Feedback to RTE senior Mgt re. Joe Dufty Liveline Program Fri 13th 2023

[@johnoriordan7419]

You can't argue with RTE the ministry of truth

[@LiamOGogain]

When I faced David v Goliath scenarios many years ago and was on my knees with little hope and minimal reserves and resources, my Mother would say to me:- “Just because They have the Power, doesn’t give them the right”. Adhering to Due Process, evidenced-based argument, energised by righteous anger instead of amygdalic emotional outburst, has helped me, over the years to understand the fundamental illegitimacy of Power without authenticity and integrity. I fully appreciate, from personal the Corruption of Thought Processes which informs and sustains the administration of our Society, of which RTÉ’s misconduct (imho) simply repeats that fractal behaviour. However, my choices lie with silence and, thus, acquiescence, or else to research, aggregate, collate, express, publish my exposition and challenge of the wrongdoing. At least I then have recorded my objection to the poor Quality of behaviour, a small singular, perhaps (probably) morsel of protest. Imagine if Martin Luther King’s follow up Dream was that each of us, in our own individual, simple way, would just take that small step of publishing, recording, distributing our granule of evidence-based complaint about poor standards and shared our contributions. Many pebbles can form a beach, create a beachhead for movement, however microscopic towards a Better, Fairer and Sustainable Society. For me, giving in to my own experience-based logical cynicism, would lead me to hopelessness, which ultimately would not be good for my Health. And so …..future windmills beckon.

[@johnoriordan7419]

@LiamOGogain excellent and fantastically put, I wish you health and success.

[@LiamOGogain]

On Sun, 12 Feb 2023 at 13:41, Liam O Gogain wrote: Sunday Feb 12th 2023 @13:41 Written complaint by Liam Ó Gógáin in relation to LIvelive programme broadcast 30 days ago on Friday 13th on RTÉ Radio 1, final segment beginning around 3 p.m. Summary:- I submit that the behaviour, attitude and demeanour displayed by Joe Duffy, the Programme Presenter, in dealing with a matter of current affairs that was topical, concerned public protests and disquiet which are emotive and could potentially lead to breaches of the Peace, did not demonstrate fairness, objectivity or impartiality towards a contributor Malachy Steenson and without any expression of the broadcaster’s own views, in contravention of Section 42.(2)(b) of The Broadcasting Act 2009. The handling by Joe Duffy of the situation prevented me as listener from receiving or hearing from a contributor and thus informing myself of the merits or otherwise of his potential contribution. 42. (2) (b) that the broadcast treatment of current affairs, including matters which are either of public controversy or the subject of current public debate, is fair to all interests concerned and that the broadcast matter is presented in an objective and impartial manner and without any expression of the broadcaster’s own views. Details Note:- Radio is an aural medium, where cadence, timing, interjection etc render a textual-only evaluation, stripped completely of much of the nuance and intelligence layers and forcing a complainant to only submit textual material while refusing to consider supplementary audio/visual material, fundamentally insults the integrity and authenticity of the whole Complaints process itself. The topic being discussed during the programme was the protests around East Wall in relation to housing of immigrants. The topic was and is current and emotive and any intervention on behalf of the Taxpayer funded Public Broadcaster which could act to incite anger or antagonism is certainly against the Public Interest. As a listener, not from the area and unfamiliar which nuances and details of the issue, I expected that the balanced range of contributions would better inform me. The last segment of the programme commenced around 3 p.m began by Joe Duffy saying :- “Malachy Steenson, Malachy ……. I heard you eh in the last half hour you’ve protested to RTE that you should have the right to reply and they've decided you're should. What's your point please?” When Steenson asked “Now, let me have the opportunity to actually reply and set..” , Duffy immediately interjected with “Go, get the abuse out of the way, off you go”. Steenson responded with “Where’s the abuse?” Immediately, Duffy interjected again with “Off you go, off you..I've been told to give you the right of reply. Four minutes, off you go. Just don't libel anybody” As an interested, curious, open-minded listener, I had no previous awareness or knowledge of and thus no preconceived notions about Malachy Steenson. By then, Joe had made it clear that his allowing Steenson to contribute had been mandated solely by someone in a superior position of decision-making within RTÉ and that Joe had been instructed to allow Steenson Four Minutes right of reply. I expected that, as a Professional and highly paid presenter, Duffy would then afford his guest that aforesaid four minute opportunity as he had been instructed to do. It was clear to me by then that Duffy knew who Steenson was from prior interactions (which was confirmed by Duffy a few minutes later stating “Malachy Steenson has been on this programme many times before”). In that light it seems perfectly reasonable to expect that Joe Duffy would have known that Malachy Steenson was a Solicitor (I only discovered that fact later after looking Steenson up online). It’s also reasonable to assume that a Solicitor, as against a non-legally-cognisant ordinary member of the Public would and should understand the meaning and implications of libelling someone on air. Thus the caution by Duffy to Steenson in advance to not libel anybody was an unnecessary provocation. The interjection by Duffy, “Go, get the abuse out of the way, off you go” was without any basis in the interchange up to that point. It was inflammatory and designed (at least an impartial highly paid experienced presenter would have known) to antagonise and unsettle the contributor. By this point in the interchange Joe Duffy had made his personal distaste of Malachy Steenson clear to listeners, effectively preforming a negative view in the listener’s mind about the unsavoury and potentially libellous character in spite of the fact that Duffy was still preventing from presenting his contribution. Then after, supposedly inviting Steenson to speak (uninterrupted, I expected) for four minutes, Duffy immediately proceeded to obstruct, block, interfere with any possible flow of words from Steenson. It was like a footballer standing over the ball blocking an opposition player from restarting the game. Duffy’s persistent, biased, interference made it practically impossible for Steenson to even get his contribution off the ground. None of Duffy’s contributions in this could reasonably be presented as a ‘Robust’ interchange as he never allowed Steenson to even submit whatever his points may have been. In the event, Steenson was effectively bullied of the pitch by Duffy’s unprofessional misbehaviour and he took the only rational option available to him and left the call. As a curious listener, eager to hear a full range of perspectives, I was cheated. Duffy’s bullying behaviour shocked me. Given that he had been instructed, from above, within RTÉ to facilitate Steenson with a four minute reply, Duffy took it upon himself to censor, cancel, bully and exclude a contributor before Steenson had been given the agreed opportunity to reply. Whatever the abuse by Duffy of Steenson, I ‘Felt’, in fact I was personally mistreated by Joe Duffy, the Liveline production team and RTÉ management, by having created the culture where this antagonistic, inflammatory, biased and personalised mistreatment of a live contributor (without any prior excuse being explained to the objective unsuspecting listener, as I was). I am entitled, both as a taxpayer, citizen and listener, in accordance with Section 42.(2)(b) of The Broadcasting Act 2009, to experience a broadcast which is presented in an objective and impartial manner and without any expression of the broadcaster’s own views. I submit that the presenter’s behaviour in this matter has brought the Broadcast values in to question and the organisation itself into disrepute. I note that a similar event back with Fr.Brian McKevitt some years exhibited similar behavioural traits by Joe Duffy and that he demonstrated no evidence of change of behaviour in this regard. On the reasoned presumption that the logic and evidence of my complaint is upheld ( the minimum expectation that evaluation of same requires an actual audio relistening to the original broadcast segment) I am seeking a public acknowledgement of this wrongdoing by RTÉ accompanied by a clearly indication behavioural change retraining programme to be implemented with the whole Liveline team including the presenter, Joe Duffy. Note:- I originally submitted my complaint re this experience to Senior Management at [e-mail] on the 15th January at 21:14 expecting that any level of Authentic value-centered leadership with RTÉ would have themselves initiated an independent complaints investigation into this behaviour and taken clear steps to protect the reputation of the Public. I waited until today the 30th day after programme before submitting this written complaint in hope of proof of this leadership, which, sadly has not been forthcoming. Sincerely, Liam Ó Gógáin Email:- [e-mail] PS: I am submitting the audio/visual material at kzbin.info/www/bejne/mauzY3dopZd_pLM As supplementary supportive material for consideration of my formal complaint. Harking backwards........Giving Forward

[@christinefullerton7183]

Shocking behaviour 😳 from Joe Duffy.

[@jimryan8928]

Liveline ? Joe Duffy ? Uuuumm ! Sh**eline , more like .

[@LiamOGogain]

Note initial rejection by RTE of even considering my complaint and my reply….watch this space! From: Liam O Gogain Date: 17 January 2023 at 18:11:16 GMT To: Complaints Subject: Re: Complaint re Joe Duffy’s professional misconduct on Liveline program of Friday Jan 13th. 2023 Hi Kate, Thank you for your swift acknowledgment and response. With due respect, I submit that I have made my complaint in writing. I have identified the specific segment name and date of the program I am complaining about. For the avoidance of doubt I am referring to the manner in which Joe Duffy dealt with Malachy Steenson. I have also identified the relevant Section of the Broadcast Act 2009 which I claim was breached by Joe Duffy. The video link and screen capture were supplied by me as supportive evidence to my written complaint. I trust that you will reflect on my reply and confirm whether RTE accept my complaint for professional and comprehensive consideration. Harking back.......giving forward! Liamog On 17 Jan 2023, at 16:57, Complaints wrote:  Dear Liam I wish to acknowledge your email and thank you for taking the time to write to RTÉ. As per Section 47 (1) of the Broadcasting Act, complaints must be made in writing. Complaints made via video link will not be entered into the RTÉ Complaints Process. Information on BAI codes and on the complaints procedure can be found at www.bai.ie/en/viewers-listeners/complaints/. Further information on the RTÉ Complaints Process may be found at Complaints / Gearáin - Contact RTÉ (rte.ie) Kind regards, Kate RTE Logo KATE FITZSIMONS Broadcast Compliance Comhlíonta Craolta Third Floor, Admin Building, RTÉ, Donnybrook, Dublin 4 E: [e-mail] | www.rte.ie From: Liam O Gogain Sent: Tuesday 17 January 2023 16:12 To: Complaints Subject: Complaint re Joe Duffy’s professional misconduct on Liveline program of Friday Jan 13th. 2023 You don't often get email from [e-mail]. Learn why this is important The Dear Sir/Madam, I wish to lodge a formal complaint of professional misconduct against Joe Duffy with regards to his behaviour during the final segment of Liveline on Friday 13th January in contravention to the BAI CODE OF PROGRAMME STANDARDS (page 3, see screen capture attached) and the Broadcasting Act 2009, Section 42(2)(b) :- ‘the broadcast treatment of current affairs, including matters which are either of public controversy or the subject of current public debate, is fair to all interests concerned and that the broadcast matter is presented in an objective and impartial manner and without any expression of the broadcaster’s own views’ I have posted these details of my complaint in audiovisual format at kzbin.info/www/bejne/mauzY3dopZd_pLM I request that you acknowledge receipt of this correspondence by return email, that you confirm that you can access the attachment and the video evidence referred to herein, and that you confirm that my form of complaint satisfies RTE’s rather user-unfriendly standards for accepting and acting on complaints. I await your response. Harking backwards........Giving Forward Liamogimage1.jpeg

[@jamesbrennan9591]

Stop paying your tv licence

[@eugeneoreilly9356]

If ya don't agree with Joe's view on the world your cut off.Why anyone would listen to that crap is beyond me.Public broadcasting my rear end.