RTÉ has appointed Radio 1’s Editor of Arts, Factual and Drama Lorelei Harris as Head of Arts and Cultural Strategy at RTÉ to work across both radio and television.
Lorelei has worked in RTÉ since 1985, as a researcher and then as a producer on The Gay Byrne Show on RTÉ Radio 1. Lorelei worked in Current Affairs in RTÉ Radio 1 before moving into the Features Department where she produced Sunday Miscellany and many other arts/features series and single documentaries. In 1994, Lorelei became Commissioning Editor of Documentaries for RTÉ Radio 1.
In 2000, Lorelei was appointed as Editor of Arts, Factual and Drama for RTÉ Radio 1.
RTÉ outlined its plans for consolidating and building its arts output across all platforms and this appointment follows that prioritisation of the arts and culture genre as a key area of focus.
The broadcaster says the appointment will allow RTÉ to maximise the impact of the arts and culture across all of RTÉ’s platforms, in addition to maintaining and establishing creative partnerships with arts organisations, independent producers and government bodies.
MD of RTÉ Radio, Jim Jennings, said: “This is a key appointment for RTÉ and this new role supports RTÉ’s ongoing commitment to arts programming across all of our platforms. I’m delighted to announce Lorelei as our new Head of Arts and Cultural Strategy and am sure that she will bring the same formidable expertise to this new role as she has to the many innovative and award-winning projects for RTÉ Radio 1 and RTÉ.”
Originally from South Africa, Lorelei has lived in Ireland since 1979. Previously she has worked as Commissioning Editor of Documentaries for RTÉ Radio 1 and was also responsible for the setting up of RTÉ’s Independent Radio Productions (IRP), tasked with managing RTÉ’s relationship with the independent radio sector, and she has worked closely with European Broadcasting Union (EBU) colleagues, serving as Chairperson with responsibility for the organisation of the annual International Features Conference, in a consultative capacity to the EBU Radio Cultural Group, and as a member of the Steering Committee of the Prix Europa.
Lorelei says: “I am very much looking forward to this role which presents a wonderful opportunity to work with colleagues across television, radio, online and mobile. This is an exciting time for arts programming in RTÉ and in my new role I shall be working hard to maximise the breadth of RTÉ’s cross-platform arts content, putting it at the forefront of what we do as a public service media organisation.”