Local newspapers ranked among top trusted media outlets in Ireland

LOCAL newspapers have ranked among the top trusted media outlets in Ireland, according to a report issued this week.

According to the annual Digital News Report Ireland 2024, Regional or Local Newspaper ranked fourth after RTE, The Irish Times and Regional or Local Radio when it comes to the public’s trust in news coverage.

While overall trust is down seven percent since the height of the Covid-19 pandemic, it is relatively unchanged this year, the report found.

The report also suggests that for the first time, online outlets are now the “main source” of news for people living in Ireland.

According to the report, 33 per cent of people surveyed get their news online, through online news outlets excluding social media.

This compares with traditional sources of news – television (31 per cent), radio (12 per cent) and newspapers (3 per cent). While the media landscape is changing, Irish consumers still retain an interest in news, the report said.

Some 88 per cent of respondents were either ‘extremely’, ‘very’ or ‘somewhat’ interested in news.

The report, which was published on Monday by Coimisiún na Meán, also revealed that the number of Irish news consumers who paid to access news content increased from 15 per cent last year to 17 per cent in 2024.

However, the report also highlighted an increase in concerns around real and fake news on the internet.

Some 71 per cent of Irish respondents said they are concerned, an increase on last year’s 64 per cent.

Commenting, Rónán Ó Domhnaill, Media Development Commissioner for Coimisiún na Meán, said: “It is encouraging to see that overall trust in news remains high in Ireland compared to other international regions, this year 46 per cent of respondents reported that they can trust most news, most of the time.

“The continuing trend toward news consumption online presents both opportunities and challenges for the media in Ireland.

“This year’s Digital News Report Ireland serves as a valuable dataset, to help ensure that the transition to news online is implemented in a structured and successful manner.”

Research for the Digital News Report is undertaken by the Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism at the University of Oxford.

The Irish data forms part of the larger survey, and was facilitated by Coimisiún na Meán, Ireland’s commission for regulating broadcasters, on-demand services and online media, and supporting media development.

Analysis of the Irish data is provided by researchers from the DCU Institute for Future Media, Democracy and Society (FuJo). The full report can be read HERE.