Hilary McGouran has over 30 years experience in journalism and media in Ireland, the majority at senior editorial level within the national public service multi-media organisation, RTÉ.
She is the former Deputy Managing Director of News and Current Affairs at RTÉ, and was simultaneously Managing Editor of Television News. This saw her at the helm of all RTÉ’s TV news output, leading the multidisciplinary teams involved in everything from the flagship “Six One” to “Nationwide” to “news2day” and “The Week in Politics”. She was involved in the move of RTE’s news output to digital platforms, and managed through elections, referenda, Covid 19, and major events like the Papal visit. Hilary was a member of RTÉ’s Editorial Standards Board and contributed to RTÉ’s Diversity and Inclusion Strategy.
Prior to 2013, she was the first ever editor in charge of Ireland’s most listened to radio programme, “Morning Ireland”, a position she held for a decade.
Hilary joined RTÉ from the Evening Press, having previously freelanced with Independent Newspapers. In her initial years in RTÉ, she worked as a radio reporter covering events like the Payments to Politicians tribunal, the talks leading to the Good Friday Agreement and the death of Princess Diana.
Hilary is committed to clear and effective communication and to the need for a robust and varied journalism sector as part of a functioning democracy.