Despite Irish audiences continuing to trust news more compared to those in other countries, the news sector needs “ongoing access to sustainable support measures including funding schemes,” and development initiatives to remain afloat, according to State media regulator, Coimisiún na Meán.
Media Development Commissioner at Coimisiún na Meán, Rónán Ó Domhnaill said that while the Report gives “cause for optimism” about the Irish news sector, “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”.
This comes following the publication of the 2025 Digital News Report Ireland, which found that, when asked whether they could “trust the news most of the time,” 50 percent of respondents in Ireland ‘agreed’ or ‘strongly agreed’, compared to 35 percent in the UK, 30 percent in the US and 39 percent for “merged data from Europe”.
This figure is up four percentage points from last year, when 46 percent of respondents said that they could trust most news most of the time.
RTÉ News (72 percent), local or regional radio (72 percent), and local or regional newspapers (71 percent) were the most trusted brands among respondents, followed by the Irish Times and BBC News at 70 percent each, the Irish Independent at 68 percent and Newstalk, Today FM and Sky News at 66 percent each.
According to the report, when asked what could increase trust in news, “addressing bias” and “increasing fact-checking protocols” were the most popular responses.
No figures in relation to these responses were provided in the publication.
While news interest increased slightly this year (22 percent of respondents describing themselves as ‘extremely interested’ in the news compared to 19 percent in 2024), the report noted that longitudinal analysis shows that those ‘extremely’ or ‘very interested’ in news in Ireland have reduced to 56 percent in 2025 when compared to 71 percent in 2015.
This is coupled with a steadily growing trend of “news avoidance”, despite “peaks and troughs”.
The 2025 report found that 41 percent of respondents said they actively try to avoid the news which, while down from 44 percent last year, was still higher than the sub-30 percent levels last seen in 2017.
In Ireland, the survey of 2000 people was conducted between January and February by both YouGov (75 percent) and Cint (25 percent).
Ireland is identified as the global leader when it comes to interest in local news, with 84 percent of respondents describing an interest in it; higher than the US (82 percent), EU (80 percent), and UK (77 percent).
One in five Irish respondents say they are “extremely interested” in local news, a higher rate than any other country.
The main types of local news Irish people are interested in are: crime and public safety (53 percent), community services (44 percent), local events and culture (37 percent), obituaries (33 percent), and local politics (32 percent).
While the report outlines a picture of high trust and interest in the work of the Irish media, it repeatedly highlights the financial challenges faced by the sector.
Coimisiún na Meán’s recent funding of “public-interest journalism” is identified as an “important starting point” when it comes to upholding Irish media.
Earlier this year, An Coimisiún gave out €5.7 million through journalism schemes, funded by the Department of Arts, Culture, Communications, Media and Sport and which covered “Local Democracy and Courts Reporting”.
The closure of the Fingal Independent in 2022 is singled out in the report as an example of the threat faced by this decline in financial support from the public:
“In 2022, the Fingal Independent ceased publication after nearly 40 years. Its owner, Mediahuis, concluded the title was no longer profitable. Yet between 2006 and 2022, Fingal’s population grew by over a third—faster than any other county in Ireland. Whether or not a title is profitable, fast-growing and vibrant regions like Fingal need local journalists.
“Local journalism still matters—and it is still trusted. But trust alone won’t pay wages, fund reporting, or hold local power to account. To ensure the future of local news in Ireland, we must back trust with policy, investment, and long-term support for journalism as a public good.”
Mr O’Domhnaill writes in the report’s foreword therefore that “there is a longer-term recognition that the sector, particularly local news outlets, needs ongoing access to sustainable support measures including funding schemes and sectoral development initiatives”.
Concerns about ‘misinformation’ and ‘disinformation’ are addressed in the report, with 68 percent of respondents expressing concern about distinguishing between what is real and fake online.
Over 55s (74 percent) were more concerned than 18–24-year-olds (62 percent).
Just over half of the respondents (54 percent) pointed to social media platform X as the “greatest threat regarding false and misleading information,” followed by TikTok and Facebook (53 percent).
“The Guardian, NPR, PBS, and Le Monde have all stopped publishing on Elon Musk’s social network, citing algorithmic changes that prioritise extremism,” the report reads, while also drawing attention to legal action taken by Mediahaus against X.
Commenting on the report, Deputy Director of the DCU Institute for Future Media, Democracy and Society (FuJo) Dr Eileen Culloty 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.”