BROADCASTER SAM Smyth was instructed by Today FM chief executive Willie O’Reilly on October 20th that any guests or topics for his remaining radio shows would have to be agreed with him ahead of his programmes being aired.
This was just four days after Smyth referred on air during his programme – Sam Smyth on Sunday– to the fact that Today FM had decided to pull the programme.
This breached a request from Mr O’Reilly not to say anything on air about the show being dropped.
Smyth’s last show is to be broadcast on November 6th from New York. Details of Smyth’s removal from the Today FM schedule emerged in Sunday newspapers on October 16th. He and some of his guest contributors made reference to it at the start of the show.
Mr O’Reilly, who this week agreed to join RTÉ as its commercial director in January, was fuming that Smyth had mentioned the schedule change on his show.
“Your mentioning of this was completely unwarranted and unacceptable and clearly conveyed to listeners the impression that you were being subjected to unreasonable editorial scrutiny,” he said.
“As the presenter of a show where you are expected to adopt a balanced approach to the week’s stories with guest contributors, you should not have used that platform to draw attention to, or seek the comment of, your contributors on your own position.
“This was unprofessional and showed a lack of objectivity. I can only request again that you show appropriate professionalism in your remaining two live shows.”
Mr O’Reilly then outlined what he expected from Smyth from his remaining shows.
“Following last Sunday’s programme, the remaining programmes with you as presenter must be pre-planned and a running order agreed with me in advance, including topics to be discussed,” Mr O’Reilly said.
“Guests should be agreed with me and/or the senior station producer and I am happy to sit down with you and draft a list of suitable guests for the next two weeks.”
Mr O'Reilly told The Irish Timesyesterday: "That is the normal reporting that I would expect from producers." He said Smyth's producer sent him a list of contributors and an outline of topics each week. However, it is understood that no such request has ever been made of Smyth himself.
Smyth could not be contacted for comment last night but it is understood that he complied with Mr O’Reilly’s instruction.
Today FM’s decision to cut Smyth’s Sunday programme has been viewed by many in the industry as resulting from the journalist’s long-running critical reporting of Today FM owner Denis O’Brien in relation to the Moriarty tribunal and its findings.
Mr O’Brien is taking a legal action against Smyth relating to comments he had made.
In his letter, Mr O’Reilly addressed this matter. “I am also disappointed that you continue to portray my decision as being the result of your ongoing disagreement with Denis O’Brien, our owner, when I have reiterated to you on numerous occasions that this has nothing to do with it.”
Mr O’Reilly cited declining listenership figures for his decision.
