nepotism in state broadcaster..

Evan DietrichSmith · 19-03-2014 09:33AM

touts wrote: »

So you would move someone who has spent 10 or 15 years playing music on 2fm into a news/talk slot on RTE1 based purely on the fact that they are 30/40 and need to make room for young presenters?

No,I would move some of the journalists in that bracket who are already in talk radio into the senior spots.

I would try as far as possible to mentor new and newish talent to be ready to step in when the dinosaurs finally run out of room.

In other words have some kind of progression set up.

I dont regard people playing music on the radio to have any input except on very exceptional circumstances.

Yvonne23R · 19-03-2014 11:59AM

Mobile Dj wrote: »

Welcome to the real world of entertainment .. past it when you hit mid 30s...

Twentysomethings write you off at mid 30s and laugh at you in your forties, will be interesting when they hit this age themselves..

I have to say it's cheering that RTE value experience in relation to their radio (and TV) stars. Talent is nurtured for years there rather being expected to be a flash hit in the early years. It's about a slow burn development of a career where the broadcaster grows in maturity parallel with her audience. The independent sector might take a leaf out of the book there.

end of the road · 19-03-2014 02:51PM

Evan DietrichSmith wrote: »

people in their 80s and such still being used.

yeah, people in their 70s and 80s who bring in the listeners, yet you want them to be replaced to fit in unknown people, not going to happen, sorry.

Evan DietrichSmith wrote: »

Move the 30/ 40 year olds up the chain and thus make room for the younger ones.

it will happen once the older presenters sadly pass away or retire of their own accord, until then, not going to happen.

Evan DietrichSmith wrote: »

What serious discussion shows on what stations target a younger listenership,as a matter of interest?

is their a market among young people for a serious discussion show, their are many such discussion shows availible, just because they don't target a younger listenership doesn't mean such listeners can't and don't listen, if theirs a market for such a show no doubt a station will or would have picked up on it by now.

serfboard · 19-03-2014 04:25PM

Evan DietrichSmith wrote: »

What serious discussion shows on what stations target a younger listenership,as a matter of interest?

Or, what stations targetting a younger listenership host serious discussion shows?

For Reals · 19-03-2014 05:23PM

dib wrote: »

Two years ago RTE advertised publicly for a panel of Audio Engineers. 12 people were taken on on a casual basis and three have now been made full time. One of those is a friend of mine. To say RTE doesn't advertise positions is just ridiculous!

RTE advertises maybe once every other year on average and its usually for 2nd Cellist for the Orchestra, y'know positions where actual skills are needed and obvious if not there.
With all the moving and shaking within radio, have you seen any slots advertised? Was Lottie's slot advertised? I must have missed it. I know generations of people in RTE. With all the positions coming and going each year is even 1% advertised?

More Music wrote: »

We'll if the position wasn't advertised publicly then the only way somebody would know about it is if they had a connection with RTE.

So the person who gets the gig would be unknown and unproven but still get the job.

Isn't that exactly what happened with Lottie Ryan?

She's an unproven newbie given a chance in RTE.

Here's what happened:
Hey Lottie, wanna be a national DJ?
Lottie: 'Sure'.

She was given little bits and bobs for the last few years to justify this and it was obvious it was coming. Unless she's worse than Uncle Mike, she's in for life. This is a stepping stone for a prime time spot, then TV. And if you think otherwise, you are foolish.

Your post takes it as normal and okay that it wasn't advertised so therefore its cool that Lottie got it? Accepting that is the problem. We know it happens but taking it as fine and dandy and on your money is a little off, no?

ChrisM · 19-03-2014 05:33PM

Is Lottie Ryan any good on the radio? I know her father, the good kind of Northside drug addict, was loved by thousands, and actually worked his way to the top.

Why is she now at the top?

For Reals · 19-03-2014 05:42PM

More Music wrote: »

Fairer yes, but stations want a ready made audience that a known name would pull in.

I don't know if Lottie is any good because I've never heard her, but the name would initially pull in more listeners than an unknown. They would then hope to hold and ultimately grow the listener base.

Gerry Ryan was the whinny old geezer on in the mornings as far as the target audience for Lotties show would be concerned. Are we to believe those in their late teens to mid/late twenties are saying, 'Hey Gerry Ryan's daughter has a show, your man older than your Da, his daughter. He use to do 'bits' while droning on about traffic jams. I reckon it's be the best show ever!'?

The only draw would be any Ryan fans curious. Or did Gerry spin discs at the nightclubs while snorting cocaine in the jax?

And for the record, I'm sure she's a lovely girl and all that, but that's not my point. She's the most recent blatant example of nepotism, that's all.

ChrisM wrote: »

Is Lottie Ryan any good on the radio? I know her father, the good kind of Northside drug addict, was loved by thousands, and actually worked his way to the top.

Why is she now at the top?

Yep, dragged himself up fair play

'Ryan was born in Dublin in 1956. He described his father, Vinnie, as a "slightly eccentric" dentist from a Presbyterian background and his mother, Maureen, as "a flamboyant woman" who came from a theatrical background and worked in the theatre. His godfather was broadcaster Eamonn Andrews. He learnt to shoot with Charles Haughey's children.'
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gerry_Ryan

Evan DietrichSmith · 19-03-2014 07:00PM

For Reals wrote: »

Gerry Ryan was the whinny old geezer on in the mornings as far as the target audience for Lotties show would be concerned. Are we to believe those in their late teens to mid/late twenties are saying, 'Hey Gerry Ryan's daughter has a show, your man older than your Da, his daughter. He use to do 'bits' while droning on about traffic jams. I reckon it's be the best show ever!'?

The only draw would be any Ryan fans curious. Or did Gerry spin discs at the nightclubs while snorting cocaine in the jax?

And for the record, I'm sure she's a lovely girl and all that, but that's not my point. She's the most recent blatant example of nepotism, that's all.

Yep, dragged himself up fair play

'Ryan was born in Dublin in 1956. He described his father, Vinnie, as a "slightly eccentric" dentist from a Presbyterian background and his mother, Maureen, as "a flamboyant woman" who came from a theatrical background and worked in the theatre. His godfather was broadcaster Eamonn Andrews. He learnt to shoot with Charles Haughey's children.'
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gerry_Ryan

And still they will try and convince us that all is Kosher!!

My word!

For Reals · 19-03-2014 07:51PM

Evan DietrichSmith wrote: »

And still they will try and convince us that all is Kosher!!

My word!

You get nepotism everywhere, granted. Running RTE like a family business passed on from generation to generation, while funded by the tax payer simply isn't fair.
Ryan Tubb's Grandfather was controller General of RTE, his uncle was Eamon Andrews, (Gerry's Godfather).
We see it in politics, but that's the public voting for name recognition and their own family ties...but its a choice.
Then there's the quality issue, which is debateable, but generally poor quality broadcasting is reason enough to bring in new blood from a different gene pool.
What gets me the most is I'm financing generations of certain families so they can play at being on the radio and/or telly.
If I didn't fund RTE I couldn't care less what they did as they don't care about us past the licence fee.

micar · 19-03-2014 07:59PM

more nepotism.....The Dragons Den presenter Richard Curran is the younger brother of the RTE Director General Noel Curran.

end of the road · 19-03-2014 08:02PM

RTE does give young blood a chance, its currently doing so, as explained all ready the broadcast industry is very small and has very limited places, you need to be very very good to get a place or if your lucky to know somebody, its not fair, maybe its not right, but it is what it is and isn't going to change, most of RTE'S presenters past and present are well respected so aren't going to be got rid of to give an unknown a chance, i believe that is right and just and how it should stay, the quality issue is completely different

For Reals · 19-03-2014 08:38PM

end of the road wrote: »

RTE does give young blood a chance, its currently doing so, as explained all ready the broadcast industry is very small and has very limited places, you need to be very very good to get a place or if your lucky to know somebody, its not fair, maybe its not right, but it is what it is and isn't going to change, most of RTE'S presenters past and present are well respected so aren't going to be got rid of to give an unknown a chance, i believe that is right and just and how it should stay, the quality issue is completely different

That's not good enough. It's taxpayer funded, therefore nepotism has no place and should not be accepted just because its the norm.
The fact that there's limited places is all the more reason to cut out nepotism and open those limited spaces to everyone with a training and/or experience in broadcasting.
If you're okay with the nepotism fair enough. But you only need to be very very good if you're not Gerry Ryan's daughter.

end of the road · 19-03-2014 09:03PM

For Reals wrote: »

That's not good enough. It's taxpayer funded, therefore nepotism has no place and should not be accepted just because its the norm.

nepotism is one of the ways in which the broadcast industry works, you do need some contacts if your going into the industry, also tried and trusted is how both RTE and possibly the BBC works, much of the commercial sector in the UK is going the same way, i'm not saying its right but i can see why its going that way and i'm sorry to say it isn't going to change and we need to except it.

For Reals wrote: »

The fact that there's limited places is all the more reason to cut out nepotism and open those limited spaces to everyone with a training and/or experience in broadcasting.

such spaces are open to everyone with training and experience in broadcasting, RTE look for experienced broadcasters or well known names because the belief is they will bring in the listeners, some haven't i will admit but i can see why one would persist with such an idea, commercial broadcasters also look for experience, whether it be community radio or where possible experienced broadcasters from other stations, whichever way you look at it very few with just training alone will get a gig, thats the name of the game.

For Reals · 19-03-2014 09:22PM

end of the road wrote: »

nepotism is one of the ways in which the broadcast industry works, you do need some contacts if your going into the industry, also tried and trusted is how both RTE and possibly the BBC works, much of the commercial sector in the UK is going the same way, i'm not saying its right but i can see why its going that way and i'm sorry to say it isn't going to change and we need to except it.

Connections earned through industry experience and you as a broadcaster having good working credibility is not nepotism.
You're mixing good track record with, 'that's my son/daughter/nephew'.
It's your choice to accept it, not mine. What can I do? I guess raise it with any political representative, having a licence being the law and all.

end of the road wrote: »

such spaces are open to everyone with training and experience in broadcasting,

Not if relatives are ear marked for some. How can we agree there's nepotism and then you say this?

end of the road wrote: »

RTE look for experienced broadcasters or well known names because the belief is they will bring in the listeners, some haven't i will admit but i can see why one would persist with such an idea, commercial broadcasters also look for experience, whether it be community radio or where possible experienced broadcasters from other stations, whichever way you look at it very few with just training alone will get a gig, thats the name of the game.

Agreed.....now back to discussing hiring someone purely based on who they are related to regardless of experience or talent.

Mobile Dj · 19-03-2014 09:42PM

http://radiotoday.ie/2014/02/lottie-ryan-joins-2fm-for-early-weekend-breakfast/

This gives an insight into the hiring.

reg114 · 19-03-2014 10:00PM

Mobile Dj wrote: »

http://radiotoday.ie/2014/02/lottie-ryan-joins-2fm-for-early-weekend-breakfast/

This gives an insight into the hiring.

Interesting, the last line of that article quotes Healy as saying 2fm are using off peak hours to develop the next generation of talent. A national broadcaster should NOT be "developing" talent, that's what community radio and local independent stations are for.
You really have to sympathize with somebody like Damien Farrelly dropped from the schedule and they hire Lottie Ryan, it's staggeringly bad form and the figures will reflect that.

STB · 19-03-2014 10:16PM

2fm is not funded by the licence fee.

For years it was one of the only profitable and self sustaining elements of RTE the PSB. It was one of the arguements thrown up again and again about 2fm broadcaster pay packets, who were pulling in large listenership and the associated advertsing revenue and sponsorship deals.

I do agree with degrees of the nepistism arguement in this thread. If you are not good enough, you should not be on the radio full stop, never mind on a national platform.

What I do not agree with is the college graduates who expect a job having qualified. Its all over this thread. That is not the way radio works. Radio is a talent based entertainment job. Yes you should use any influence you can to get your foot in the door. You may with hard graft get an opportunity to show talent should you have it. Perserverance is key. Unfortunately the days of pirate radio training like schools no longer exist. There are still plenty of ILRs that pay badly and a few community radio stations that pay nothing at all.

To be honest I can well understand the I could do that attitude, especially when I hear some of the so called "jocks" on the ILRs. The quality of radio outside the major cities is truly appalling.

A.J.Plumb · 19-03-2014 10:45PM

You have it right there my friend...It has been proven over and over again RTE is ridden with nepotism and examples have been quoted in previous posts.

I have been accused in previous posts of being ageist...not so..I have no problem with 40/50 /60 year old presenters /broadcasters.

I do have a problem with the likes of Gogan and Byrne who are tipping their eighties still being given air time.

And especially the 50 something "Rock DJ " Fanning who dissed the hundred thousand + Garth Brooks fans by his silly comments recently.

Look pal a "Rock DJ" dosn't live in a comfortable pad in South Dublin and retain any credibility.

end of the road · 19-03-2014 11:28PM

A.J.Plumb wrote: »

I do have a problem with the likes of Gogan and Byrne who are tipping their eighties still being given air time.

yet you don't say why you have a problem with them? so i take it its because of their age or you just don't like them, you don't like them, fine don't listen, but because their in their 70s or 80s, not a reason for them not to be given airtime if they pull in the listeners which larry and gay do.

A.J.Plumb wrote: »

the 50 something "Rock DJ " Fanning who dissed the hundred thousand + Garth Brooks fans by his silly comments recently.

ah now were getting somewhere

A.J.Plumb wrote: »

Look pal a "Rock DJ" dosn't live in a comfortable pad in South Dublin and retain any credibility.

really? i and many others say he is well respected and has credibility and pulls in the listeners, he gets a good wage so why shouldn't he live in a house in south dublin if he can afford it and he wants to.

Turn the radio on · 19-03-2014 11:43PM

STB wrote: »

2fm is not funded by the licence fee.

2fm has received 12 million of the licence fee since 2009, that's a published fact.

bbability · 19-03-2014 11:47PM

Turn the radio on wrote: »

2fm has received 12 million of the licence fee since 2009, that's a published fact.

Your obsession with 2fm has been noted

Bard · 20-03-2014 12:39AM

Turn the radio on wrote: »

Good man. if only the internet had more guys like you

It does. They're called "forum moderators".

More Music · 20-03-2014 12:41AM

For Reals wrote: »

.......Your post takes it as normal and okay that it wasn't advertised so therefore its cool that Lottie got it? Accepting that is the problem. We know it happens but taking it as fine and dandy and on your money is a little off, no?

In case I wasn't clear enough earlier.

I'm not disagreeing with the suggested reason Lottie got the gig at all.

I'm opposed to giving it to an inexperienced newbie [whether connected or not) as suggested should be the case below.

Liam92 wrote: »

.....I'd happily accept not getting an advertised radio position if the successful person actually was a newbie in the industry and given a chance to prove themselves. This country is still so backwards.

I said Lottie is just that [unproven etc.] and the only way somebody could get the unadvertised gig is if they had connections in RTE. It's all there in my earlier posts.

Some higher profile slots in TV and radio are filled without advertising the position. Pat Kenny's current gig on Newstalk wasn't advertised, and the slot he left behind on Radio 1 wasn't advertised either. 2 examples of private and public "headhunting".

I don't ever recall seeing an ad for The Right Hook, The Last Word or Drivetime presenters. I have seen plenty of ads from these stations though for journalists, researchers & producers.

Yvonne23R · 20-03-2014 01:02PM

I suppose RTE will advertise only jobs that will be made permanent. I guess a lot of it is finding people in radio schools and the colleges who are good at presenting and fertilising them and growing them on to turn them into talent. It sometimes takes years to make a star broadcaster. I'd say it helps to get in there with the cv and get noticed and get to know some of the existing stars so that they can take people under their wings.

Liam92 · 20-03-2014 01:39PM

More Music wrote: »

In case I wasn't clear enough earlier.

I'm not disagreeing with the suggested reason Lottie got the gig at all.

I'm opposed to giving it to an inexperienced newbie [whether connected or not) as suggested should be the case below.

I said Lottie is just that [unproven etc.] and the only way somebody could get the unadvertised gig is if they had connections in RTE. It's all there in my earlier posts.

Some higher profile slots in TV and radio are filled without advertising the position. Pat Kenny's current gig on Newstalk wasn't advertised, and the slot he left behind on Radio 1 wasn't advertised either. 2 examples of private and public "headhunting".

I don't ever recall seeing an ad for The Right Hook, The Last Word or Drivetime presenters. I have seen plenty of ads from these stations though for journalists, researchers & producers.

Why would I expect a newbie to walk into a primetime slot? I never said that, but the slot given to Lottie on 2FM is hardly primetime or prestigious and would be ideal for someone to establish themselves. I've said this already but she got her opportunities because of her surname and she has had plenty of exposure throughout her life so she's hardly 'new' to the industry.

The likes of BBC Radio 1 have supported new talent over the years and those individuals have gone on to prove themselves. Presenters such as Nick Grimshaw, Annie Mac, & Greg James have moved up the ranks after being given the opportunity to prove themselves. They are presenters who have had opportunities not because of their surnames, but because of their talent alone, which is the way it should always be.

For Reals · 20-03-2014 02:58PM

STB wrote: »

2fm is not funded by the licence fee.

For years it was one of the only profitable and self sustaining elements of RTE the PSB. It was one of the arguements thrown up again and again about 2fm broadcaster pay packets, who were pulling in large listenership and the associated advertsing revenue and sponsorship deals.

This has been addressed as being false, I would add making a profit under the parameters of advertising whilst being subsidised by tax funding isn't really making a profit, (also as I believe 2FM doesn't have it's very own grounds/offices, broadcast towers and equipment completely unattached to RTE).

STB wrote: »

I do agree with degrees of the nepistism arguement in this thread. If you are not good enough, you should not be on the radio full stop, never mind on a national platform.

Agreed.

STB wrote: »

What I do not agree with is the college graduates who expect a job having qualified. Its all over this thread. That is not the way radio works. Radio is a talent based entertainment job. Yes you should use any influence you can to get your foot in the door. You may with hard graft get an opportunity to show talent should you have it. Perserverance is key. Unfortunately the days of pirate radio training like schools no longer exist. There are still plenty of ILRs that pay badly and a few community radio stations that pay nothing at all.

I don't see many saying a kid fresh out the gate should be given a slot on the state broadcaster. If you like Radio, is it not preferable to take talent over family? Imagine the quality improvement if people were hired on merit. Off course foot in the door, who you know, will always play a part, but can that not be in the form of, 'Hire that guy/girl, I worked with him/her in community radio he/she's very good', or 'This guy/girl did some excellent work while at college lets get him/her in as a contributor'?
We may have less pirate stations but we have numerous media courses and you can pick up mixing equipment anywhere. So the days of not knowing one end of a mixing desk from another unless you've family in RTE are also long gone.

STB wrote: »

To be honest I can well understand the I could do that attitude, especially when I hear some of the so called "jocks" on the ILRs. The quality of radio outside the major cities is truly appalling.

Unlike Lottie

More Music wrote: »

....

Some higher profile slots in TV and radio are filled without advertising the position. Pat Kenny's current gig on Newstalk wasn't advertised, and the slot he left behind on Radio 1 wasn't advertised either. 2 examples of private and public "headhunting".

I don't ever recall seeing an ad for The Right Hook, The Last Word or Drivetime presenters. I have seen plenty of ads from these stations though for journalists, researchers & producers.

The 'no worser than' argument never carries weight.
These are private companies and to build on were we agree, of course you'd head hunt for a primetime slot, (unless it's getting RTE family like Tubbs into the LLS).
Giving new kids a start is great. But I think we're agreed no kid would get, or be experienced or skilled enough to be deserving of their own show on RTE...unless Gerry Ryan's daughter.

Evan DietrichSmith · 25-03-2014 07:12PM

Just heard Abi Philbin-Bowman being introduced as a reporter on Arena.

He'd be no relation of John Bowman I'm sure!

Yvonne23R · 25-03-2014 07:32PM

Evan DietrichSmith wrote: »

Just heard Abi Philbin-Bowman being introduced as a reporter on Arena.

He'd be no relation of John Bowman I'm sure!

He is, I believe. He's the son of Dr John and Dr Emer. But he spells it Abie. I believe he's a lovely young lad, and highly talented in his own right. He made all his own breaks. ("Abi" is how Abi Bouchier-Hayes spells the name.)

A.J.Plumb · 26-03-2014 08:49PM

Yvonne23R wrote: »

He is, I believe. He's the son of Dr John and Dr Emer. But he spells it Abie. I believe he's a lovely young lad, and highly talented in his own right. He made all his own breaks. ("Abi" is how Abi Bouchier-Hayes spells the name.)

No Shyt Yvonne ?

Son of Dr John and Dr Emer..well now isn't he the lucky young lad ...two Doctors in the house ..any old cold and flu would be well catered for there .

Made all his own breaks ?..Good man...good man....:cool:

bbability · 26-03-2014 09:12PM

A.J.Plumb wrote: »

No Shyt Yvonne ?

Son of Dr John and Dr Emer..well now isn't he the lucky young lad ...two Doctors in the house ..any old cold and flu would be well catered for there .

Made all his own breaks ?..Good man...good man....:cool:

AJ Plumb is banned for three days. Keep this civil and be courteous to other posters on this forum.

nepotism in state broadcaster..

Comments