Three Mayo newspapers get funding boost to support quality journalism

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Three Mayo newspapers will receive government funding to enhance their ability to continue to provide high quality, independent news coverage, Minister of State, Alan Dillon, has stated.

Minister for Arts, Culture, Communications, Media and Sport, Patrick O’Donovan, announced the awarding of €5.7 million, through Coimisiún na Meán, to news outlets across Ireland under new journalism schemes.

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.

At the announcement of government funding yesterday for enhanced coverage of courts and local democracy across local newspapers were (from left) Linda O’Reilly, managing editor, The Anglo Celt; Rónán Ó Domhnaill, Media Development Commissioner, Coimisiún na Meán, Eilis Ryan, Westmeath Examiner; Frank Mulrennan, CEO of Celtic Media Group, representing The Connaught Telegraph. The launch was held in the Irish Print Museum in Dublin.

The Western People, The Mayo News and The Connaught Telegraph titles in Mayo will receive funding through the scheme, along with Irish Independent online independent.ie/Mayo.

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 Dillon said: “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 Western People, The Mayo News and The Connaught Telegraph are 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 Mayo receive the news stories that matter to them.’’

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