Kieran Allen.
Michael Clifford.
Karl Deeter.
John Drennan.
Diarmuid Ferriter.
Fergus Finlay.
Maureen Gaffney.
Constantin Gurgdiev.
Eoghan Harris.
Eddie Hobbs.
Gemma Hussey.
Pat Leahy.
Tina Leonard.
Diarmaid McDermott.
Sean McDonagh.
Michael McDowell.
Harry McGee.
Tom McGurk.
Joseph O’Connor.
Mary-Louise O’Donnell.
Niall O’Dowd.
Emer O’Kelly.
Olivia O’Leary.
Michael O’Regan.
Mary O’Rourke.
Fintan O’Toole.
Jim Power.
Terry Prone.
David Quinn.
Fionnan Sheehan.
John Waters.
Noel Whelan.
Fine people all of them, but here’s the thing. I’ve heard each one of them so many times on panel discussions, talking about everything from the latest euro-crisis to the mysteries of twitter, that I can pretty much predict their opinions on the topic of your choice. And yet I know that by the end of the week, I’ll have heard at least half of those voices again, some several times, sharing their worldview with Mary Wilson or George Hook or Pat Kenny.
And every time they share their now-predictable worldviews, they do a little bit to limit everyone else’s worldview too.
Wouldn’t it be nice if the researchers working for RTÉ, Newstalk and Todayfm tried to get through one week without any of them, and let us hear a few fresh voices on the airwaves.
I’m not on the list. Devastated! 😉
Just remember, as a former producer in RTE television, dont look for conspiracy when it doesn’t exist. It’s usually incompetance. Or more to the point; lack-of-time, or reliance on contacts who deliver when you’re in a fix/edit suite overtime and TX coming like a train. Btw your missus in IFA rocks x
I never mentioned conspiracy. And my attitude to conspiracy theories was pretty much summed up by Sir Bernard Ingram when he said “Many journalists have fallen for the conspiracy theory of government. I do assure you that they would produce more accurate work if they adhered to the cock-up theory.”
But seriously, why not a week where instead of researchers reaching for the black book of Irish Times correspondents, a short editorial meeting brainstorms a few new names. As a freelance myself, I have a vested interest in hacks interviewing hacks, but honestly, there are thousands of pressure groups, academics and campaigners out there. There are even PR flacks and commentators who aren’t the Usual Suspects.
If a humble freelance like myself can attract regular press releases from all those people and groups just because I run a blog and get by-lined semi-regularly, I imagine the inbox of every radio programme is crammed with regular releases. Use that data.
One week. Seriously. You could even make it a project. How about from 26 December to 2 January? It’s the holidays, so the regulars would no doubt be glad of a break anyway. You might even spot some new talent.
Agree with every word you say and every person on the list but you should also add Niamh Lyons and Sarah McInerney. They’re never off the airwaves.
I agree with the above, and I want to hear more Women on Air.
It starts to look like a circle-jerk of (lets face it) bored and inexpert people talking
shyte.
Couldn’t agree more. I think it is laziness but in the same way that some of our best known broadcasters are being over used, other talent and fresh views are being ignored and we are the poorer for it.