{"id":6648,"date":"2026-02-27T09:03:59","date_gmt":"2026-02-27T09:03:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.medialiteracyireland.ie\/?p=6648"},"modified":"2026-02-27T09:05:16","modified_gmt":"2026-02-27T09:05:16","slug":"virgin-media-news-truth-matters","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.medialiteracyireland.ie\/ga\/virgin-media-news-truth-matters\/","title":{"rendered":"Virgin Media News Truth Matters"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

by Ruairi Carroll, Head of News, Virgin Media Television <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

We didn\u2019t have \u2018media literacy\u2019 when I was a teenager in the 1990s. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Media was RT\u00c9, The Irish Times<\/em>, and The Irish Independent<\/em>.  Independent radio was still relatively new. There was no real internet as we know it now; mobile phones were rare; social media was years away \u2014 and when it came to AI, the only one I had heard of was HAL 9000 in 2001: A Space Odyssey<\/em>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Today, 95% of homes in Ireland have access to the internet;<\/a> 95% of Irish adults have a smartphone; more than 90% of children aged between 8 and 15 have some sort of smart device;<\/a> while more than two thirds of Irish people use AI personally<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We can access more information in seconds than at any other time in human history. It\u2019s an incredible resource, but it\u2019s also important that people can critically examine the stories and images that are delivered to their screens. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

That\u2019s why Virgin Media News has launched a new strand in its reporting, looking at the pros and cons of living in a world that\u2019s rich with information. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Truth Matters<\/em> is a short-form series designed to help Irish audiences recognise and navigate misinformation, disinformation, and AI-generated content. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Presented by Virgin Media News journalists, the series will be delivered through our broadcast news bulletins on Ireland AM<\/em>, News at 12.30<\/em>, News at 5.30<\/em>, News at 7<\/em>, and The Tonight Show<\/em>. Each 90-second to 3-minute segment will demonstrate \u2014 using real-world examples \u2014 the importance of verification, sourcing and critical analysis, while equipping viewers with practical media literacy tools. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In addition to what is broadcast, we will also produce bespoke online-only pieces for platforms such as TikTok and Instagram. This will help us reach audiences who may not have tuned in to the live bulletins. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The series will enable audiences of all ages to critically assess the information they encounter. Topics will include deepfake videos, manipulated images, viral hoaxes, conspiracy narratives, political misinformation, algorithm-driven amplification, impersonation scams, and misleading health or financial claims. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Truth Matters<\/em> reinforces Virgin Media News\u2019 commitment to trusted journalism, helping audiences of all ages make informed decisions in an increasingly complex information environment. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Some Virgin Media News Truth Matters links can be viewed here:<\/p>\n\n\n\n