

It's just that some people seem to be getting very upset that a big story is getting "extra" coverage: the people in RTE (and as far as I can see, most other news organisations around the world) probably made the editorial decision to send extra reporters over there.

Didn't RTE send over about 10 reporters for Sept11 2001? They were doing pretty heavy coverage as far as I recall.

I think more than the catolicks were interested in Sept 11th.
We are not all chasing white smoke ya know.

catallus · 27-02-2013 11:13PM

So we should only get information about things we ourselves deem to be of importance? And if they don't bow to our bidding we cry like spoilt babies? And then hahaha, we complain about them being insular and wasteful?

phasers · 27-02-2013 11:15PM

Why can't they report on the story from Ireland? And if they do need a correspondent in Rome, why not just send one?

Big Bottom · 27-02-2013 11:20PM

Why are all of you hating on RTE so much its an important job and should be classed as such.

Lapin · 27-02-2013 11:20PM

mikom wrote: »

I think more than the catolicks were interested in Sept 11th.
We are not all chasing white smoke ya know.

Thats a very narrow minded view on who you think the news is aimed at.

I'm not Catholic. Not religious at all. Atheist and proud.

But I'm still interested in this news story.

Its just as important to have an understanding of the things you're against as the things you're for.

Otherwise you are not in possession of all the facts in a discussion and run the risk of talking through your arse.

Big Bottom · 27-02-2013 11:21PM

Lapin wrote: »

Thats a very narrow minded view on who you think the news is aimed at.

I'm not Catholic. Not religious at all. Atheist and proud.

But I'm still interested in this news story.

Its just as important to have an understanding of the things you're against as the things you're for.

Otherwise you are not in possession of all the facts in a discussion and run the risk of talking through your arse.

How can anyone be proud to be an Atheist?

Lapin · 27-02-2013 11:23PM

Big Bottom wrote: »

How can anyone be proud to be an Atheist?

Lets not go there or we'll all end up in off topic city.

Lets just say I'm proud to have the independence of mind to think for myself without the need to be guided by any religious doctrine.

Big Bottom · 27-02-2013 11:28PM

Its just you pointed it out yourself.

The fact that anyone would claim to be 'proud' about being Atheist makes it sound a bit makey uppy.

Lapin · 27-02-2013 11:34PM

Maybe it is. I didn't really give it a huge deal of thought.

Its just like people say - I'm proud to be Catholic, I'm proud to be Gay, I'm proud to be from Cork etc....

I wouldn't be proud to be any of those thing but it doesn't bother me that others are.

Its no big deal really. Why shouldn't someone who doesn't believe in anything be proud of that too ?

Who really cares what others are proud of ?

vicwatson · 27-02-2013 11:39PM

This thread is not just about the ones sent to Rome today/yesterday and whenever

It's about the incessent waste of Taxpayers money by RTE by shipping reporters/journalists/broadcasters/camera crew/sound crew etc etc to be on the spot in foreign countries to report news

It's also about the attitude of RTE that they can still carry on spending Taxpayers money willy nilly and not give a flyin' fiddlers about where that money comes from.

There is NO WAY it required (at least) 4 people in Rome yesterday/today - NO WAY

We aren't GB or USA, yet RTE carry on like they are in heavyweight territory of broadcasting.

Lapin · 27-02-2013 11:47PM

I don't see how paying Irish reporters to cover newsworthy events is a waste of taxpayers money.

It would be a much bigger waste to have them on the dole.

catallus · 27-02-2013 11:48PM

RTE have a responsibility to report news. News happens all over the world. What you call waste others would call fulfilling their mandate to bring information to their Irish audience; the managers have to send reporters to news events or they cease to do their jobs. A lot of the reporters there don't work exclusively for one news provider; indeed many of the individual reporters would be filing reports and copy for TV radio and a scattering of newspapers. I for one am glad we have proper reporters at news events instead of having to rely on foreign news outlets. And RTE are not carrying on like they are heavyweights; they are just doing their job.

AnonoBoy · 27-02-2013 11:49PM

Blah blah blah RTE waste of gravy-train money.

Why do they need the music for the news? Why can't it just start and why bother with a desk or a backdrop? Just have them stand there in the corner of the room and say the news and that's it.

Actually why bother with news reporters at all. Why not just put up text for half an hour and let people read it. It could be like a newspaper but on the tv.

Yeah. We could call it AERTEL or something equally catchy.

Sure that's all we need.

AnonoBoy · 27-02-2013 11:56PM

Atlantic Dawn wrote: »

September 11 was perhaps the largest news story of the last 20 years, they didn't send a team of 4 out for that.

Yeah probably because it wasn't exactly announced in advance. And if you remember there was a shortage of flights in and around America in the aftermath.

Good example kid. :pac:

vicwatson · 27-02-2013 11:59PM

catallus wrote: »

RTE have a responsibility to report news. News happens all over the world. What you call waste others would call fulfilling their mandate to bring information to their Irish audience; the managers have to send reporters to news events or they cease to do their jobs. A lot of the reporters there don't work exclusively for one news provider; indeed many of the individual reporters would be filing reports and copy for TV radio and a scattering of newspapers. I for one am glad we have proper reporters at news events instead of having to rely on foreign news outlets. And RTE are not carrying on like they are heavyweights; they are just doing their job.

Pure waffle

Lapin · 28-02-2013 12:11AM

How is that waffle ?

ProudDUB · 28-02-2013 12:15AM

catallus wrote: »

RTE have a responsibility to report news. News happens all over the world. What you call waste others would call fulfilling their mandate to bring information to their Irish audience; the managers have to send reporters to news events or they cease to do their jobs. A lot of the reporters there don't work exclusively for one news provider; indeed many of the individual reporters would be filing reports and copy for TV radio and a scattering of newspapers. I for one am glad we have proper reporters at news events instead of having to rely on foreign news outlets. And RTE are not carrying on like they are heavyweights; they are just doing their job.

It's not waffle. I agree with this 100%. I personally have zero interest in the Pope's resignation. Deep down, I am very shallow. I care far more about who wore what to the Oscars, than I do the Pope stepping down. But I am aware that I live in a country with a very long Catholic tradition, so there are a lot of people in this country who would take an interest in the doings over yonder in Rome. So if RTE choose to send someone over to reports on the doings over there, I have no problem with it. Whether you or I like it or not, this is one of the biggest news stories of the year. RTE should be covering them when they happen.

Anyway, all it seems to be is one RTE presenter standing in front of the Vatican with a microphone in their hand. It's not as if an entire army of investigative reporters and researchers and presenters have been sent over there to provide round the clock coverage 24 hours a day.

gilmour · 28-02-2013 12:19AM

i get a strange warm sensation inside me at the thought of a person sitting in the comfort of his/her own home and taking their role as TAXPAYER a little too seriously by policing where and when his/her taxpaying cash should be spent, and literally seething at something they disapprove of

I love that i dont do this, and though at times i may think others have a more fulfilling exciting life than i, i remember these threads, and these people, and i feel pretty damn good. Thank you OP.

AnonoBoy · 28-02-2013 12:31AM

Of course if you don't pay your licence fee then you've got less right to complain. :pac:

Do you pay yours vicwatson?

Galwayguy35 · 28-02-2013 02:36AM

AnonoBoy wrote: »

Of course if you don't pay your licence fee then you've got less right to complain. :pac:

Do you pay yours vicwatson?

Excellent point, I hear it everyday from lads at work ranting on about how bad RTE is and none of them pay the license.

I wouldn't be too too worried about sending reporters abroad to cover news stories, more of an issue for me is the fact that they think the likes of Tubirdy is worth paying over 300 k of a salary to.

Solair · 28-02-2013 09:43AM

I'd be far less concerned about their news spend and far more worried about all the money they slash on non broadcasting critical activities.

gobnaitolunacy · 28-02-2013 09:51AM

mike65 wrote: »

Even the BBC has a man (or woman) in Rome tonight.

That is the Beeb. RTE is a pip-squeak broadcaster catering to a population about the size of Manchester.

Why do RTE keep sending their employees abroad and wasting taxpayers money?

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