RTÉ MD of News Retires
RTÉ's Director General Noel Curran has announced significant changes to staff and editorial management at RTÉ. This follows the Broadcasting Authorities of Ireland's (BAI) statement on their investigation into the Prime Time Investigates documentary A Mission To Prey. Ed Mullhall is to retire from his position of Managing Director of RTÉ News and Current Affairs.
RTÉ Director-General Noel Curran said: "Pending the conclusion of the BAI process in relation to A Mission to Prey, RTÉ must deal on an ongoing basis with issues which clearly arise in respect of Current Affairs programming, and with important decisions which have been taken in recent weeks at personnel level. Today's announcements are being made in this context. We cannot comment on any matters directly concerning the programme or the Investigation at this time, but all matters will be dealt with on completion of the BAI review."
RTÉ remains committed to Investigative Journalism as part of its core Public Service remit. A planned new Current Affairs Investigations Unit is to be set up to provide content for Television, Radio and Online services.
Prime Time Investigates has been axed, a new series for TV will be announced before the Autumn Schedule in August.
TV current affairs management and structures will be restructured in line with improved editorial controls.
An external recruitment will begin to replace two senior executives and five senior posts in Television News and Current Affairs.
All journalist will be trained in new Journalism Guidelines at RTÉ. A new Editorial Standards Board will oversee the implementation of these standards and will take a role in a revised complaints procedure.
On the retirement of Ed Mulhall, Noel Curran stated "RTÉ wishes to thank Ed Mulhall for his dedication, professionalism and commitment to RTÉ and to its core public broadcast services in News and Current Affairs and to the management of its Newsroom operations and staff. Ed's expertise and wisdom have made an invaluable contribution to our organization and I personally offer my sincere gratitude to him for all that he has done."
Mr. Mulhall made a statement to the press "It has been a privilege to have been entrusted with the important responsibilities of Director of News and MD of News and Current Affairs and to have worked with such professional and dedicated colleagues. I am grateful to the Director General for his support at this time and throughout the time I have spent working with him in Current Affairs, Television and in his capacity as Director General. I wish him well in his leadership of the organization at a time of great change and development and wish all of my colleagues well in the tasks ahead."
Ken O'Shea, Editor of Current Affairs, is to now move to RTÉ Two and will report to its Commissioning Editor.
RTÉ is to also set up an External Investigation Board, it will report back on personnel matters and make recommendation on RTÉ personnel involve in the Mission to Prey documentary The members are :- Maurice Hayes, Richard Ayre and Gaye Cunningham. They will report back to RTÉ HR, they are not available for comment.