Radio bosses ‘spiked’ news story on Al Porter
Today FM issues ruling to staff after row led to news bulletin being taken off air
TODAY FM bosses have issued guidelines confirming that management may pull news stories generated by the station’s own journalists.
The ruling comes in the wake of an internal row over the coverage of the departure of presenter Al Porter from the station following claims of sexual misconduct.
The Irish Mail on Sunday can reveal that as the comedian faced accusations of inappropriate behaviour, last month, a Today FM news bulletin featuring a story with a statement from Today FM was abruptly taken off the air.
Executives at the station had ordered one of the presenters to interrupt the bulletin on November 18, one day after accusations in relation to Porter, who presented the station’s lunchtime show, emerged on social media.
Shortly after the incident, Today FM head of programming Adelle Nolan circulated a formal email to all staff with guidelines on how the station would further cover the case.
The email explained that the station chief executive, programme director or assistant programme director may at any time spike content if they deem it inappropriate.
The circular ‘reminded’ staff of the procedures surrounding ‘station-led news’, pointing out that Today FM statements should be reproduced in their exact wording.
The email goes on, ‘If something is deemed to be potentially damaging it can be removed or paused for review by request of the CEO, programme director or assistant programme director.’
A station insider confirmed that an incident happened on Saturday, November 18. ‘It was the first time I can remember this sort of thing ever happening,’ the insider said.
‘The news bulletin was on air and a presenter interrupted it and went straight to sport. The decision had been made from above to pull the bulletin and that was that.’
Comedian Al Porter joined Today FM in January, presenting the lunchtime show.
In mid-November, users of social media circulated claims that the 24-year-old Dubliner had engaged in inappropriate behaviour.
On November 19, Porter resigned from the station ‘with immediate effect’.
Today FM last night declined to comment when contacted by this newspaper.
‘A presenter interrupted and went to sport’