Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport, Patrick O’Donovan, has announced an allocation of €10 million to Coimisiún na Meán to strengthen public interest journalism. Of this funding, €6 million will go towards the continuation of the Local Democracy and Courts Reporting Schemes, while €4 million will support the introduction of a new News Reporting Scheme.
The minister highlighted that the funding builds on the success of the first round of the Local Democracy and Courts Reporting Schemes, which helped media outlets enhance coverage of local authorities and the courts. The new News Reporting Scheme, supported with €4 million, will enable outlets to expand reporting on important news areas that currently lack sufficient coverage.
As part of the funding package, €3 million has been ring-fenced specifically for commercial radio under the News Reporting Scheme. This measure is designed to support commercial radio services in producing additional, high-quality reporting on matters of public interest.
Minister O’Donovan emphasized that the allocation for commercial radio acknowledges its critical role in providing trustworthy, accurate, and accessible news to the public. He noted that this support aligns with the Programme for Government’s commitment to strengthen objective news and current affairs content while complementing existing supports, such as the Sound and Vision Scheme.
Commercial radio stations, the minister added, play a vital role in community engagement, social inclusion, and delivering reliable information to local and national audiences. The new funding will enhance their ability to provide high-quality public service journalism and ensure citizens remain informed on key issues affecting society.
