A hub of the European Digital Media Observatory (EDMO)
Aoife Barry reviews the media dynamics of GE24 for EDMO Ireland and FuJo. While ‘attack ads’ have been a feature of American life since the 1960s (we can thank some of the era’s pioneering ad men for that), they’re not a prominent part of Irish politics. Yet this week saw the first attack ad of … Read More “#GE24 Media Dynamics: attack ads, milking media appearances, and organic TikToks” »
Dr Shane Murphy examines the campaign dynamics of right-wing and anti-immigrant candidates. June’s local elections were largely successful for the Irish far right with six anti-immigration candidates elected to local councils. In the aftermath, right-wing candidates began considering what steps would need to be taken in order to recreate this success in the upcoming general … Read More “#GE24: The National Alliance” »
In the digital age, information is more accessible than ever. Social media platforms, news websites, blogs, and podcasts provide a constant stream of updates, opinions, and breaking news. A cornerstone of media literacy is comparing sources—a practice essential for uncovering the truth and understanding the broader context of any story. If a piece of information … Read More “GE24: Compare information sources” »
Engagement metrics – such as likes, shares, comments, or views – are not reliable indicators of content quality. Social media and messaging applications make it really easy to share information quickly to large groups of people. In addition, AI-powered technology can also be used to create fake profiles and promote false or inaccurate content, making it … Read More “GE24: Look beyond engagement metrics” »
Aoife Barry reviews the media dynamics of GE24 for EDMO Ireland and FuJo. The first week of campaigning for General Election 2024 is done, with housing and immigration rising to be two of the biggest issues for parties and their candidates across media and social media. Early on in the week, the two issues coalesced … Read More “GE24 Media Dynamics: doctored images, dodgy claims, and stage management” »
Visual communication is powerful and appealing because our brains are highly adapted to process and interpret visual information quickly and intuitively. But images can be highly deceptive and, in the context of news and election, images can distort our perceptions of people and issues. It only takes a few clicks to change or enhance visual … Read More “GE24: Look for the whole picture” »
Ahead of the General Election on 29 November, EDMO Ireland and Media Literacy Ireland are promoting a Be Election Smart campaign. The campaign will highlight practical tips to be mindful of when navigating news, commentary, and advertising about the election. Tip #1 Read beyond the headline Reading beyond the headline is essential because headlines are … Read More “GE24: Read beyond the headline” »
EDMO Ireland has been invited to participate in the upcoming Digital Services Act (DSA) Election Roundtable on Wednesday, November 13, 2025. The roundtable, convened by Ireland’s Digital Services Coordinator (DSC), aims to assess the country’s readiness to address online threats to the electoral process. The event will bring together a diverse group of stakeholders, including … Read More “EDMO Ireland to Join DSA Election Roundtable on November 13” »
Election Check 24 is a project supported by the Google News Initiative, aimed at fighting misinformation during Ireland’s general election. Led by PA Media, Ireland’s national news agency, it brings together news publishers and TheJournal’s fact-checkers to ensure accurate information is available to the public. PA Media’s fact-checking team, which is recognized by the International … Read More “GE24: TheJournal FactCheck team up with PA for Election Check 24” »
Dr Shane Murphy from DCU FuJo examines key issues with TikTok and political advertising in light of the DSA and EU Code of Practice on Disinformation. The recent European parliamentary elections were the first to take place since the EU’s Digital Services Act (DSA) came into effect in February 2024. The DSA requires large social … Read More “TikTok’s Struggle with Political Advertising” »
