Local media among must trusted brands

The annual Reuters Digital News report published last week held some positive findings for local and regional news publishers. Alongside RTE and local radio, local newspapers such as The Westmeath Examiner emerged as the most trusted brands, underlining the continued importance of both national and local news sources for Irish audiences.

The Irish report, which is in its eleventh year, shows that most people in Ireland (56 per cent) across all age groups are interested in news.

This represents the highest level of interest in news since 2022, up three points from last year, but down from a peak of 70 per cent in 2021, during the Covid pandemic.

This enthusiasm for news puts Irish audiences ahead of their UK (39 per cent) and US (51 per cent) counterparts and ahead of the European average (45 per cent).

When asked about trusted sources of news, figures revealed: RTÉ News (72 per cent), local radio news (72 per cent) and local newspapers on (71 per cent). These are important findings in the context of a social media ‘Wild West’ that would have you believe that the media is never to be believed, trusted and serves merely to shill for the ‘establishment’.

Now more than ever, the public needs a vibrant media landscape with news brands that use high-quality sources of news and information that consumers can trust and support.

Rónán Ó Domhnaill, Media Development Commissioner at Coimisiún na Meán said: “Whether watching, listening, streaming, or reading, the Digital News Report shows that most Irish people can’t get enough of news.

“It is encouraging to see that interest in news remains high in Ireland when compared internationally, even as the formats used to consume news continue to change.

“We are heartened to see the continuing trend of the Irish public’s unique and longstanding relationship with radio, which remains a cornerstone of Ireland’s media landscape.

“It is also important to see the trust Irish people place in local news sources, with local radio and local newspapers among the most trusted brands for Irish audiences.

“While the Report gives us cause for optimism about the Irish news sector, considering the public’s strong appetite for news, we recognise that An Coimisiún’s ambition of developing and shaping a media landscape that reflects who we are as a society requires ongoing and sustainable levels of funding for media outlets to support high-quality journalism, and news that people can trust.’’

To underline the threat and dangers of misinformation and disinformation or to use the vernacular, ‘fake news’, an AI created ‘page’ of our sister paper the Meath Chronicle, complete with masthead and headline, outlining new luxury accommodation for International Protection applicants in Johnstown spread like wildfire in Whatsapp groups across the county recently.

Many people, including elected representatives, contacting the newspaper’s offices asking if the image was real. So it’s no surprise that, when asked for their thoughts about online news, 68 per cent of Irish respondents say they are concerned about what is real and what is fake.

All age cohorts show concern about fake information online, with the highest rate (72 per cent) among those aged 65+ and the lowest rate (62 per cent) among those aged 18-24 years.

Commenting on the Digital News Report Ireland 2025, Dr Eileen Culloty, Deputy Director of the DCU Institute for Future Media, Democracy and Society (FuJo) said: “Local media enjoy strong public trust, an indication of their deep roots in Irish life. But trust alone doesn’t pay salaries or sustain newsrooms.

“The big challenge is to convert trust into viable careers in local journalism so that local media can continue informing communities.”

Earlier this year, Coimisiún na Meán awarded €5.7 million through new Journalism Schemes, funded by the Department of Arts, Culture, Communications, Media and Sport and which covered Local Democracy and Courts Reporting.

These schemes have to date facilitated over 100 new or enhanced journalism roles in Ireland.

The Westmeath Examiner has benefitted with the addition of a new reporters allowing us to widen and strengthen our coverage of Courts and Local Democracy as well as everything else that makes up a vibrant local newspaper.