Local media is set to get a boost after Media Minister Catherine Martin TD announced independent media, including local radio stations, will receive €6 million in funding to provide news and information to their area. The Green Party minister made the Budget announcement under the Sound and Vision scheme which supports local media to provide high quality news and current affairs.
Brian Leddin TD welcomed the funding: “Independent media, like Live95fm in Limerick, provides a crucial benefit to the community by informing people about important local news that may be missed by national media. This is a vital public service, which is why it is great to see support for independent, high-quality journalism that provides unbiased, objective and factual news reporting. It has never been more important to combat misinformation and the best way to do this is to provide accurate information to the public.”
Legislative change is currently underway to allow news and current affairs to be funded under Sound and Vision. Coimisiún na Meán will lead on the detailed design of the expanded scheme and the views of the independent broadcasting sector will be thoroughly considered.
In addition to the €4 million for new Media Fund schemes which was already agreed in the summer, €6 million will be provided for news and current affairs content, ring-fenced for the commercial radio and TV sector. This will be the first time news and current affairs are to be included in the Sound and Vision scheme.
“This is an important recognition of the value independent broadcasters play in trustworthy news and I'm delighted to see this investment in trusted local news.”