Tiernan left RTÉ after 23 years last month.
Former south-east correspondent Damien Tiernan has hit out at RTÉ for its regional news coverage and also said he is “disgusted” by their reaction to his criticism.
Tiernan, who recently stepped down after 23 years with the broadcaster, said in an interview with the Sunday Business Post that one of his reasons for leaving RTÉ was down to the broadcaster’s “slashing” of regional coverage.
He also said that RTÉ had decreased the number of stories it had taken from its correspondents and criticised cost cutting measures.
Tiernan said during the interview that RTÉ’s Waterford studio produced an average of 220 TV radio stories a year in the early 00s but that this has now been cut to between 50-60 each year.
Responding to the interview, managing director of RTÉ News Jon Williams tweeted that the station has invested in local reporting and questioned Tiernan’s definition of the word “slashing”.
RTÉ told The Sunday Business Post they did not accept Tiernan’s figures on the Waterford studio output.
Agree RTÉ has brilliant correspondents – which is a why we’ve just appointed new regional correspondents in Dundalk & Belfast. Odd definition of “slashing”. Wish @damienwlrfm every success in new role.https://t.co/GwhiepZ70q
— Jon Williams (@WilliamsJon) February 3, 2019
Tiernan responded to Williams in a series of tweets where he said he was disappointed with RTÉ’s disputing of his figures.
“Am disgusted, disappointed but not surprised by RTÉ basically calling me a liar with my figures Jon; RTÉ does not recognize [sic] my figures because RTÉ doesn’t care enough to ask someone to count them. And you were forced re reappoint NE Corr by unions after ye tried to downgrade role.
“If you want to get into a public spat with me bring it on but I have better things to do (like playing an over 35 soccer match); I love RTÉ more than you will ever know.
“And one thing, the Regional section on the website and app is a joke,” he said.
Tiernan announced that he was leaving RTÉ at the start of January and has since started working at WLR FM.
To Whom It Concerns:
I am leaving RTE.
I have been with the organisation 23 years.
Thank you to everyone with whom I have worked, especially my colleagues in the South East.
I will be finishing the end of next week.
Thank you and good luck,
Damien.
— Damien Tiernan (@damienwlr) January 1, 2019
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