The Broadcasting Authority of Ireland will host the launch event for the latest edition of the Reuters Digital News Report (Ireland) on Wednesday, 23rd June next. The webinar event, which is open to the public for the first time, will be held at 11am (Irish Time) on Zoom. Irish Sign Language and captioning will be provided.
The Reuters Institute Digital News Report is the largest ongoing comparative study of news consumption in the world. The research includes analysis of international and Irish trends in the online news audience, trust in news sources, and paying for news. This year’s report will profile Irish consumers and their interests and engagement with news and technology; their sources and devices; their attitudes towards trust, disinformation and paying for news; new data on brands, discovery and social media and the effect of COVID-19 on news media consumption in Ireland. This report showcases Ireland’s data, which forms part of the larger survey, conducted in 46 countries. Ireland’s participation has been facilitated for the seventh year through sponsorship by the BAI.
Commenting, BAI Deputy Chief Executive, Celene Craig said: “Ireland, like other countries across the world, has witnessed considerable growth in the consumption of online content in recent years and this trend is only expected to increase, and with it the potential for these services to shape and inform views and opinions. While the BAI is the regulator of broadcasting in Ireland, it has long been involved in the online discussion, contributing to the development of regulation for on-demand and online platforms at European level through the EU’s Audiovisual Media Services Directive (AVMSD) and, it has, in recent years, been developing its policy response on the future regulation of online content in Ireland – the Online Safety and Media Regulation Bill will result in the BAI being integrated into the broader Media Commission.
“Data from the Reuters Digital News Report provides critical insights to guide the BAI in achieving its strategic objective of delivering a media landscape that is representative of, and accessible to, the diversity of Irish society. It is one of the most significant cross-platform content research projects running in Ireland that allows developments in Ireland to be tracked annually and viewed in a global context. This would not be possible without successful collaboration – a value that underpins the BAI’s work.”
At next week’s event, Dr Kirsty Park from the Institute for Future Media, Democracy and Society (FuJo) at Dublin City University will provide analysis of the Irish data, while lead researcher Prof Colleen Murrell from FuJo, Nic Newman from the Reuters Institute, journalists Zara King from Virgin Media One, Hugh Linehan from The Irish Times, and leadership consultant Margaret E Ward, along with the BAI’s Celene Craig will respond to the report’s findings.
Commenting, Ms Craig said: “This is a very insightful report that will be of interest to anyone who is curious about how we consume news media in Ireland. We are delighted this year to have the opportunity to open the event to a wider audience. We will also provide Irish Sign Language and captioning at this year’s event, making it even more accessible to interested parties.”
Lead researcher, Prof Colleen Murrell from FuJo added: “We are delighted to once again work with the BAI and the Reuters Institute on this important study. Through the annual Digital News Report, and other major research projects, DCU’s Institute for Future Media, Democracy and Society (FuJo) continues to build a critical knowledge base for the Irish media, and we look forward to reporting and contextualising this year’s insights at next week’s event.”
The launch of the Reuters Digital News Report (Ireland) 2021 is free to attend. To register, please click here.
ENDS
Media contact: Joanne Ahern / Thelma Harris, DHR Communications, Tel: 087-9881837 / 083-0517622.
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