Local radio stations such as WLR FM are among the most trusted sources of news.

The latest Digital News Report, published by Coimisiún na Meán, shows 56 per cent of people here are “extremely” or “very interested” in news – a higher rate than the UK, US and the European average.

There’s also a higher level of trust in the news in Ireland – with 72 per cent saying local radio and RTÉ are their most trusted brands, followed by local newspapers at 71 per cent.

Digital News Report Findings

Commenting on the findings, Rónán Ó Domhnaill, Media Development Commissioner at Coimisiún na Meán said: ‘’Coimisiún na Meán is delighted to offer our continued support to the Digital News Report Ireland, which reflects our commitment to a media landscape that consumers can trust, by supporting access to high-quality sources of news and information.

Whether watching, listening, streaming, or reading, the Digital News Report shows that most Irish people can’t get enough of news. It is encouraging to see that interest in news remains high in Ireland when compared internationally, even as the formats used to consume news continue to change. We are heartened to see the continuing trend of the Irish public’s unique and longstanding relationship with radio, which remains a cornerstone of Ireland’s media landscape. It is also important to see the trust Irish people place in local news sources, with local radio and local newspapers among the most trusted brands for Irish audiences.

While the Report gives us cause for optimism about the Irish news sector, considering the public’s strong appetite for news, we recognise that An Coimisiún’s ambition of developing and shaping a media landscape that reflects who we are as a society requires ongoing and sustainable levels of funding for media outlets to support high-quality journalism, and news that people can trust.’’

WLR – IMRO Local Station of the Year

WLR is Ireland’s IMRO Local Station of the Year and continues to deliver impressive JNLR figures.

Commenting on the recent results, Michael Byrne, CEO of WLR FM, said: “These results are a fantastic endorsement of the work being done right across the station. From early morning to late evening, weekday and weekend, the team is delivering content that listeners trust and connect with. To see growth in daily, weekly, and market share figures is hugely encouraging, and to do so in a changing media landscape shows that local radio is as important as ever. We’re proud to serve the people of Waterford, and very gratefully for your ongoing loyalty.”

You can find the full Digital News Report here

For the latest Waterford News and Sport, tune into WLR News on the hour and download the WLR App for news on demand.