The "Lite FM" thread

[Euan Roberts]

Does anyone know if Lite FM has found his or her Head of News yet? This is in light of them advertising for this position once the vacancy arose way back in March 2001 after the departure of the very talented Breda Brown now involved in Public Relations. Apparently, Lite FM have for the past 18 months been very quiet about this Head of News saga involving what is meant to be an integral part of any Radio station.

I’ll base this post on the present assumption that they haven’t found anyone as yet, and given the fact they haven’t bothered to publicize any such appointment to the media. Nevertheless, Eileen Brophy has been their temporary head of News since August 2001 and seems to be enjoying it very much from what I hear from insiders. Have Scott Williams and Martin Block not offered Eileen this highly responsible and stressful position? And if not why not? In addition, does she want such a job given the constraints attached to this News position? Been an experienced radio journalist herself, and having been involved with Limerick 95 Fm some years ago. Now are they offering enough goodies considering what the job entails? Lots of grief I’m sure from Lite FM management to ensure the highest quality standards in journalism that Lite Fm are allegedly so interested in offering their small but solid listener ship

Here’s the intriguing puzzle, a number of well-known names were interviewed for this position last year and none were successful. The people in question were Vere Wynn Jones, Weekend Sports (Anchor on Lite FM) and still are. Tara Duggan former news anchor on Lite Fm, now working on 98 FM as their deputy head of News for their afternoon slot. She naturally was offered more money. Gerry O’Connor (Head of INN) and still is. Mark Costigan (Head of News at Today Fm and still is. So why weren’t one of these chosen individuals chosen as Head of News for Lite FM, given they all have a wealth of experience behind them. I guess it must money and other conditions relating to the job spec.

Furthermore, how does Lite FM explain the sudden demise of around 6 part time weekend journalists at the end of July 2001 from their newsroom? Their apparent explanation was that they weren’t required any more given that Lite FM would not be taking any more Live News Bulletins after 7 in the evening time. Instead they were taking the INN news service where many of you may have noticed the lack of Dublin stories.

Anyway, Lite’s news bulletin’s, I think are mediocre at the best of times. I find them weak on Entertainmen,t and Lifestyles topics and strong on Political stories. This must be Eileen Brophy’s influence on her knowing so many people in political circles. In addition, I do find the news pace very slow as if they are always short of news stories to report on. What are they afraid of? Are they afraid because they are a 35 – 54 plus station and their audience won’t like news items about sex or just good-natured humor. Their news needs a serious injection of wit and their news journalists need to sound less wooden, less formal, but more relaxed and good-humored when reading their news bulletin’s.

Euan Roberts.

[Dogger]

Mark Costigan is Chief Reporter at TodayFM, Noel Shannon's Head of News

[Wheatus]

Euan -

a) Eileen Brophy was appointed as Head of News shortly after the post was advertised. Your "insiders" mustn't be "in" all that much not to know that.

b) Tara Duggan is NOT deputy Head of News at 98FM at any time of the day - Teena Gates is. All day.

c) Jerry O'Connor is no longer as head of INN - he is head of news at Spin 1038.

d) As Dogger pointed out - Mark Costigan is Chief Reporter at Today FM, Noel Shannon's Head of News.

e) The sudden "demise" of around 6 part time weekend journalists at the end of July 2001 was more than likely a budgetary move: too much money for too little audience. From what I remember, the hacks in question weren't that good anyway...

[Euan Roberts]

Wheetus,

Fair enough, i take some of your points. So i'm out of date and i got it wrong, big deal, it's not the end of the world.

I would just like to say you're completely wrong in your conclusion on why six journalists disappeared from the airwaves of Lite FM. I dispute what you say when you suggest they weren't that good. In fact i thought at least 2 of those journalists were excellent on the air and off the air in their news gathering. I happen to of known these people on a personal level.

Stephen Burke
Michael Clear

Don't make assumptions concerning that issue, whatever about anything else i said in my post

Lite FM clearly misjudged the situation like they do with everything at that place. So don't try and defend these people and their selfish and greedy decisions by getting rid of good staff.
Having worked as a journalist there, i wouldn't recommend it to anyone even if they were desperate for money.

[waytogo]

Euan,

Your views are clearly born out of what happened to you at Lite. Well I am afraid that the radio industry is one of the most unsecure cut throat industries around and there is no such thing as security. Put such bad experiences down to "charachter building" and devote your energies to moving on. If you can cope with being axed from time to time, then perhaps you should stack shelves at Superquinn.

[Euan Roberts]

Waytogo,

just to clarify, to you and others, i wasn't given my marching orders or anything like that, i left that station by own accord, having found a a job eleswhere that's all. Nevertheless, I take your points concerning the radio industry. And yes, i'm character building at the moment and have moved on. Furthermore, i did do work similiar to stacking shelves in Supequinn. And might add there is nothing with doing such work, having done it myself when i was younger.

In relation, to management policies at Lite Fm, that is a matter for them, but all i will say is bullyboy tactics, agression, low pay all added to me getting out of there, and i'm glad i did. The place may of changed since fourteen months ago, however i doubt very much. And just to point out, i found all my colleagues wonderful to work with. There is no sour grapes on my behalf. As you say that is past tense

[Euan Roberts]

Lite FM have attempted to re-brand their station by way of a new Station slogan. "LITE MUSIC" as opposed to "the original "ALL TIMW FAVOURITES". I guess the former would appear to be specific and more ear-catching for their very small but solid listenership of 12% audience reach and 7% market share. The question one should ask could they get any LITER? Oh yes with great ease i assure you.

In other words, their subtle changes in music will be reflected basically by leaving out anything remotely boardering on mid-tempo, for example "Bruce Springsteen " and "Dancing in the Dark". Lite Fm's PD for some strange reason considered such a song to be easy-listening. The question i ask him would he consider Van Halen's song Jump to be Lite Music. yes i would say.

So i guess Bruce's song is less likely to get airplay on Lite Fm from now on, seeing as though they have decided to finally spell out to their audience that they do play only LITE MUSIC and not ALL-TIME FAVOURITES. With the latter they could probalby get away with playing many more types of songs, now they have literally made themselves even more repititive sounding. But you know the sad thing about their re-branding efforts is no new LITE MUSIC will be explored because they are scared of change, afraid of taking risks,and afraid of exploring any other avenues. And yes, they will never match their previous dizzy heights of 18% back in their first year of broadcasting. If they are lucky they will stay and sit at 11% for the next ten years. As long as their happy. I just don't have to listen that often.


Finally one thing does strike me about such a station and that concerns their "LITE JAZZ"show where they play a brilliant hour of music and then revert to normal predictable sounds thereafter. I guess the prospect of subtley introducing a more "EASY-LISTENING style JAZZ" music to the station is really out of the question. One wonders how it would be received through audience and music research. Have they ever bothered to try such a project? Just a thought. One is allowed to fantasize about radio now and again. Ah well, i know these people in radio laugh and joke about my posts. That's their problem.