by Martina Chapman, National Coordinator of Media Literacy Ireland
On Monday, 23 June, Media Literacy Ireland in partnership with EDMO Ireland, organised the inaugural Disinformation Forum, supported by the Media Literacy and User Education team at Coimisiún na Meán.
Kindly hosted by Mary Immaculate College, Limerick, the event marked a key milestone in Ireland’s newly launched National Counter Disinformation Strategy (NCDS).
During his opening address, the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport Patrick O’Donovan TD welcomed the collaborative spirit of the initiative:
‘I am delighted to attend today’s forum on disinformation, hosted by my Alma Mater, Mary Immaculate College, Limerick. I would also like to thank the European Digital Media Observatory and Media Literacy Ireland for organising. As acknowledged in the National Counter Disinformation Strategy, ongoing cooperation and collaboration between relevant stakeholders will be essential if we are to overcome the challenges presented by disinformation.’
The National Counter Disinformation Strategy
Seamus Hempenstall, from the Department of Culture, Communications and Sport, gave an overview of the NCDS, which was published earlier this year following a cross-sectoral consultation. The strategy was developed by a working group representing industry, academia, civil society, and Government Departments, and sets out a comprehensive, whole-of-society response to the growing challenge of disinformation.
Representing EDMO Ireland and DCU FuJo, Dr Eileen Culloty contributed to the development of the strategy and chaired the disinformation forum in her role as coordinator of EDMO Ireland and co-chair of Media Literacy Ireland. She highlighted the importance of a collaborative and educational approach:
‘Disinformation is a complex problem with no easy solutions. Media literacy is not about telling people what to think, but helping them make informed choices about the information they consume. This annual forum will review efforts to promote media literacy and identify opportunities to collaborate.’
Martina Chapman, coordinator of Media Literacy Ireland and the independent chair of the NCDS, noted that:
‘Commitment 4 of the National Counter Disinformation Strategy highlights the importance fostering media literacy across all age groups, sectors, and communities, which requires collaboration and an evolving understanding of what works in media literacy. This forum is designed to offer key stakeholders from different sectors the opportunity to do just that.’
Annual Disinformation Forum
The annual Disinformation Forum was developed in response to one of the actions outlined in the National Counter Disinformation Strategy. It will be held annually with two core aims. First, to take stock of high-level strategies and policies to counter disinformation through media literacy, featuring contributions from organisations such as EDMO Ireland, Media Literacy Ireland, Coimisiún na Meán, the Electoral Commission, SOLAS, the Department of Education, and the LGMA. Second, each forum will focus on a specific sector with a key role in promoting media literacy.
The 2025 forum shone a spotlight on the local and community media sector, with insightful case study presentations from CRAOL, NewsBrands Ireland, and BEAT 102 103. Future forums will explore other vital sectors such as the voluntary and training sectors, creating opportunities to share learning, identifying challenges on the ground, and highlighting promising initiatives.
The annual Disinformation Forum represents a shared commitment to empowering citizens, strengthening democratic resilience, and building a more informed public. As co-host, MLI sees this as an opportunity to promote the work of MLI members in countering disinformation through media literacy, as well as an opportunity to foster future cross-sector collaboration.
