RTÉ’s news anchor and broadcast journalist, Bryan Dobson, has joined the University of Limerick as Adjunct Professor of Journalism on a three year honorary term but will still broadcast for the State public service.
THE University of Limerick announced that the RTÉ News anchor would take up his role from September 1 next.
Mr Dobson, who is main anchor of the flagship Six One News programme on RTÉ One television, is one of the most respected broadcasters in Ireland. The 53-year-old will take up his appointment on September 1 for a three-year period.
Commenting on the appointment, University of Limerick President Prof Don Barry said: “The University of Limerick is at the cutting edge of journalism education, and has the highest graduate employment rate in the country. The appointment of Bryan Dobson to this prestigious position reflects the University’s ongoing commitment to public service journalism, which is of fundamental importance to Irish democracy.”
Head, School of Culture and Communication Prof Margaret Harper said the appointment was a tremendous boost to journalism education at UL. “University of Limerick journalism students will now be working alongside one of the most recognised names, and a trusted face, in Irish broadcasting. Anyone considering a career in journalism will now have the opportunity to be trained by some of the best journalists in the country – including Bryan Dobson – at the University of Limerick.”
Professor Dobson will join former The Irish Times editor Geraldine Kennedy and Sunday Times columnist Justine McCarthy, who are also Adjunct Professors of Journalism at the University of Limerick.
He also joins the recently appointed Frank McCourt Chair of Creative Writing, award-winning novelist Joe O’Connor, who will lead the highly innovative MA Creative Writing programme at the University of Limerick from September next.
As Adjunct Professor of Public Service Broadcast Journalism, Bryan Dobson will conduct expert lectures in public service broadcast policy, and master classes in broadcast journalism with students. He will offer expert guidance to students and faculty on important contemporary issues in public service broadcasting, and will work alongside faculty in mentoring undergraduate and postgraduate journalism trainees.
Biographical note
Bryan Dobson was born in Dublin and attended the College of Commerce in Rathmines before beginning a career in commercial radio. He joined the BBC in 1983 as a reporter and later a presenter of various news and current affairs shows including Good Morning Ulster. He reported on a range of important international stories including the Anglo Irish Agreement, the ongoing Troubles in Northern Ireland, and the famine in Ethiopia.
He joined RTÉ in 1987 as a reporter with the This Week programme. Later that year he was appointed RTÉ’s Business Correspondent, reporting on a range of financial stories for the State broadcaster, as well as presenting the television business programme Marketplace. In 1991 he became presenter of the One O’Clock News, later moving to present the Nine News programme before being appointed anchor of the Six One News in 1996. He also currently presents Leaders Questions on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.
During his career he has reported from around the world for RTÉ including the first free elections in South Africa in 1994; US presidential inaugurations since the mid-1990s; the 9/11 attacks in New York; the London Tube bombings; the Good Friday Agreement and ongoing Anglo Irish relations; as well as the most important Irish stories of the last 20 years.
He has also worked on a number of RTÉ documentary programmes including The Madness from Within, an account of the Irish Civil War; and more recently Witnesses to War, which featured interviews with Irish veterans of the Second World War.
