Press Releases

When Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, etc first came on the scene social media, as they came to be called, were a phenomenal success. They allowed ordinary people to have a voice and to exchange ideas. Everybody embraced the new means of communications as an exciting development. Social media was seen as a liberating means of communication for everyone.   Social media was unregulated, this was seen as freeing up comment from those in power, providing unmediated platforms for people to express their views. It was seen as a democratic force for good.   What could go wrong?

The Press Council of Ireland and Office of the Press Ombudsman today launched their Annual Report for 2019. 

New NUI Galway Journalism Head calls for reform of libel laws to protect local journalism Applauds local newspapers’ successes – they remain trusted brands in their regions Urges local newspaper editors to be ‘brave and innovate’ in the digital space Recommends Oireachtas Committee on Communications hold hearings into the future of local journalism and its funding Suggests new public broadcasting charge be used to support local journalism  Friday, 14 September – Timely reform of the libel laws in Ireland are needed to protect local newspapers against frivolous defamation action according to the new Head of Journalism at NUI Galway, Tom Felle. 

Remarks by Mr Peter Feeney, Press Ombudsman, at the launch of the 2017 Annual Report for The Press Council of Ireland and the Office of the Press Ombudsman in the Maldron Hotel, Pearse Street, Dublin 2

Speech given by Seán Donlon, Chairperson of the Press Council of Ireland, to the Association of European Journalists in Ireland on 13 October 2017.

The recent publication on the Facebook page of KildareNow (an online-only news service for County Kildare) of an image of a man falsely accused of being a threat to children has received extensive coverage in the media.  

There is a major anomaly, in Ireland as elsewhere, in the way in which organisations which provide news are treated. Newspapers and magazines and some online-only news publications are subject to a Code of Practice which is implemented by the Press Council, a body independent of Government and the press.

Launch of the 2016 Annual Report of the Press Council of Ireland and Office of the Press Ombudsman  - Remarks of Chairman, Seán Donlon