RTÉ picks insider for senior role

DAVID NALLY, RTÉ’s new managing editor of current affairs, television, and Kevin Bakhurst, the BBC executive poached to become its managing director of news and current affairs from September, come from opposite ends of the news and current affairs spectrum, with complementary CVs.

Bakhurst graduated from editor of the BBC Ten O’Clock News to controller of the BBC News Channel and deputy head of the BBC newsroom – roles that are all about managing large numbers of journalists and keeping the headlines rotating on a 24-hour basis.

Nally, meanwhile, as director general Noel Curran noted, is “one of the most experienced investigative editors in Irish media”.

He oversaw the first nine series of Prime Time Investigates during his award-winning tenure as editor of current affairs, while his most recent engagement for RTÉ has been in its documentary unit, where he produced Battle Station, a two-part history of RTÉ’s relationship with various Irish institutions, written and presented by John Bowman and scheduled for RTÉ One next Monday and Tuesday.

Though Nally’s job was advertised externally, it won’t be too much of a surprise that, following Bakhurst’s appointment, the second most senior vacancy was filled internally, and by someone with the track record necessary for what Curran this week noted was its “important commitment” to re-launching investigative programming strands.

Nally’s oversight of RTÉ’s coverage of the 2011 state visits also suggests he is regarded in Montrose as a safe pair of hands.