Journalism students invite media professionals to campus

Denise Calnan

AS part of their final semester, the BA Journalism & New Media class of 2012 are inviting media personalities to the university as part of the Current Issues in Irish Media Seminar Series.

Some of the guests will include the Executive Editor of the Irish Examiner Dolan O’Hagan, thejournal.ie Editor Susan Daly, Irish Times Online Editor Hugh Linehan, Malachy Browne from politico.ie and storyful.ie, Irish Time Financial Correspondent Simon Carswell, CNN Golf Anchor Shane O’Donoghue, RTE Crime Correspondent Paul Reynolds and Hot Press Deputy Editor Stuart Clark.

The guests are invited to speak on a range of issues they see in the world of Irish media today. The hosting students then publicly interview the guest before questions are open to the floor. Any students with an interest in the public figure are invited to attend each seminar.

Kieran Foley and Denise Calnan, two of the students in the course have already hosted a public interview with Cathy Halloran, RTE’s Mid-West Correspondent last February 28.

“It was a great experience to interview Cathy,” Kieran said, “She was such a relaxed person to spend the day with and was very honest in what she said to the students about her working day and how she got to where she is in her career today. People had plenty to ask her and there was a great atmosphere in the room. Cathy didn’t even bat an eyelid when the Nearly-Naked Mile ran past the window.”

Neil Treacy and Orla Walsh have partnered up to invite CNN Golf Anchor Shane O’Donoghue to the Seminar Series and are both excited at the prospect of interviewing the CNN “Living Golf” programme host, originally hailing from Tipperary.

“Myself and Orla can’t wait to speak to Shane. He’s quite a big name in the world of golf. He’s worked with RTE, BBC and now the CNN, it’s great to get someone from such a big network to come speak at the university,” Neil said.

“He’ll be able to speak about the differences between broadcasting in Ireland and the U.S which should be interesting. It’s a great time in Irish golf too at the moment with names like Rory McIlroy, Padraig Harrington and Graeme McDowell on the scene so it should be good to hear an Irish person speak about Irish golf at the moment.”

Deirdre Allen and Sharon Whelton, both in their final semester of Journalism and New Media have invited RTE Crime Correspondent Paul Reynolds to the university.

“Myself and Deirdre are very flattered to be honest,” Sharon said, “To have such a nenowned figure in his area of expertise come to the university is impressive. It should be a good interview and myself and Deirdre are really looking forward to it.”