Category: Media

Coimisiún na Meán awards over half a million euro for Media Sector training initiatives

Coimisiún na Meán has today (06.03.2025) awarded €550,000 to deliver training and development initiatives for the Media Sector in Ireland.

Coimisiún na Meán’s Sectoral Learning and Development Programme assists organisations to undertake training, learning and development activities that support the broadcasting and audiovisual industries, and helps realise An Coimisiún’s aim of ensuring a thriving, diverse, safe, creative and trusted media landscape.

Coimisiún na Meán’s Media Development Commissioner Rónán Ó Domhnaill said: “Coimisiún na Meán is committed to ensuring a media landscape that is sustainable, pluralistic and participative, and that reflects and shapes who we are as a society. The Sectoral Learning and Development Programme underpins our work as it delivers training and development opportunities to those working in the media. By funding these initiatives, we can continue to support sector sustainability and capacity, and the ability of media workers to create content that reflects diverse voices and viewpoints in contemporary Ireland.”

During this round of funding, Coimisiún na Meán received 38 applications seeking a total of €1.2 million. The successful 29 applicants include organisations representing commercial and community media; industry specific groups such as producers, animators, and journalists; and advocacy organisations for gender, equality and inclusion, and promotion of the Irish language. The provision of funding to these organisations enables them to undertake of range of training and development activities, for example workshops, masterclasses, training programmes, seminars, and networking events.

Among the successful applicants awarded funding for 2025 are:

  • Craol – funding to support skills qualifications for trainers, workshops on mobile journalism and media production, the annual community radio féile, and other operational activities.
  • Ecoscope Limited – funding to support a sustainability demonstration day for electrical departments in film productions.
  • Storyhouse – funding to support a script and screen writing programme, and a panel discussion on Irish language film-making as part of the 2025 Storyhouse festival.
  • GORM Media – funding to run a training course for early- to mid-career media makers from under-represented, and to deliver bite-sized workshops for local communities.
  • Mediastrong – funding for a pilot initiative to equip newsroom staff with essential skills to recognise and manage trauma effectively.
  • Women in Film and Television – funding to support representation at Berlinale: Power to transform – Global Forum for Women; the Canne Film Festival; and the Greater Later Summit
  • Oireachtas na Gaeilge – funding for Gradaim Chumarsáide an Oireachtais, and other Irish language development work.
  • Learning Waves Journalism Graduate Programme – funding for internships in commercial radio stations for journalism graduates

A list of successful Sectoral Learning and Development funding recipients for 2025 can be found on their website.

Coimisiún na Meán supports the development of a thriving media sector in Ireland through funding schemes including the Sectoral Learning and Development Programme, Sponsorship Scheme, Sound & Vision Scheme, and through its Journalism Schemes, covering Local Democracy and Courts Reporting.

In 2024, Coimisiún na Meán published the first Gender, Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (GEDI) Strategy for Ireland’s audio and audiovisual media sector, to enhance the diversity of the media sector in Ireland.

Coimisiún na Meán publish revised Media Services Codes and Rules

Coimisiún na Meán has published revised Media Services Codes and Rules, completing the process of updating its regulations to implement changes under the EU Audiovisual Media Services Directive (AVMSD) and the Online Safety and Media Regulation Act 2022. Under the Online Safety and Media Regulation Act, Coimisiún na Meán is empowered to develop codes and rules which apply to video-on-demand providers as well as television and radio broadcasters established in Ireland.

The AVMSD provides for minimum standards and obligations that video-on demand providers and television broadcasters must adhere to in a variety of areas, including child safety, the accessibility of their services, and the prohibition of content that incites hatred. The Online Safety and Media Regulation Act establishes the regulatory framework for these services and for radio broadcasters.

Aoife MacEvilly, Broadcasting and Video-on-Demand Commissioner at Coimisiún na Meán said: ‘’To ensure a thriving and safe media landscape for Ireland, it is crucial that the Codes and Rules which apply to broadcasters and now, for the first time, to video-on-demand service providers are up-to-date and in-line with EU regulations. We have been engaging with media service providers in recent months and following the conclusion of our public consultations, are happy to have published nine sets of Codes and Rules which are now in effect.’’

The nine regulations published include a new Audiovisual On-Demand Media Service Code and Rules, marking the first time that video-on-demand (VOD) services have been subject to formal regulatory oversight by Coimisiún na Meán. These new Codes and Rules were developed following a public consultation which concluded in August 2024.

The other existing Codes and Rules have undergone updates to comply with the AVMSD, and includes the Code of Programme Standards, the Access Rules for Television Broadcasters, and the General Commercial Communications Code. These Codes and Rules were updated following a public consultation which concluded in October 2024.

The new and revised Media Services Codes and Rules which have been published are:

In 2025, Coimisiún na Meán will commence the work required to update the Codes and Rules based on the feedback received as part of the consultation process which took place this year.

ISPCC honoured with award for ‘hard-hitting campaign that exposed truth about childhood in Ireland

ISPCC has received the top accolade for the Best Short-Term Media Campaign at the Awards for Excellence in Public Relations for its campaign ‘For some children, Christmas doesn’t happen’.

The awards, which have been co-hosted by the Public Relations Consultants Association Ireland (PRCA) and the Public Relations Institute of Ireland (PRII) for the past 30 years, recognise the best in Irish public relations, public affairs and internal communications across the public and private sectors.

There had been an initial 37 submissions in ISPCC’s category, which was then short-listed to a group of five finalists.

The judges said that it was a close contest, “but the winning entry was a hard-hitting campaign that showed no fear of exposing harsh truths about childhood in Ireland.”

They added that “this was a strategic and well-planned campaign, with excellent use of research and timing. Challenging objectives were clearly achieved with tangible results.

Kudos to an in-house team that surely worked long hours over the holidays period.”

Deirdre McNamara, ISPCC Head of Marketing and Communications, said that “ISPCC was delighted to see our campaign recognised by our peers. This achievement is testament to the amazing work of everyone at ISPCC.

“For too many children and young people, Christmas is sadly just another day. For some, the issues they encounter all year can worsen. It can mean abuse, neglect and loneliness.

For others, Christmas can present new worries and concerns.  Whatever the reason, they turn to Childline for support and for someone to listen.”

“At Childline we rely heavily on public generosity to help us to be here for every child who needs us.  We depend on this generosity to keep us listening 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days of the year.”

  • To support Childline and help keep volunteers listening to children and young people, please support the Childline Summer appeal and donate at www.ispcc.ie.

Caitríona Perry to leave RTE for the BBC

Today, the BBC announced the appointment of Caitríona Perry as chief presenter on the BBC’s news channel – BBC News – which broadcasts around the world, including the UK, North America and Singapore. Caitríona will join recently appointed chief presenter Sumi Somaskanda to anchor out of Washington D.C, reinforcing the BBC’s commitment to better serve North American audiences with more breaking news coverage and in-depth analysis from the region.

Caitríona joins the BBC from RTÉ – Ireland’s national public service broadcaster where she served as the presenter of the country’s main evening news programme and an anchor of special event programmes. Prior to that, she was RTÉ’s US Correspondent based in Washington D.C. where she covered the Obama-Biden and the Trump-Pence administrations, the 2016 elections and all aspects of US economic, political, cultural and sporting life. She has written two best-selling and critically acclaimed books on US politics. She’s also worked as a broadcast news correspondent, documentary maker and a programme editor. She has reported for radio, tv, digital and social platforms from across the US, Canada, Latin America, Europe and Australia. She has interviewed many heads of state including US President Joe Biden, and his predecessors Bill Clinton and Donald Trump.

“I’m delighted to be joining the BBC at this time of its expansion in the US. There is no other news organisation globally which has the same ability and resources to bring the most important news to so many people with impartiality, urgency, accuracy and style,” says Caitríona Perry. “I look forward to continuing my career in public service journalism at the forefront of reporting all the biggest stories around the world.”

Paul Royall, Executive News Editor for the BBC News channel, said: “We are thrilled to welcome Caitríona to BBC News. She brings authority, expertise and warmth to the new channel, and completes a compelling on-air team.”

BBC News, which reaches 50 million consumers weekly in the U.S., is regarded as the most trusted global news brand in the country, ahead of all major US news brands, according to the 2022 Reuters Institute Digital News Report. The ranking is a testament to BBC News’ commitment to its mission of helping people understand the world around them, make informed choices and take an active part in society and democracy.

Ireland Football Heroes Go Head to Head at Turners Cross Stadium For Virgin Media’s ‘A Game’ for Ireland

Virgin Media are hosting ‘A-Game’ for Ireland in Cork City FC’s Turner’s Cross Stadium on 29 November 2022, which will see Irish football legends David Meyler and Stephanie Roche take on Ireland’s top FIFA players and WYLDE esport athletes, Ciaran Walsh and Tyrone Ryan.

The game, which is a League of Ireland first, will be streamed live from 5pm on Virgin Media’s Twitch channel, with commentary and analysis from Virgin Media Sport pundit, Damien Delaney and esports caster and football commentator, Darren Gibson.

Virgin Media is the official sponsor of Usain Bolt’s esports organisation and Ireland’s premier esports team WYLDE;  this event is part of their ongoing ‘Gamers are Athletes’ campaign, showcasing e-sports players as elite athletes in need of the speed and reliability Virgin Media broadband provides to bring their A-game.

The popularity of esports has rapidly expanded and the pandemic has acted as a catalyst for that growth with 52% of adults in Ireland who game saying they play online, according to research commissioned by Virgin Media and carried out by Coyne Research. Research also shows that 72% of people would choose to play a football game online over participating in a physical game.

Ahead of the game, Virgin Media Ireland Marketing Manager, Clare Quinlan said: “Our research shows us that 1 in 5 young people in Ireland are watching FIFA tournaments. In future, online tournaments could be as popular as the World Cup, so we want to make sure that just like other athletes, e-sports players have access to the best equipment so they can play and compete at the highest level. Virgin Media’s 1Gb speeds and 99.9% reliable broadband helps the WYLDE team and gamers across the country to bring their A-game.”

Stephanie Roche added: “Ireland may not have made it to Qatar, but that doesn’t mean we don’t have Irish international players we should be celebrating. Ciaran and Tyrone are athletes, just the same as me and David, and now thanks to Virgin Media people across Ireland will see that and get behind them.”

Back in his home turf of Turner’s Cross, and former professional midfielder, David Meyler said: “Having started my career playing for Cork City, it is great to be back now to take on the WYLDE e-sports team, another great Cork based team giving players the support and resources they need to develop and to compete internationally. I am an avid online gamer myself, so I understand the level of skill and dedication gaming at his level takes and am looking forward to taking them on.”

Speaking on behalf of WYLDE, Chief Executive Steve Daly said: “We all know how good David and Stephanie are on the pitch, but this is a great opportunity to showcase just how talented Ciaran and Tyrone are too. We’re really excited to see what happens when you bring together four Irish internationals for a head to head.”

7 Reasons the English Premier League is the most Popular Domestic League on the Planet

The English Premier League is the most-watched domestic sports league in the world. Millions of people from all around the globe tune in each week to watch live games unfold. 

But what is it that attracts so many sports fans to watch these soccer games? Why are television companies spending large sums of cash on the rights to televise English football, and why are some of the best players and managers in the world working for these clubs?

 

1. It’s unpredictable

Anything can happen in the Premier League. Each club is given a cash injection each year because of television rights. This allows small clubs to spend millions of pounds on top players. 

Unlike other domestic competitions, the team at the bottom of the league can beat the team at the top. Predicting the outcome of any Premier League game can prove challenging, but even with that in mind, gambling in the premier league is extremely popular. You will be able to find odds for all of the fixtures at an online casino. 

Betting on the Premier League can be a lot of fun. You will be able to find an online casino that allows you to bet on the number of goals, substitutions, corners, goalscorer, etc. 

It’s no surprise that gambling on the Premier League is popular. In the 2020/21 season, over fifty percent of the teams in the competition were sponsored by betting companies. 

2. The Premier League has a long history

The first Premier League season took place in 1992/93. Before the Premier League, the top domestic football division in England was known as Division One. However, Division One had generated a negative reputation around the world due to hooliganism in the 1980s, which encouraged the owners to replace it with the Premier League. 

With broadcasters Sky onboard, they decided to change the way football in England was viewed. Sky, along with the Premier League’s owners, decided to make the Premier League a family-friendly competition. They worked hard changing people’s persona on the league, and over time, it seemed to have worked. Today, attending football games is a lot safer than it once was. People of all ages go to Premier League matches without having to worry about their safety. 

3. The media attention

The media surrounding the Premier League is constantly growing. Although most fans tune into their local television network to watch the fixtures, you can easily find other content online. There are several fan channels on popular streaming platforms like YouTube, and there are countless groups on social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram. 

If you want to find out more about your favorite club, upcoming fixtures, the latest transfers, or injuries, just do a quick search on Google. There are multiple websites dedicated to the Premier League. There are news channels that discuss the Premier League 24 hours a day. 

 

4.The style of play

The Premier League is highly entertaining. Not just because of the avid fans, or the flashy footballers, but the style of play is what most people like about the Premier League. 

In almost every Premier League fixture you’re guaranteed tough tackles, exciting attacks, interesting tactics, etc. Unlike the German League, players don’t get a lot of time on the ball. Each player must make quick decisions if they expect to retain possession. 

Arguably the best managers in the world manage clubs in the Premier League. Klopp at Liverpool, Pep at Manchester City, Conte at Spurs, and Tuchel at Chelsea. These managers have made the Premier League the most exciting league at the moment. Although each manager has a unique style of football, it can be enjoyable for the neutral and supporters to watch. 

 

5. Watch it all over the world

In the past, watching the Premier League fixtures could prove challenging. However, in recent years, watching games has become a lot easier. Although standard in-home viewing is just as popular as it once was, more people than ever before are watching the games from their mobile devices. Streaming Premier League matches is an easy way to watch a game while you are on the move. 

Today, you can watch the English league in one hundred and eighty-eight countries. Here are the only countries that are recognized by the UN that you won’t be able to watch the league:

 

  • North Korea

 

  • Turkmenistan

 

  • Cuba

 

  • Afghanistan

 

The league reaches over one billion homes each year. Live coverage of games is shown in over 900 million homes annually. 

Even if you are planning a vacation abroad, watching your favorite team play in the Premier League won’t be difficult. 

The league is a good conversation starter while visiting a foreign country. Especially in areas throughout South East Asia and Africa. Lots of local people in these areas tune into the Premier League on a regular basis. You will find counterfeit Premier League jerseys for sale in a lot of the stalls in local marketplaces. 

 

6. The supporters

Premier League supporters are some of the most passionate supporters on the planet. Even the teams at the lower end of the table attend games week-in, week-out. International supporters often travel for thousands of miles to watch their beloved team in real life. 

Even for people who don’t find football entertaining, attending a game and watching the loyal fans scream, sing and shout, for ninety minutes can be highly entertaining. A lot of supporters in England breathe, sleep, and eat football. It is an obsession throughout the country. 

7. It created a lot of excitement during the pandemic

Although the Premier League was temporarily put on hold during the pandemic, the owners decided to continue the competition behind closed doors. This allowed fans to watch each game unfold while many people around the world were on lockdown. This provided fans with much-needed excitement. Although the stadiums were empty, the games were just as exciting as ever. During these unprecedented times, more people found themselves watching Premier League fixtures to avoid boredom.