Northern Ireland news thread

The death has been announced of David Dunseith, who worked at UTV and BBC Northern Ireland in a career spanning almost 40 years. It's reported he was aged 78.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-13985089

http://www.u.tv/News/Veteran-broadcaster-David-Dunseith-dies/a869da22-1306-4461-b797-316a198ff7d5

He worked on UTV Reports and Counterpoint at Ulster Television, before moving on to working for BBC NI, most notably spending twenty years as host of BBC Radio Ulster's Talkback before retiring in 2009.

A further tribute on the BBC News website: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-13812385; many broadcasters and politicians have also paid their respects via Twitter and David's name is currently trending in the UK.

I'm very sad to hear of David's death; his measured approach to asking questions and tolerating difficult answers was admirable and highly worthy of respect, as well as his knack of articulating what his listeners and viewers really thought of current affairs and politics in Northern Ireland.

However, I take comfort he's now reunited with his beloved wife Roisin who he lost last year... my thoughts and prayers are with his family.

Here here Col. I have spent many a lunchtime listening to the musings of David Dunseith and his regular contributors. That stirring old Talk Back theme tune will, for me, forever be associated with David's often subtle but always authoritative tones.

His passion for his job was obvious, and its worth noting that he continued to present 'Seven Days' on Radio Ulster right up until May of this year.

I think the last few paragraphs of an article currently on the BBC News NI website sum up David's personality perfectly:



A wonderful broadcaster, and a great ambassador for local journalism.

Must say, what a fine appointment BBC NI have made putting Jim Fitzpatrick as Business/Economics Editor, a great nod to his newspaper origins and he showed tonight on BBC Newsline how strong a command he has of his new brief; communicated concisely and confidently. He certainly complements the equally fine Jamie Delargy on UTV - business reporting on Northern Irish TV is in a more buoyant state than the economy itself.

And who on earth at Havoc House thought that girl who presented the weather presenter, Sarah McClafferty, is worthy of screen time? Yet another example of awful, child-like enunication which is painful to hear and watch. She makes Frank Mitchell look professional. Has Pamela Ballantine already worked her forty-day allowance? Where's David McGeagh gone?

Is Sarah Clarke expecting? Michelle Napier too perhaps?

Any idea why Marc Mallett has disappeared off to ITV News for a week?

Presumably offered an opporunity to try out a week at ITN with hopes for a job there - as Andrea Benfield, Lucy Owen and Lucy Meacock have been in the past (albeit as a newscaster, not a reporter)

He's Tweeted this evening he's off to Turkey to cover the murder of the two women from Newry for the network.

Were any of Marc's reports on this story featured on UTV Live today?

I flicked on BBC One NI on Freeview at about 10.20pm last night only to see Asad Ahmad on BBC London News, and a red BBC One strap which said 'We apologise to viewers in Northern Ireland. We are unable to bring you BBC Newsline'.

According to http://twitter.com/#!/bbconeni, it seems there were some major problems with digital and cable services in Northern Ireland on Sunday evening and into this morning. I wonder what happened?

Also, the BBC Breakfast opt-out bulletins were broadcast on analogue only. Digital viewers got BBC London opt-outs instead.

Thought it was worth noting today a judicial ruling has been decided which, with effect of this afternoon, allows journalists reporting on the in-court activities in the ongoing UVF supergrass trial (Mark Simpson for the BBC, Sharon O'Neill for UTV) via their Twitter feeds - a landmark moment in how news agencies cover such stories.

Personally, it's at first disconcerting to read Tweets coming through on my feed reporting on what's just been said in the courtroom, but it's certainly a precedent for what could eventually happen to the reporting of court activity in NI, England and Wales - and shouldn't be underestimated IMO.

According to Alan in Belfast's blog, Editor of the News Letter, Darwin Templeton, is taking over as News Editor at UTV "this autumn".

Source: http://alaninbelfast.blogspot.com/2011/09/newspaper-cheese-from-habit-into-hobby.html

Templeton was a UTV reporter in the early 2000s, moving from news to the Insight team, before moving into his editorial role. I'm unsure if he's replacing Rob Morrison (Head of News) or Chris Hagan (Editor of News) at present.

It'll be interesting to see what this means for news and current affairs at HavHo nonetheless...

In NI for the weekend...

BBC NI have plenty of high-profile newsroom staff covering the Presidental Election count in Dublin today: Noel Thompson and Mark Devenport at Dublin Castle; while Wendy Austin has been at the RDS for Radio Ulster's Talkback. Wasn't expecting such.