Meet the media
Hugh O’Connell is the political editor of TheJournal.ie. He occasionally lectures in journalism and his career to date has included working with BBC Radio 4 and Newstalk.
How did your career in journalism come about?
I decided when I was 14 that I wanted to be a sports journalist but the only sport I was interested in was soccer. So that kind of limited me. I ran a blog, which no-one probably read, where I filed match reports on the latest Liverpool games. Then I did a few internships, including one at Newstalk, after I left school.
This eventually turned into paid work before I went to Liverpool to study journalism at John Moores University.
From there, I did bits and pieces of freelance work, including for the likes of FIFA.com, BBC Radio Merseyside, Mercury Press and then BBC Radio 4 before the opportunity at TheJournal.ie came up. I’ve been here since February 2011 and became political editor in August 2013.
Which stories stand out the most from your time at The Journal to date?
I work on so many stories every week that I tend to forget about a lot of them almost as soon as I’ve finished them. I’ve done a few long-form pieces of around 8,000 to 10,000 words on the bank guarantee and the abortion debates in 2013, which I am particularly proud of.
What are the main pros and cons of digital?
The pros are the speed at which you can file story, the space that digital gives you to experiment and try new things, and not being restricted to newspaper space or a rigid programme running order. That’s allowed us to provide the kind of coverage of politics on TheJournal.ie that I think no other outlet does. In fact, some of the stuff we’ve done has been copied by others.
The cons are that, with it still being a relatively new medium, it’s hard sometimes to command the respect I think online media deserves. A lot of people, particularly in the traditional media, tend to think that online media and online social media are the same thing when they are anything but; it’s apples and oranges.
How is increased public interaction changing journalism?
I think it’s making journalism better. Yes, it opens journalists up to more scrutiny, criticism and abuse – I’ve had all three – but I think this is better than journalists living in a bubble and not being aware of what people are saying about what they’re writing or broadcasting about.
How do you see digital media developing?
I think all media will be digital eventually. Print newspapers won’t be around in 25 years. The medium will change, not necessarily the content. The Irish Times, the Indo etc. won’t go out of business; it’s just they might not necessarily be in print format.
The big challenge is how to pay for it all. That’s something a lot of people are experimenting with at the moment, including TheJournal.ie which is delivering news for free and, for example, the Irish Times which has opted for a paywall of sorts. There’s no magic formula but all media outlets are trying to come up with one and I’m sure somebody will crack it at some point in the next decade.
What makes a good journalist?
The ability to talk to people and even something as simple as picking up the phone. It doesn’t come natural to everybody. Communicating what you learn from talking to people, either verbally or in written form, is also a crucial skill that is often taken for granted in journalism.
Being naturally nosey and inquisitive is important. When I was growing up, I was more annoyed than most kids my age at being told often by my parents that I wasn’t allowed to know certain things until I was older. I remember the existence of Santa Claus was a particularly long-running dispute until I eventually dragged the truth out of my father.
Tenacity and stubbornness is vital – the ability to pursue a story to the end and not give up when it looks like you might have hit a dead end. Finally, and most importantly, you must be fearless, honest and unmerciful. Don’t be afraid to ask the awkward question or one that might piss people off. If it’s that type of question, it’s usually the one that has to be asked.
What would be the ideal interview for you?
The ideal interview is one that you’re entirely satisfied with when you’re finished. That’s a rarity, though. There’s always one question you feel you didn’t ask or one area that you didn’t probe enough.
The big problem with political interviews is that politicians are inevitably trying to hold a line of some sort and like to play down the clock with evasive and waffling answers. The ideal interview would involve having lots of time to get proper answers to straightforward questions. The inability of politicians to give a ‘yes’ or ‘no’ answer continues to amaze me.
In terms of interviewees, I wouldn’t have minded having a go at Charlie Haughey. If he were around today, I don’t think he’d get away with sort of attitude he displayed towards journalists when he was at the height of his powers. I’d like to think we wouldn’t let him get away with that sort of carry-on these days.
Who are the ones to watch in the Oireachtas?
At 28, Fine Gael’s junior Minister Simon Harris has had an incredible rise through the ranks and I’d be shocked if he’s not in the next cabinet if Fine Gael gets re-elected next year. On the other side of the political spectrum, Anti-Austerity Alliance TD Paul Murphy has certainly made a name for himself since being elected last year, itself an extraordinary feat in Dublin South West given the strength of Sinn Féin. If he keeps his seat, he could be a big leader on the left in the next Dáil, particularly with the retirement of Joe Higgins.
Who have been your main mentors?
I take a lot of advice and inspiration from my father, Fergus O’Connell, himself an author of over a dozen books. He’s a great writer (although I would say that) and more importantly his advice on my career choices has served me well down the years. Equally, my journalism lecturer at LJMU, John Mathews, has had a big influence on me in terms of my progression as a journalist. We’re mates now and we talk all the time about journalism and life.
How do you relax outside work?
All the boring stuff. Going out for a long run, having a pint, watching the football, socialising, a nice meal and a glass of wine, going the movies. Sometimes, all on the same day, in that order.
