I’m a whistleblower and not a disloyal traitor says RTE’s ‘secret producer’
Anonymous Twitter account detailing woes within national broadcaster is causing quite a stir in Montrose
A SECRET Twitter account holder, who claims to be an RTÉ producer, has hit back at the broadcaster amid claims that they are being ‘disloyal’.
For just over a week, a Twitter account written by someone claiming to be an anonymous RTÉ producer has been causing quite the stir at Montrose. The account, @rtesecretpro has been tweeting details of the internal workings and problems, as they see them, at the State broadcaster.
The account is critical of the lack of programmes being made internally at RTÉ, the difficulties in making good television, the decision to outsource young people’s content and the poor work ethic in some departments.
The State broadcaster issued an internal message to staff on Friday labelling the rogue Twitter account as ‘disloyal’.
‘Individuals involved… will be held to account’
The message said: ‘I know many of you are concerned by the @rtesecretpro Twitter handle. RTÉ deplores the content and intention of this account. It is profoundly disloyal to staff, brings the organisation into disrepute and, in a public forum, is a disservice to all of us who work in RTÉ. I would remind us all of the important document below. Individuals involved in this handle, directly or indirectly, will be held to account.’
The ‘document below’ refers to RTÉ’s social media guidelines.
However, the @rtesecretpro account hit back yesterday with a flurry of tweets.
‘RTÉ are considering hiring a PI to find out who I am. Consider that. The national broadcaster, using licence fee money, to track a whistleblower. Who is just trying to show what needs to change to save the organisation. How does @rtenews view unmasking whistleblowers? How does the NUJ? Rather than address the issues, just destroy the person airing them. So I have been busy, there is a second account with 500 tweets written, ready to send. If I lose access to this account.
‘All I want to do is show the things that need to change to save a broadcaster that is vital for Ireland. Profound disloyalty is staying quiet. I’m disgusted. I would ask if anyone values this, to contact RTÉ, or their local reps. I have been contacted by over 50 people inside RTÉ. I have been contacted by people in news, current affairs, sport, entertainment, IT, editing, lighting, radio, internet. With stories and supporting me. Are they all profoundly dis- loyal – we who have given our lives to an organisation? Who care about it? I am heartbroken. I am sad and scared.’
The number of people following the account has grown exponentially in the past two days. On Friday afternoon, there were just over 3,000 followers. By 9.30pm yesterday, that had grown to 18,500. With a number of former RTÉ employees tweeting messages of agreement and support.
The broadcaster has a 27-page social-media guidelines document for employees and contractors to adhere to. It says: ‘These guidelines are contractually binding and form part of the terms and conditions of employment and/or engagement with RTÉ. Breach of these guidelines will be treated as a disciplinary matter for employees and subject to the normal courses of disciplinary action. Contractors may have their contracts terminated if found to have breached these guidelines.’
An RTÉ spokesman denied the claims they are considering using a
private investigator. ‘It is absolutely untrue that RTÉ is considering using a private investigator to identify the individual behind the @rtesecretpro account.’
He added: ‘RTÉ has comprehensive social media guidelines which must be adhered to by all staff. RTÉ welcomes direct feedback and engagement from its staff and provides a number of formal and informal channels through which our staff can raise issues and concerns.’
In June, RTÉ sold off 8.64 acres of its campus in Donnybrook, south Dublin, for €107.5m to London-listed construction firm Cairn Homes.
Considerably more than the €75m guide price set by estate agents Savills. Cairn Homes said it planned to build up to 500 apartments and nine houses on the site.
The sale was an effort to offset RTÉ’S €20m losses in 2016, accrued after spending on special events including the 1916 Easter Rising centenary and the general election.
Director general Dee Forbes said the funds would be invested in capital projects, including technology upgrades, digital infrastructure, workplace improvements, reducing debt and making changes to the organisational structure. This raised concerns that money would be used for redundancies.
At the end of August, Ms Forbes announced redundancy and early retirement packages, saying painful choices lay ahead. RTÉ hopes the packages will see around 250 people leave the company.
According to thejournal.ie, the package was signed off by the Government and is expected to cost around €25m, depending on the uptake. Applications opened in the first week of September.