A farmer said to me recently, “it’s hard being a farmer looking at all the criticism online”. I replied, “I know the feeling. I work in RTÉ”.

RTÉ, like farmers, has been taking a right bashing online recently. Maybe we all take Twitter too seriously as it is far from being reflective of broader society. Still, some of the general vitriol is beyond the pale.

What is wrong with ambition?

I feel very lucky to work with RTÉ. 30 years ago when I began studying journalism in college, I remember being asked where I saw myself in ten years time. I replied, “at the pinnacle of the media working in RTÉ”.

I can quote it because it was recorded as part of a college TV project which I watched back since. What is wrong with ambition? I worked in a weekly magazine and local radio for five years before eventually getting in to RTÉ. And like everybody else I got in on merit.

I applied, did an interview and an exam and was placed on a panel until a suitable position became available.

You get in on merit. I’m sorry if I’ve debunked that popular myth

And it did in May 1998 in the Agricultural department following the departure of PJ Nolan to this parish. So, no, it isn’t like some sort of masons lodge where only certain people of a certain type are admitted and programmed to think a certain way. You get in on merit. I’m sorry if I’ve debunked that popular myth!

We have the same daily worries about our children, rents, mortgages as everybody else

The people who work with me and worked with me are men and women of all ages from all parts of the country with a diverse interest in different things. That includes the sons and daughters of farmers and rural dwellers.

This D4 wheeze grates considering I know of virtually nobody I work with living in the ‘leafy suburb of D4’.

We have the same daily worries about our children, rents, mortgages as everybody else.

So it is quite frustrating to read some of the misinformation and abuse which is targeted at RTÉ ad nauseam

In other words it’s like any other workplace. We all have our own jobs to do and we go about doing them to the best of our ability within the strict rules and regulations which guide us, be it in terms of workplace practice or those overseen by the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland in a much changing media landscape.

So it is quite frustrating to read some of the misinformation and abuse which is targeted at RTÉ ad nauseam.

Yes it comes with the territory but we are human too. I shake my head at how off the wall some of the conspiracies are from critics who take to Twitter or to the letters pages in newspapers to have a pop at RTÉ and by extension, us, its employees.

The comfort to take, of course, is that at least they are watching and listening. But for those (the minority I’d hope) who think the world would be better off without public service broadcasting, would it really, and how?

It is naturally impossible to please everybody in such a diverse world

RTÉ, no more than any other big institution or organisation is not perfect nor above reproach particularly since, like farmers, we’re in receipt of some public funding.

But no more than the same farmers producing food, us programme makers do our best within the confines of our remit. It is naturally impossible to please everybody in such a diverse world.

What pleases one person infuriates the next. That is accepted.

But it shouldn’t stop any of us presenting programmes in as balanced, informative and entertaining manner as we can, or from defending what we do in the face of populist criticism particularly from vote hungry rural politicians.

Easy answer

“How did you get over the Christmas?” It’s a question uniquely given to being asked by Irish people these weeks. And “ah it was quiet enough” is the most likely answer we all give in response!