Ailbhe Conneely
Newtownmountkennedy,Wicklow
Summary
Experienced senior journalist working in a semi state organisation with extensive background in communications. I bring attention to detail, hard work and dedication to any role. Best summed up by a member of the European Parliament as "pragmatic"!
Overview
20
20
years of professional experience
8
8
years of post-secondary education
Work history
Social Affairs and Religion Correspondent
RTÉ
Donnybrook, Dublin
03.2020 - Current
- Social Affairs is a broad brief that covering a wide range of subjects including housing, immigration, home care, mental health, disabled people, the Traveller community, drug abuse, domestic abuse, sexual abuse, child abuse, gender based violence and human rights. I cover stories that contextualise policy and legislation affecting people's lives. I am the lead editorial correspondent in the RTÉ Newsroom in the brief. I work with Management, Editors and reporters to ensure balanced, objective reporting on social affairs. The nature of the wide brief also means that I have to delegate.
- The Religion brief is centered on reflecting Ireland's changing society through our coverage. While there are many more religions in Ireland, than the past, Catholicism continues to dominate. Therefore, my role has involved working in Rome and building up contacts in the Vatican City. I also took the decision to pull the latest CSO census into my brief to enable me to report on all the latest census findings, including statistics around religions in Ireland today.
- As a Correspondent I report and contextualise breaking news stories and features. To do this, I work with a team of people including Editors, Producers, Camerapeople, Craft Editors and Studio Gallery Staff.
- To enable victims, survivors and members of the public to tell what are often difficult, personal stories, I have to build trust with them, which takes time, patience and effort. Much of this is done away from the Office.
- The role also requires a knowledge of how legislation, policy and politics works to explain to the public what is happening behind the headlines.
Nine O'Clock News Reporter
RTÉ News
Donnybrook, Dublin
02.2019 - 03.2020
- I was the dedicated reporter on the Nine O'Clock News for a year where I reported on breaking news stories and reaction (reax) reports to headline stories.
- The position enabled me to also conduct in depth reports on issues like Direct Provision, Children in Foster Care and difficulties around the recruitment and retention of Social Workers.
Political Reporter
RTÉ News
Leinster House, Dublin
01.2013 - 01.2019
- As a Political Reporter I monitored the Dáil, the Seanad and Committees. This involved feeding back relevant news stories to the Editorial desk, to Correspondents and attending press conferences on the plinth of Leinster House. Initially we reported for TV bulletins, Radio bulletins, the News at One and the nightly programme Oireachtas Report.
- As Digital became the dominant form of media, our stories centered around filing and prioritising online. Oireachtas Report eventually ended however, the team continued to report for TV, Radio and The Week in Politics.
- The role also involved reporting from political party conferences around the country.
- I took on the role of lead reporter for the Referendum on the Eighth Amendment which meant covering the Oireachtas Committee meetings preceding the Referendum. Reporting on such a sensitive topic objectively, impartially and fairly on behalf of the Public Service Broadcaster proved to be invaluable experience.
News Reporter
RTÉ
Donnybrook, Dublin
01.2003 - 12.2012
- I started working in the RTÉ Newsroom at the age of 23 on the Children's News Programme News2day as the first presenter. It continues to broadcast today and recently celebrated 20 years. It provides daily news to children aged between 6 and 12 years in an accessible way.
- Following News2day I honed my skills as a reporter in the Newsroom by moving to various desks including 2fm News, News on Two (a television news programme aimed at young adults), Morning Ireland, the News at One and various elections.
- I was one of the first reporters to be trained as a self editor - which meant that the camera footage was loaded and edited by me and sent to air. I was also trained as a video journalist.
Education
Post Graduate Studies - Journalism and Communications
National University of Ireland, Galway
Galway 09.2001 - 05.2002
Bachelor of Arts - English and History
National University of Ireland, Galway
Galway 09.1998 - 05.2001
Leaving Certificate - Irish, English, Maths (P), French, Art, Geography, Home Economics
Portumna Community School
Galway, County Galway 09.1993 - 06.1998
Skills
- Articulate communicator
- People skills
- Team player
- Writing and Editing
- Content creation
- Story development
- A knowledge of media
- Digitally adept
- A knowledge of politics, legislation and policy
- Social Media Management
- Good time manager
- Excellent at working to deadlines
- Networking and relationship building
- Strategic planning
Languages
English
Native
Irish
Intermediate
Timeline
Social Affairs and Religion Correspondent
RTÉ
03.2020 - Current
Nine O'Clock News Reporter
RTÉ News
02.2019 - 03.2020
Political Reporter
RTÉ News
01.2013 - 01.2019
News Reporter
RTÉ
01.2003 - 12.2012
Post Graduate Studies - Journalism and Communications
National University of Ireland, Galway
09.2001 - 05.2002
Bachelor of Arts - English and History
National University of Ireland, Galway
09.1998 - 05.2001
Leaving Certificate - Irish, English, Maths (P), French, Art, Geography, Home Economics
Portumna Community School
09.1993 - 06.1998