My Media: Mary Wilson, presenter, RTE Radio
21 July 09
Newspapers
It's the nature of the job to go through everything but the Irish Times and the Irish Independent are essential reading. I usually have a look at the New York Times online, as well as the Washington Post and the Wall Street Journal. My favourite columnists include Fintan O'Toole in the Irish Times, Justine McCarthy in the Tribune, and Brenda Power in the Sunday Times.
Magazines
I love newspaper supplements because you're getting news, you're getting travel, and you're getting in-depth interviews with people. I particularly like the Guardian's G2 and The Financial Times' weekend supplement. I love the 'Lunch with the FT' in Saturday's FT supplement. It's an interview column which is always very diverse and interesting. I also get the weekend supplements in The Irish Times on Saturday, and the Sunday Times.
Books
I'm currently reading Nuala O'Faolain's Best Love Rosie, which was published posthumously. I usually have a few books on the go at the same time. I'm reading Banksters by David Murphy and Martina Devlin, it's about the banking situation in Ireland. And I'm reading Sarah Burke's book on the Irish healthcare system, Irish Apartheid: Healthcare Inequality in Ireland. I'm a big fan of Irish writers like Colm Tobin, Anne Enright, Joe O'Connor and John McGahern.
Television
I always watch RTE's Nine O' Clock News, BBC's News at Ten, Newsnight at half past ten, and then Vincent Browne on TV3 at eleven o'clock. For light relief I love watching re-runs of Sex and the City. No matter where you go on your Sky Box, there's a Sex and the City going on. I'm a big fan of medical dramas like ER, and Grey's Anatomy, and you can't beat Father Ted.
Radio
I wake up to Morning Ireland at 7am and then my radio is on pretty much all day. I sometimes hop across to the Today programme on BBC Radio 4, and I always catch Today with Pat Kenny. Gerry Ryan does a great review of the newspapers, it's a real must-hear and great fun.
Through the day I listen to Liveline, then Des doing Drivetime Sport on the way home. In the evening I like Documentary on One and the Arts Show. And I dip into The Late Debate when it's on.
Ads
I like the Budweiser Christmas ad with the lovely big Clydesdale horses. And you're going to think I'm beer-fixated, but I love the Carlsberg ads as well.
New Media
In terms of Irish blogs I would just browse through them rather than be committed to reading any of them. I'm not on Facebook, people know enough about you without volonteering material on Facebook. I love the Huffington Post website, and The Drudge Report. I use the net all the time for information, and would regularly visit the websites of the American news organisations like CNN, NBC, and Bloomberg. I do a lot of vicarious travels sitting in the armchair at home on holiday websites.
Mary Wilson presents Drivetime on RTE Radio One, weekdays, from 4.30pm to 6.30pm
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