Daniel McConnell is an Irish journalist and author. As of 2023, he was employed as editor of the Business Post.[1][2][3] From Stillorgan in Dublin, McConnell is a third-generation[citation needed] journalist who has worked with the Irish Times, Irish Independent, Sunday Independent, Irish Examiner, and the Irish edition of the Sunday Times.
He has been a "commentator on Irish television and radio" and previously acted as a stand-in presenter on Today FM's The Last Word With Matt Cooper.[3] In 2016, he and Irish Mail on Sunday political editor John Lee authored a book, Hell at the Gates, on Ireland's financial crash and the Brian Cowen government.[4][5]
In November 2022, McConnell was named Ireland's national journalist of the year and political journalist of the year.[6] He also won "scoop of the year" at the Newsbrands Ireland award ceremony in Dublin.[7] He had previously been named News Analyst of the Year at the 2017 awards.[8]
Biography edit
Daniel McConnell was born in Dublin and attended St Benildus College in Kilmacud between 1991 and 1997.[citation needed] He read History and Politics at University College Dublin. While at UCD, McConnell became involved in student politics and both student newspapers the University Observer and the College Tribune. He was news editor at the Tribune, before being appointed editor of the University Observer.[citation needed]
He undertook a Masters in Journalism at Dublin City University before commencing work with the Sunday Times where he worked on the inaugural "Parent Power guide to Irish secondary schools".[citation needed] He and Colm Murphy authored The Sunday Times Guide to Secondary Schools in Ireland: The Definitive Guide for Parents, published by Penguin.[citation needed]
He joined the Irish Times in 2004 as a news reporter, following in his father John's footsteps.[citation needed] John McConnell had written on economic matters for the Times in the 1970s. In 2006, McConnell was hired by Ciaran Byrne at the Sunday Independent under editor Aengus Fanning in 2006, working later under Anne Harris.[citation needed]
During a nine-year stint with Independent News and Media, McConnell held a number of roles including chief reporter, political correspondent and group political correspondent working across a number of INM titles.[citation needed]
Writing primarily on the financial crash between 2008 and 2011, McConnell's reporting included coverage of then finance minister Brian Lenihan's attempts to avoid the Troika-bailout in 2010.[9][failed verification]
He also served as father of the National Union of Journalists chapel for two years during a major restructuring of the company.[citation needed]
In October 2015, McConnell was appointed by editor Tim Vaughan to become political editor of the Irish Examiner ahead of the 2016 Irish general election. In 2016, McConnell and Fiachra O Cionnaith won the Justice Media Award for their reporting on the 'Grace' abuse story in a foster home in the South East.[10]
McConnell became a frequent contributor to national and international TV and radio programs on political matters. In 2020, he was a contributor to RTÉ's coverage of the election of the new three-party government.[citation needed]
After seven years at the Irish Examiner, McConnell was appointed editor of the Business Post in January 2023, taking up his post in April of the same year. Charged with leading a "major digital transformation" of the organisation, the company announced a strategic restructuring.[11][12][13] In July 2023, Swedish media company Bonnier News acquired a minority stake in the Business Post.[14]
References edit
- ^ "Business Post appoints Daniel McConnell as editor". The Irish Times. Retrieved 2024-03-14.
- ^ "Business Post names Daniel McConnell as new editor". Irish Independent. 2023-01-24. Retrieved 2024-03-14.
- ^ a b "Daniel McConnell appointed editor of the Business Post". www.businesspost.ie. Retrieved 2024-03-14.
- ^ Barrett, Professor Sean (2016-12-24). "Book review: Hell at the Gates by Daniel McConnell & John Lee". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 2024-03-14.
- ^ Kelly, Fiach. "'Hell at the Gates' review – political side of financial crisis". The Irish Times. Retrieved 2024-03-14.
- ^ "Winners 2022". journalismawards.ie. Retrieved 2024-03-14.
- ^ Capplis, Conor (2022-11-17). "Irish Examiner scoops top prizes at Newsbrands journalism awards". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 2024-03-14.
- ^ Rogers, Stephen (2017-11-03). "'Irish Examiner' reporters win journalism award for 'Grace' story". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 2024-03-14.
- ^ McConnell, Daniel (2008-10-04). "Financial hurricane that put the wind in Brian Lenihan's sails". Irish Independent. Retrieved 2024-03-16.
- ^ Fegan, Joyce (2016-06-24). "Top award for 'Irish Examiner' journalists at Justice Media Awards". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 2024-03-14.
- ^ Power, Jack. "Business Post to restructure with risk to six newsroom jobs". The Irish Times. Retrieved 2024-03-14.
- ^ Walsh, Emer (2023-11-22). "Business Post announces restructuring plan putting six newsroom jobs at risk". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 2024-03-14.
- ^ "Business Post announces strategic restructuring process". www.businesspost.ie. Retrieved 2024-03-14.
- ^ "Business Post Group partners with Sweden's Bonnier News". www.businesspost.ie. Retrieved 2024-03-15.