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RTÉ HAS MARKED the half-century of its news for the deaf bulletin, which was the first in Europe when it launched in 1975.
Featuring a news announcer summarising the day’s news accompanied by an on-screen script, the bulletin has evolved today to RTÉ News with Irish Sign Language (ISL), which is broadcast seven days a week and watched by close to 100,000 viewers each day.
The news bulletin, developed in consultation with the National Association for Deaf People (now Chime), was the first of its kind, delivering a dedicated daily news service for the Deaf and hard of hearing.
Ahead of the launch on 6 January 1975, deaf children and adults came to RTÉ to experiment with newsroom staff in the types of presentation style that suited them. This work covered everything from reading the script on screen to lip reading what the presenter was saying.
It has been credited as a “milestone” by the Irish Deaf Society, which said it paralleled a societal shift in attitudes toward Irish Sign Language.
“Before 1992, RTÉ began its journey with news presented through lip-reading, but the launch of daily ISL news in 1992 was groundbreaking,” said chair of the Irish Deaf Society Lianne Quigley.
Quigley, who is also a member of the RTÉ ISL news team, noted the “challenging and long path” to ISL recognition in 2017 as further major progress for inclusion and equality.
The current daily ISL news “remains vital in providing the Deaf community in Ireland with full access to national news in their own language”, Quigley added.
Speaking on the anniversary, managing director of RTÉ News and Current Affairs Deirdre McCarthy said the “50-year journey is a testament to inclusivity and innovation”, further paying credit to Chime and The Irish Deaf Society for their collaboration with the station.
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They are going to miss the Ireland game.
By jeepers I won’t be missing the Ireland game even though I experienced the power going off in Lusaka last night. The hotel has a generator thankfully. Come on Ireland!
No. 20 up there isn’t very good at football by the looks of things.
@Niall ah Now he’s about to back heel it!
Is there anything to be said for having another mass.
Ah the old Father Ted reference. You’re very original and gas fun altogether.
You’re great crack altogether Gerard.
So original & fresh, Shaun. Nobody saw that one coming. Imagine being really predictable…
the old ostrich manoeuvre
I’d say shutting the entire economy down for 24 hours to talk to the tooth fairy will definitely work …. Why didn’t we try that back in 09 !!
Judging by some of the results we may as well have done that.
Is there anything to be said for saying another mass ted
Bring Obama over to say ‘Yes we can’ and that will sort the whole thing out.
They should get coddler whatshisface involved, he can sort this with a few strokes on the keyboard.
Still in bed I reckon, he’ll be along later with crtl c and v though!
Still in bed stroking his keyboard
It’ll be pretty straightforward:
FIAT currency
Stroke of a keyboard
Macro economic level
Neo liberal jackboot
You forgot “class warfare”.
Have they hired the guy on here that copies and pastes the essay how we can print unlimited money as chef economic advisor?
And when all else fails… Prayer
Someone should call Coddler for the solution., Surely they can just give everyone more money?
A nation holds its breath, they’re fu(ked.
The Flying Spaghetti Monster will sort out all their problems. He really exists. Really and twuly.
Silly buggers!
Should this idiot be running their country? Well it’s not like we can talk!
Wally will be along to tell us if you print more money all your problems go away :D
Ahh No…Not more economic migrants on their way to Europe!
Sure, all they have to do is introduce the universal social charge, it’ll be grand then.
Great follow through with the strike by that soccer player. Pity he never kicked the ball though
Back in the 1980′s I spent some time in Zambia, it’s a beautiful country with a stable, democratic political system & it’s people are very kind, generous & well educated.
It’s an African country that we should be supporting & encouraging as it has enormous potential. I hope that their economy & currency recovers and that they enjoy better times in the future.
funny and frightening that they think this will solve their problems! !!
You couldn’t ask them to pray for Ireland against the Argies if they’ve time?
You can’t beat a bit of divine intervention on a Sunday morning! #coybig
That is going to fix everything..clearly a sound economic recovery plan!!! Wow another idiotic government lol
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