RTE Radio shake-up and why we care

So, there seems to be some unrest in the Irish broadcasting world. I imagine time will tell whether the execs in charge of the shake-up will be remembered as geniuses or idiots. Competition brings out the best and worst in everyone, but if you don't pay the bills, you're out the door. That is for certain.

So, why do we care here at yojayy.blogspot.com? Ryan Tubridy is my first cousin. And besides, it was time time for a much needed break from "The 5-minute man" mania that has gripped this site for the past week.

(If you want to follow the link, you need to register with unison.ie. Of course, there's always www.bugmenot.com).

RTE fears mass radio defections Sunday July 2nd 2006
FRANK KHAN

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The latest shake-up in RTE Radio, involving between 50 and 60 staff, sent shock waves through the station on Thursday and Friday when thosebeing moved were told of the changes "on the telephone by line managers".
But the decisions for the dramatic shake-up which has hit top programmes such as the Pat Kenny Show, Marian Finucane Show, Liveline and the Ryan Tubridy Show were taken by Managing Director of Radio, Adrian Moynes, and the new radio chief, Ana Leddy.
The latest changes come less than a month after Ms Leddy reshaped the Radio One schedule, controversially axing the arts programme Rattlebag and John Kelly's Mystery Train while relegating John Creedon to a late-night spot.
Ms Leddy joined RTE from BBC Radio Foyle less than five months ago and has quickly set about the shake-up which sources say has sent morale plummeting.
Worst hit by this week's changes was the Tubridy Show which has lost its entire backroom staff while the other programmes have had their staff of reporters andresearchers moved to other areas.
Among them was Tubridy's roving reporter Katriona McFadden - who is moving to the Dave Fanning Show .
Worried presenters will now find their shows short-handed even as they gear up to face what is expected to be aggressive Newstalk106 competition. The source added: "People were just told they were being taken off a programme and there is apparently no recourse. They've been scattered to the four winds."
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There was speculation that Eamon Keane would take over as producer of the Ryan Tubridy Show . He is understood to have been offered the position but turned it down. Keane has been presenting the popular Round Midnight programme.
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Last night Seamus Dooley, the Irish Secretary of the National Union of Journalists (NUJ) said: "We have been disturbed at RTE's lack of consultation with the RTE Group of Unions. Changes could have been handled more sensitively and we have requested a meeting with Ms Leddy which is expected to take place in the next two weeks."