As previously mentioned I have views on a diverse range of things which I'm hoping to share in the blog, some frivolous casual topics, others more weighty issues. I'm going to append my titles with Light or Heavy depending on which category I think the piece best fits into as depending on you're mood you may or may not be in the form for reading my musings!
I heard an interesting radio interview with Terry Wogan during the week, I know I know What was I doing listening to Terry Wogan being interviewed! I make no apologies for my taste in radio :)
He actually suprised me as he appeared to be very modest and not really that opinionated, although he was being questioned to a degree on the Jimmy Saville controversy and to be honest there's not much which can be said about that. I suppose what I liked about him was his final remarks when asked about what his opinion on a particular topic was and when he responded that he didn't think that he , just because he worked in radio , had any more right to offer his opinion on a topic in which he wasn't expert than anyone else. He said he disagreed with the way in which just because an individual works in the radio or the media that their personal views are given so much more consideration than the general public.
It raises the issue of how we and many of our opinions are influenced by those who work in the media. Often those providing the information and views on which we form our opinions are not neccessarily qualified to do so and may simply be individuals who are famous for some entirely different reason. Yes they have managed to catch our attention with their talents, but does that mean that there is anymore value in their opinions than in your own or in that of your family or peers. In fact I suggest that often it is unhelpful for those who are not adequately qualified to offer advice and opinions via the media, particularly when dealing with serious topics.
I firmly believe in equality and have never endorsed the idea of the monarchy, that someone holds a particular position simply because of the family they were born into. Yet even when I was attending the democratically elected President's "Being Young and Irish " seminar in the Phoenix park I had the sense that all the reverence and ceremony was slightly misplaced. Not so much in relation to the president himself , but all his aides and the organisational staff and other "important " people to whom the decleration one Ireland of the future was being presented. I believe that we all have value and that our opinions are worthwhile, yet so often we feel inferior to those around us, almost as if we aren't good enough to share our views, as if we should be honoured that we are being given the opportunity to engage with these people.
I would like to people earn their positions of authority, like it or not the President and indeed the members of cabinet earn their positions by being democratically elected, is this the case for all their aides? Nonetheless often the reason for their selection s the strategic use of the media and unkept promises!
How do radio and T.V presenters earn their roles in the national broadcaster?
Perhaps we need to see a more transparent system where individuals prove to us why they deserve to be provided with a platform to advise and speak on matters and acquire large salaries for doing so. Without doubt I beleive in the concept of a salary which reflects the knowledge and expertise of the individual and the weight of the role they carry, however I think we need to question this more.
Frequently medical consultants high salaries come under scrutiny, nevertheless I believe most of them earn every penny of what they get, when compared to other roles and the salaries received. Consultants tend to be experts with at least 10 years post graduate training in a given field , training which involved working over 50 hour weeks, night shifts, on call etc, furthermore they will have had to engage in high levels of CPD, written papers and all that only starts after they commence a grueling 7 year undergraduate degree!
I wonder do the radio presenters have the same level of expertise?
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