Ructions in RTÉ newsroom over ‘insulting, bizarre’ interview process for news anchor role | Irish IndependentNiamh Horan,Today at 05:30
Flor Lynch
Candidates were asked to write a 1,000-word essay to tell their bosses why they should be chosen as newsreader
More dramas behind the scenes at RTE with a further shake up in TV line-up
e are “ructions” in the RTÉ news and current affairs department following the interview process for the job of Six One newsreader, sources have told the Sunday Independent.
Speaking this weekend, several sources in RTÉ said that a number of journalists were “very annoyed” at the way the appointment process was carried out.
One person expressed disbelief at how management had informed the candidates who were keen to land the role that they would have to write a 1,000-word essay to tell their bosses why they should be chosen as the Six One news anchor.
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“You have people who have been senior journalists for decades and you’re asking them to write 1,000 words on why they would be a good news anchor? It was childish. Bizarre. A complete farce and incredibly insulting,” the source said.
“You are either good in front of the camera or you’re not. You can either interview or you can’t. All of that is pretty obvious once someone gets in front of the camera. And they want you to write a 1,000-word essay on why you would be a good anchor? It was incredibly insulting.
No, the teacher never marked the report cards
“Some of these people were effectively applying for their own jobs.”
The comments come as Tommy Meskill becomes the youngest ever male newsreader to take the helm of RTÉ’s Six One news at the age of 31. The Clare man follows in the footsteps of high-profile names such as Éamonn Lawlor, Anne Doyle and Bryan Dobson.
The source said that “nobody had any issue with Tommy Meskill getting the job. It was the way management handled it”.
They added: “There is definitely a feeling that RTÉ had already picked Tommy for the job and that the essay process was a ‘box-ticking’ exercise to cover themselves.”
RTÉ bosses had told potential candidates that the essay competition was a way to discover a candidate’s “vision” for the role on the flagship news programme.
Anne Doyle previously helmed the 'Six One' slot
Within a week of writing the essays, all unsuccessful candidates received a phone call from management informing them that they didn’t get the job. Asked if they received feedback on their essays, the source said: “No, the teacher never marked the report cards.”
The Six One news first went on air on October 3, 1988, with broadcasters Seán Duignan and Eileen Dunne the first to present the now-nightly news programme. Meskill is currently working as RTÉ’s London correspondent and was covering the British-Irish Council in Wales when the news of his appointment was announced. The journalist described it as a “huge honour” to take on the role alongside Sharon Tobin.
“The Six One news plays a crucial role in shaping the news agenda in Ireland. Its strength depends on the work of almost the entire newsroom, which is why it’s such a cherished part of what we do,” he said. When contacted about the application process, an RTÉ spokeswoman said: “The role of Six One news presenter is one of the most important journalist positions within the organisation.
This is a standard practice for key editorial and senior roles within the organisation
“The presenters conduct major interviews daily, as well as scripting and dealing with breaking-news situations on RTÉ’s flagship news programme.
“A thorough HR process was held recently for this position in which those interested were asked to submit a cover letter, CV and a short paper (max 1,000 words) outlining their vision for the role. This is a standard practice for key editorial and senior roles within the organisation. RTÉ has not had any issues raised with management regarding this.”
It is understood that all applicants for positions such as Washington correspondent, social affairs and religion correspondent, and policy and analysis correspondent were requested to complete similar tasks.
Meanwhile, several names have been suggested as a likely successor for Sean Whelan when he finishes his role as RTÉ’s Washington correspondent. He has served in that role since March 2022.
RTÉ'S Washington correspondent Sean Whelan. Photo: Steve Langan
Reporter Jackie Fox is believed to be interested in the job, while there are also suggestions that RTÉ could opt for their global security reporter Yvonne Murray, who is based in New York.
Ms Fox has worked at RTÉ for 14 years as a multimedia journalist. During that time she also co-presented the States of Mind podcast during the most recent US elections.
Murray previously worked for the BBC. In 2018, she re-established RTÉ’s presence in China where she charted the rise of China’s economy, and its growing influence on the world stage.
In 2021, she was forced to leave China amid concerns for the safety of her husband, John Sudworth, who was China correspondent for BBC News.
In 2022, RTÉ News appointed Murray as its new global security reporter based at the United Nations in New York.