by Ruairi Carroll, Head of News, Virgin Media Television
We didn’t have ‘media literacy’ when I was a teenager in the 1990s.
Media was RTÉ, The Irish Times, and The Irish Independent. 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 — and when it came to AI, the only one I had heard of was HAL 9000 in 2001: A Space Odyssey.
Today, 95% of homes in Ireland have access to the internet; 95% of Irish adults have a smartphone; more than 90% of children aged between 8 and 15 have some sort of smart device; while more than two thirds of Irish people use AI personally
We can access more information in seconds than at any other time in human history. It’s an incredible resource, but it’s also important that people can critically examine the stories and images that are delivered to their screens.
That’s why Virgin Media News has launched a new strand in its reporting, looking at the pros and cons of living in a world that’s rich with information.
Truth Matters is a short-form series designed to help Irish audiences recognise and navigate misinformation, disinformation, and AI-generated content.
Presented by Virgin Media News journalists, the series will be delivered through our broadcast news bulletins on Ireland AM, News at 12.30, News at 5.30, News at 7, and The Tonight Show. Each 90-second to 3-minute segment will demonstrate — using real-world examples — the importance of verification, sourcing and critical analysis, while equipping viewers with practical media literacy tools.
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.
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.
Truth Matters reinforces Virgin Media News’ commitment to trusted journalism, helping audiences of all ages make informed decisions in an increasingly complex information environment.
Some Virgin Media News Truth Matters links can be viewed here: