A NEW government scheme to support professional journalism and truth in reporting is a recognition of the need to ensure accuracy and fairness are delivered in the public interest, industry leaders say.
The Minister for Arts, Culture, Communications, Media, and Sport, Limerick TD Patrick O’Donovan, announced the awarding of €5.7million to news outlets across Ireland under new Journalism Schemes.
The Limerick Post is one of the recipients of funding under the schemes, which aims “to enhance the publication’s ability to continue to provide high quality, independent news coverage,” the Limerick Fine Gael Minister said.
The Journalism Schemes cover Local Democracy and Courts Reporting – the first time Coimisiún na Meán has directly supported public-interest journalism for communities across Ireland.
Publisher and owner of the Limerick Post, Will Ryan, said: “We greatly appreciate Coimisiún na Meán’s support for independent journalism at a crucial time.”
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“This funding strengthens our capacity for local democracy and court reporting while emphasising the importance of local journalism in holding power accountable and keeping the public informed.”
As part of the awards, over 100 new or enhanced journalist roles will also be created across the country. This includes 71 newly funded roles for journalists, and more than 30 roles where freelance or part-time journalists will see enhanced employment terms.
Every one of the 26 counties will see journalism funded on matters of public importance, including the work of local authorities and district and circuit courts. Reporting will be provided through English and Irish and novel online reporting will form part of the scheme.
Minister O’Donovan said that “our local media organisations play such an important role in keeping local people up to date with what’s going on in our community and we need to ensure government supports them to. I very much welcome the funding that the Limerick Post is to receive and have no doubt it will be fully utilised to ensure quality, reliable, and accurate news reporting continues produced.”
“As we look to the future, I would encourage our local media organisations to engage with me and with our Minister, as I expect that later this year two further schemes will also open for applications, along with a second version of the Local Democracy and Courts Reporting Schemes.
“Local news is one of the cornerstones of a functional democracy, and these schemes will ensure that people across limerick receive the news stories that matter to them.’’
