THE award-winning Donegal News and other local newspapers have been highlighted as highly valued sources of trusted news.
The papers are identified in a prestigious new report on news in Ireland by international news agency Reuters.
The Reuters Digital News Report 2026 has found that local newspapers and their online channels are among the most trusted in the country.
It shows that 69% of those surveyed trust their local newspapers, while levels of distrust are lowest for local media, ahead of all other news sources, including broadcast, print and online.
Local Ireland president Seán Mahon, who is managing director of the Southern Star newspaper in Cork, said: “The Reuters Digital News Report Ireland shows once again that local newspaper brands, both in print and online, continue to be amongst the most trusted media brands in Ireland.”
Local Ireland president Seán Mahon.
Mr Mahon added: “Our combined print and online consumption means we’ve never had so many readers thanks to our digital expansion.”
STORIES THAT MATTER
Local Ireland represents regional newspapers, including the Donegal News, and each year recognises the vital work of local newsrooms in covering the stories that matter to communities.
In recent years, the Donegal News has maintained a proud record of regularly winning awards in recognition of its award-winning journalism that is “trusted to tell it right, wherever we tell it”.
Last year, our sports editor Ryan Ferry was named Sports Journalist of the Year at the Local Ireland Media Awards and our former news editor Louise Doyle was nominated for both Feature Journalist of the Year and News Story of the Year.
In 2024, our editor Diarmaid Doherty, journalist Louise Doyle, and senior business development executive Gary Doherty-McClenaghan were all nominated for awards by Local Ireland.
This new 2026 Reuters report shows that trust in news in Ireland is higher than in other countries and trust is still very strong for local news publishers.
Coimisiún na Meán is Ireland’s media regulator and its media development commissioner Rónán Ó Domhnaill, said: “Each year, the Digital News Report Ireland gives us an opportunity to pause and reflect on Ireland’s media landscape, and to better understand from the Irish public how they read, watch, listen, stream and engage with news.
“This year’s report offers a fascinating insight into the dynamics at play in a complex, fragmented news ecosystem.
“While Irish audiences remain interested in news, there has been a significant decline in their trust in news generally, while trust in major news brands has remained steady.”
CONSUMERS CAN TRUST
The Donegal News.
Mr Ó Domhnaill added: “The ambition of Coimisiún na Meán is to develop and maintain a media landscape that consumers can trust.
“We do not take the Irish public’s continued interest in news for granted, and the findings underline the need for ongoing attention to the sustainability of the media sector, media literacy, and the evolving role of platforms and technologies in shaping the news media environment.
“For our part, An Coimisiún will continue to support Ireland’s media landscape through investing in high-quality news reporting through our Journalism Schemes and with our support for media literacy initiatives.’’
The Donegal News currently has two journalists through Coimisiún na Meán schemes.
Research for the Digital News Report is undertaken by the Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism at the University of Oxford and analysis of the Irish data is provided by the DCU Institute for Future Media, Democracy and Society (FuJo).
FuJo Director Professor Jane Suiter said: “Despite the worrying trend of declining trust in news, this year’s survey finds that Irish people continue to trust major brands, including our national state broadcaster.
“The strong trust in local outlets also speaks to the importance of a continuing robust regional news offering in the country.”
The full report on Ireland can be found here https://www.cnam.ie/app/uploads/2026/06/Digital_News_Report_2026.pdf.