Eoghan Brennanof CBS Carrick-on-Suir, in Co Tipperary, spent a busy week at RTÉ
When I was offered a chance to work at RTÉ for a week I jumped at the opportunity. On the first morning we were given a tour of the RTÉ buildings, which included a brief interview with Nikki Hayes on 2FM and a tour of the Podge and Rodge Show set.
Our group of 14 transition-year students got over our early nerves and began to get to know each other. That afternoon we were sent to the areas where we would be working for the rest of the week. I was sent to news and current affairs with three other students. Although I was sceptical at first, this turned out to be a very interesting place to work.
On Tuesday we were given a tour of the newsroom before sitting with Paddy McKenna of News2day, the children's news programme, and helping him edit some packages for the show. It is recorded each day at 4pm, to go out at 5.30pm.
The following day we visited the news archive and the sound library. The sound library contains every song recorded on CD in a computer database that is constantly being added to. The news library stores all the stories broadcast since 1985 on three-and-a-half-inch tape. They can be quickly accessed by anyone who needs one for a new story.
We spent Thursday morning with the producer of RTÉ News One O'Clock, then watched the bulletin go out live. That evening a few of us who were lucky enough to get tickets to The Café, the RTÉ2 magazine programme, stayed on late. To be part of the show as it went out live was a very different experience to watching it on television and was a great insight into how hard it is to broadcast live television. This was the highlight of the week.
The final day took me to Government Buildings with Barry Cummins to report on a new pharmacy Bill being announced by Mary Harney, the Minister for Health and Children. She took questions from the media, then we interviewed her. Next it was straight back to RTÉ to put together the report for Six One News.
Everyone I met over the week was friendly, welcoming and helpful. All of my questions were answered, and they willingly demonstrated their work, explaining all the processes involved. Paula Lynch of RTÉ's human-resources department laid out a timetable for us to ensure we always had something to do - and there wasn't a dull moment.
My TY is looking for submissions from transition-year students. Just write 500 words about anything you like. It can be about something you are doing or planning to do in TY, or an opinion piece on a subject you feel strongly about. E-mail it with your name, school's name and contact telephone number to myty@irish-times.ie
