As misinformation, algorithm-driven content, and AI-generated material increasingly shape the digital environment, NewsBrands Ireland is highlighting the vital role trusted journalism and media literacy play in creating a safer internet for all.

Irish news publishers continue to invest heavily in professional, fact-checked, multi-platform journalism produced by trained reporters and accountable editors. This journalism serves communities across Ireland and supports the wider news ecosystem, from broadcasters and educators to search and social platforms, ensuring the public has access to reliable, verified information.

New research by NewsBrands and ColourText focusing on 16–30-year-olds shows that 78% are concerned about fake news on social media, while 57% say they would turn first to established Irish news brands to verify information they encounter online. These findings highlight both the scale of the challenge and the importance of trusted news sources in the digital age.

To help address this, NewsBrands Ireland runs Young Journalist Ireland, a nationwide student journalism and news literacy programme completed by over 10,000 students each year. The programme equips students with practical skills in research, verification, interviewing, writing, and editing, while also helping them understand how misinformation spreads, how to assess sources critically, and the role journalism plays in democracy and civic life.

Professional news publishers in Ireland operate under robust editorial standards and codes of ethics, including commitments to accuracy, fairness, transparency, accountability, and respect for privacy. Editors are legally responsible for published content, and news organisations are subject to regulatory oversight and complaints mechanisms, ensuring trust and public accountability remain at the core of Irish journalism.

Safer Internet Day is an important reminder that access to trusted, verified information is essential for a healthy digital society. Through initiatives like Young Journalist Ireland and the continued investment of publishers in professional journalism, NewsBrands Ireland is supporting both today’s audiences and the next generation to navigate the online world safely and confidently.

For more information about the Young Journalist Ireland programme, visit www.youngjournalist.ie