Public trust in general news in Ireland has fallen to 42%, an eight-percentage-point decline from the previous year, according to the 2026 Digital News Report published by Coimisiún na Meán. While skepticism toward the broader media environment is rising, Irish audiences maintain a stronger affinity for established news brands—such as RTÉ and local radio—compared to peers in the UK and the US, according to data from the Reuters Institute at Oxford University.
Why is general news trust declining in Ireland?
The decline in trust reflects a growing divide between how people perceive the media landscape versus the specific brands they consume. While 42% of adults trust “most news,” 51% report they trust the news they personally consume. According to Rónán Ó Domhnaill, Media Development Commissioner at Coimisiún na Meán, this indicates that while audiences remain interested in current affairs, they are increasingly skeptical of the wider information ecosystem. This trend coincides with record-high news avoidance, with 47% of Irish adults now actively trying to avoid the news, a six-point increase from 2025.
Interest in news in Ireland has dropped to 54%, down from 70% during the 2021 pandemic era. Despite this, Ireland’s trust levels remain higher than the European average of 36%.
How do news consumption habits differ by age?
Age is now a primary predictor of how news is accessed and verified. Data shows that 60% of younger audiences (18–24) rely on social media for the majority of their news consumption, while older demographics lean heavily on traditional television (61%) and radio (41%). According to the report, 14% of younger users are now turning to AI chatbots for information, compared to just 5% of those over the age of 35. This shift toward algorithmic and social platforms contributes to the 71% of all respondents who express concern regarding their ability to distinguish between real and fake news online.
Which news brands remain the most trusted?
Established national and local outlets continue to anchor the Irish media diet. RTÉ News and local radio news lead with a 71% trust rating. Following closely are local newspapers and The Irish Times at 69%, with the Irish Independent at 68% and BBC News at 67%. Digital platforms are also seeing steady usage; RTÉ News Online remains the most accessed digital source at 37%, followed by TheJournal.ie at 29%. Professor Jane Suiter of the DCU Institute for Media, Democracy and Society (FuJo) notes that this sustained reliance on traditional brands highlights the necessity of maintaining robust regional and national news coverage.
If you are struggling to verify a breaking story, cross-reference social media claims against the digital portals of legacy brands like RTÉ or your local newspaper, which currently hold higher public trust ratings than search engines or social algorithms.
What is the future of paid digital news?
Despite the broader decline in trust, more Irish people are willing to pay for journalism. Subscription rates have reached 22%, a two-point increase from 2025 and a significant climb from the 9% recorded a decade ago in 2016. This growth suggests that while the “free” news environment is increasingly viewed with skepticism, audiences are placing a higher premium on verified, subscription-based content. Coimisiún na Meán has signaled that this trend, alongside public service media support, will be central to its strategy for maintaining a sustainable and trustworthy media landscape.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Do Irish people trust public service media? Yes. 42% of respondents believe public service broadcasters have a positive effect on the country, which is 12 points higher than in the UK.
- Is news avoidance increasing? Yes. 47% of Irish adults now report actively avoiding the news, the highest level ever recorded in the country.
- How many people pay for online news in Ireland? Over one in five adults (22%) are currently signed up for digital news subscriptions.
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