Noel Curran
| Noel Curran | |
|---|---|
| Born |
1967 (age 48–49) County Monaghan, Ireland |
| Residence | Carrickmacross, County Monaghan |
| Nationality | Irish |
| Ethnicity | Caucasian |
| Citizenship | Irish |
| Education | Dublin City University (DCU) |
| Occupation | Radio and television producer, editor in chief |
| Employer | Raidió Teilifís Éireann (RTÉ) |
| Known for | Director-General of RTÉ |
| Salary | €250,000 (2011)[1] |
| Term | 1 February 2011 – 1 February 2016 (or later if extension sought and approved) |
| Predecessor | Cathal Goan |
| Spouse(s) | Eimear Quinn |
Noel Curran (born 1967 in County Monaghan, Ireland)[2] is a radio and television producer and current Director-General of RTÉ. He joined Raidió Teilifís Éireann (RTÉ) as an investigative reporter in 1992 after a period working as a business journalist for Business & Finance magazine. While working at 'Business & Finance' Curran was involved in several prominent investigations, most notably into the controversial collapse of Ballybay Meats. He became Deputy Editor of Business & Finance before leaving for RTE. He joined Current Affairs as a financial reporter before becoming a Television producer.
He then became Executive Producer of live Entertainment series and productions.[3] He produced Kenny Live and The Late Late Show. He also produced Eurosong and a live international fashion show at the Point Theatre before being appointed as Executive Producer of the Eurovision Song Contest 1997, held in Dublin and presented by Ronan Keating and Carrie Crowley. His younger brother is Richard Curran, Deputy Editor of the 'Sunday Business Post' and presenter of TV's 'Dragons Den' series.
Curran left RTÉ in 2000 to join an independent production company. As an independent producer he won an IFTA award as Executive Producer of the investigative documentary 'Bad Blood', which revealed the role of major pharmaceutical companies in selling blood products infected with the HIV virus to Irish hospitals. He returned to RTÉ as Editor of Current Affairs, where he helped launch the Prime Time Investigates series of documentaries. In 2003, he was appointed Managing Director of TV. He led a policy of increased investment in Irish production. That investment reached a peak of over 170 million Euro. He was appointed Director-General of RTÉ from 1 February 2011 on 9 November 2010, succeeding Cathal Goan who had decided to retire after Goan's first term that ended at end January 2011. Since becoming Director General Curran has made a number of speeches on the theme of the Digital Future of Broadcasting in Ireland. [4]
Career
Curran was born in Carrickmacross, County Monaghan where he attended both primary and secondary school. He studied Communications in Dublin City University where he specialised in Broadcasting Policy and Public Service Broadcasting in particular. He joined RTÉ in 1992 as a reporter and went on to produce and become editor in RTÉ Television.[5][6] He was executive producer of Eurovision Song Contest 1997 for RTÉ Television and completed two terms as Editor of Current Affairs in the News Division. He was Editor of the Mary Raftery documentaries 'Cardinal Secrets' and 'Broken Trust'. He established the Prime Time Investigates programme strand. He joined RTÉ's Executive as Managing Director of Television in 2003.
In March 2010, Curran left RTÉ to pursue a consultancy and other private business interests before being interviewed and then appointed DG by the RTÉ Board effective from 1 February 2011 in November 2010.[5][1]
Speaking at his alma mater Dublin City University in October 2011, Curran admitted RTÉ had paid its presenters too much money and "We may, during this process of renegotiation lose some of our most talented and loved presenters to our competitors. That would be very regrettable, but if some choose to leave, we will adjust, find new voices and new ways to deliver services and programmes."[7][8] He described the broadcasting of "Mission to Prey", the 2011 programme that defamed Fr. Kevin Reynolds by falsely claiming he had raped a teenage girl and fathered a child by her in Kenya, as "one of the gravest editorial mistakes ever made" at RTÉ.[9] He has also made a number of public statements about public service broadcasting, Ireland's broadcasting policy and RTÉ's future role.
References
- 1 2 Colin Coyle (7 March 2009). "Ryan Tubridy joins pay-cut volunteers". The Sunday Times (London). Retrieved 5 July 2010.
- ↑ Leech, Harry (29 August 2010). "Profile: Noel Curran". The Irish Independent. Retrieved 13 February 2011.
- ↑ Ronan McGreevy (9 November 2010). "Curran named RTÉ director general". The Irish Times. Retrieved 13 February 2011.
- ↑ Eamon Ryan (9 November 2010). "Minister Ryan welcomes appointment of Noel Curran as new Director General of RTÉ". Retrieved 3 February 2011.
- 1 2 "Curran named as RTÉ's next Director General". RTÉ News. 10 November 2010. Retrieved 13 February 2011.
- ↑ "RTÉ Executive Board: Director-General - Noel Curran". RTÉ Press Centre. Retrieved 13 February 2011.
- ↑ "RTÉ To Reduce Fees, Even if Talent Flee". IFTN. 18 October 2011.
- ↑ "Noel Curran, the RTE pay-cuts and some brilliant propaganda". JOE. 18 October 2011.
- ↑ Cullen, Paul; McGreevy, Ronan (23 November 2011). "RTÉ shelves investigative series and concedes 'grave mistake'". The Irish Times. Retrieved 23 November 2011.
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