Ireland

Coimisiún na Meán has opened applications for its latest Sponsorship Scheme, offering around €300,000 to support media-related events and activities across Ireland.
The scheme will provide funding for events that align with the regulator’s Strategy Statement and its wider goal of building a thriving and safe media landscape. Proposals will be assessed on their relevance, value for money, and promotional plans, as well as how they connect with the work of Coimisiún na Meán.
Media Development Commissioner Rónán Ó Domhnaill said the initiative will highlight “the diversity, creativity and innovation within the Irish media sector” and encouraged organisations to apply. He added that the programme aims to support “a media landscape that is sustainable, pluralistic and participative, and that reflects who we are as a society.”
Previous awardees include Radiodays Ireland, the Choice Music Prize, the Irish Film and Television Awards, GORM Gathering 2025, the Dingle Animation Festival, the GAZE Film Festival and Gradaim Chumarsáide an Oireachtais.
Applications are now open and must be submitted by midday on 21 October this year. A guide for applicants and the application form can be found on the Coimisiún na Meán website.

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Nearly €750,000 has been awarded to independent radio producers across Ireland in the latest round of Sound and Vision funding.
Coimisiún na Meán confirmed almost €6.5 million for radio and television projects nationwide, with radio accounting for 39 of the 57 successful applications.
The scheme supports programmes across national, regional, local and community radio, with formats ranging from music and drama to education and documentaries.
Stations getting programmes as a result are:

RTE Radio 1
RTE 2fm
RTE lyric fm
Clare FM
Newstalk
NEAR 90fm
Ocean FM
KCLR
Raidio na Gaeltachta
Raidio na Life
LMFM
Radio Kerry
Athlone Community Radio
WLR FM
Community Radio Youghal
UCC

Among the radio projects funded are Poetic Keys: An Ode to County Clare, which pairs local poetry with live traditional piano music for broadcast on Clare FM, and Lessons in Awe, a Radio Kerry series exploring family, sport, nature and courage with input from a child and adolescent psychotherapist.
Irish Music Month 2025 also secured support. This initiative, produced by Hot Press and the Independent Broadcasters of Ireland, will see commercial stations across the country increase airplay for Irish artists throughout the month.
Irish language broadcasting continues to receive strong backing, with just under half of the overall funding directed towards Irish language or bilingual content. Projects include Cuan an Cheoil 6, a 10-part live music series for RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta, hosted by Liam Ó Maonlaí and recorded at Stiúideo Cuan.
Independent radio producers will share around €750,000, ensuring new programming reaches audiences of all ages and interests. In total, 97% of this round’s funding will directly support the independent production sector.
Rónán Ó Domhnaill, Media Development Commissioner with Coimisiún na Meán, said the projects will deliver “countless hours of programming, in Irish and English, for audiences of all ages and from all backgrounds.” He added that demand for funding was almost four times greater than the money available, reflecting the scheme’s importance to both creativity and sustainability in broadcasting.
Since January, more than €14 million has been allocated through Sound and Vision. Round 56 funding alone will result in programmes broadcast across RTÉ, Virgin Media, TG4, Clare FM, Radio Kerry, Near FM, and many other independent stations. […]

The New York Festivals 2026 Radio Awards is now open for entries, with a new Video Podcast category added for the first time.
The international competition celebrates creative excellence in audio storytelling, with 14 category groups ranging from news, documentaries and talk programmes to on-air talent, craft and entertainment.
Organisers say the new Video Podcast category reflects the growing role of visual storytelling alongside traditional audio. Rose Anderson, Executive VP and Executive Director, said the awards have “championed the art of storytelling across every platform” for nearly seven decades.
The competition, which began in 1957, continues to evolve with new categories recognising digital, podcast, and audiobook content as well as traditional radio formats. The awards also highlight investigative journalism, nonfiction series, and social justice storytelling through partnerships with JusticeAid and the National Press Club.
The National Press Club Award, introduced in 2023, honours the top-scoring news programme across breaking news, continuing coverage, nonfiction series and news podcast categories. Last year, Master Plan (The Lever) was named as the winner.
In 2025, Grand Awards went to Bafflegab Productions for The Man Who Fell to Earth in Entertainment, Bucket of Eels for Tested in Podcast: Sports, and Smoke Trail Productions for Buried: The Last Witness in Documentary. Sports journalist Lesley Visser received the 2025 Lifetime Achievement Award.
The next Storytellers Gala will be held in May 2026, following last year’s virtual event hosted from Central Park. The gala showcases winning entries, speeches, and highlights from around the world.
Entries for the 2026 awards must have been produced, released, aired or streamed between January 1 last year and January 31 this year. The deadline for submissions is 31 January 2026.
Further details and entry information are available on the New York Festivals Radio Awards website. […]

Creators now have until Friday 19 September at 5pm to enter the inaugural All-Ireland Podcast Awards, part of the new Sound.Waves. summit in Adare.

The awards form a key part of the two-day summit taking place from 12 to 13 November, which is designed to celebrate and showcase the Irish audio sector.
The All-Ireland Podcast Awards will highlight storytelling, innovation and cultural impact across the industry, with the aim of recognising and supporting talented creators and their work.
A spokesperson for the awards said: “The response to the inaugural awards has been incredible. The quality and diversity of entries so far are truly world-class, and we’re excited to see what else comes in with this extension.”
The Sound.Waves. summit will also feature talks and sessions from innovators across podcasting, music and content creation, focusing on the business of content through creativity and commerce. Details of speakers will be announced shortly.
For more information about the Sound.Waves. summit visit soundwaves.ie.

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Coimisiún na Meán has published new guidelines for broadcast coverage of the upcoming Presidential Election in Ireland.
The Guidelines in Respect of Broadcast Coverage of Electoral Events confirm that the long-standing Broadcast Moratorium has been replaced with an Additional Care Requirement, first introduced last year. This rule applies during the Critical Election Period, which begins at 7am on the day before polling and ends when polls close, usually at 10pm.
During this period, broadcasters must exercise a higher level of editorial care. They are still permitted to cover candidates, issues and breaking news, but they must ensure reporting meets the Code of Fairness, Objectivity and Impartiality in News and Current Affairs. Broadcasters cannot report on opinion polls, exit polls or speculate on outcomes while polling is taking place.
Aoife MacEvilly, Broadcasting and Video-on-Demand Commissioner at Coimisiún na Meán, said the rules were designed to safeguard democracy and maintain public trust. She explained that broadcasters play a crucial role in providing voters with fair and impartial information so that they can make informed choices.
The guidelines also reiterate that candidates are not allowed to present programmes during the election campaign period. If a show has been recorded before the campaign but scheduled to air during it, broadcasters must decide on a case-by-case basis whether it is appropriate to broadcast. However, news and current affairs programmes fronted by candidates are not permitted.
Other requirements include fair allocation of airtime between candidates, a ban on political advertising, and clear procedures for managing live contributions from social media. Broadcasters are also advised to mitigate the risks of disinformation, including content generated by artificial intelligence such as deepfakes.
The new guidelines take effect on Monday 22nd September. […]

Bauer Media Audio Ireland has appointed Nathan Murphy as the new Managing Editor of Today FM.
He starts the role in October following a recruitment process, and the departure of Fyona Smith who has been in in the position since December 2022.
Nathan began his career as a sports reporter at the station in 2006 before joining Off The Ball, where he became Deputy Editor and Head of Content as well as one of Ireland’s most recognisable sports broadcasters.
He has played a major role in Off The Ball’s expansion across radio, digital audio and video, and now brings this experience back to national radio with Today FM. He will lead the station’s audience growth strategy and oversee its programming direction.
Speaking about his appointment, Nathan said: “I’m incredibly proud to have the opportunity to return to Today FM and lead such a brilliantly talented and creative team. I’ve remained an avid listener over the past decade and look forward to building on Today FM’s unique connection with Irish radio listeners.”
Bauer Media Audio Ireland CEO Chris Doyle added: “His breadth of experience, coupled with his innate understanding of Irish audiences and his ability to identify and nurture talent are key attributes he brings to this important role. Nathan will lead a passionate team, both in front of and behind the mic.”
Nathan will take up his new role in October.

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