RTÉ sports staff 'not happy' about Newstalk presenter Ger Gilroy coming aboard, broadcaster admits
RTÉ management has admitted that internal staff were unhappy with the appointment of former Newstalk presenter Ger Gilroy to host a new sports podcast. The broadcaster defended the hiring process as transparent and merit-based.
Why it matters
This highlights internal tensions within public service broadcasting regarding talent acquisition and editorial independence.
Ger Gilroy helmed Off the Ball on Newstalk for more than 24 years, becoming its managing director in 2018, before joining RTÉ to host the new daily podcast Howler.
RTÉ's sports department was "not happy" that former Off The Ball presenter Ger Gilroy was approached to host a new RTÉ sports podcast, the broadcaster has told an Oireachtas Committee.
Controversy has surrounded the appointment of the popular presenter and whether or not RTÉ had "poached" him from Newstalk. Mr Gilroy told The Irish Times in an interview last week that he had been approached by RTÉ’s head of podcasts, Hugh Ormond, a former Newstalk colleague, about joining RTÉ.
Mr Gilroy helmed Off the Ball on Newstalk for more than 24 years, becoming its managing director in 2018, before joining RTÉ to host the new daily podcast Howler.
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