Irish News Consumption Shifts: Fewer Stories, Greater Impact

Recent analysis reveals a significant transformation in how the public in Ireland engages with news. According to the latest findings from Core Research, fewer individuals are aware of current events, yet the stories they do follow carry greater importance. This shift, noted in the Core Research REVIEW 25, indicates a recalibration in the nation’s information habits over the past decade.

As of 2025, many people feel overwhelmed by the rapid pace of news. The data shows a consistent trend: while the general awareness of news has declined, the perceived significance of the stories that capture attention has intensified. This paradox raises questions about whether the public is turning away from traditional news sources, becoming more selective, or redefining what constitutes newsworthy content.

Shifting Relationships with Information

Core Research has surveyed over 120,000 individuals in Ireland, examining more than 2,000 stories across various domains, including politics, culture, and sports. The findings indicate a dual process: people are disengaging from certain stories while attributing more meaning to those that resonate with them.

The Reuters Institute Digital News Report underscores this trend, revealing that 41% of respondents often avoid news due to its negative impact on their mood or the overwhelming volume of coverage, particularly concerning war and politics. Despite this, 20% of the Irish population subscribes to online news services, suggesting a continued appreciation for professional journalism.

Trust in news has also increased, now sitting at 51%, a figure that remains high in an international context. This indicates that rather than rejecting news altogether, people are curating their information intake. The Core Research REVIEW 25 findings suggest that fewer individuals are aware of the news than five years ago during the Covid-19 pandemic and significantly fewer than in 2015. Yet, those who remain engaged are increasingly convinced that the stories they do encounter matter more than before.

Awareness Declines, Importance Rises

The analysis reveals a clear trend: awareness of news stories is diminishing, but the perceived importance of those stories is growing. In the last decade, only 5% of stories have achieved over 90% awareness, often aligning with major events like the invasion of Ukraine in 2022, the reopening of Penneys after lockdowns, and significant elections.

The Cultural Index—a measure combining story awareness with perceived importance—provides further insight. Average story awareness has dropped from nearly 70% in 2015, saw a brief rise during the pandemic, and has since steadily declined to below 60%. Conversely, those who remain informed perceive the importance of news stories to have increased from 65% to over 70% today.

As awareness decreases, understanding where individuals source their information becomes crucial. The Core REVIEW 25 highlights a widening gap between two distinct information ecosystems: one rooted in traditional, institutional news formats and another shaped by personalized, algorithm-driven content.

Older generations tend to rely on curated news delivered through established channels. For example, 57% of adults over 40 watch live television news daily, compared to 36% of younger adults. Similar patterns emerge with radio news consumption and reading habits.

In contrast, younger individuals are increasingly immersed in a personalized news landscape. Nearly 48% of those under 40 stream online video for news daily, while 38% frequently follow news from social media influencers. Additionally, platforms like Reddit see higher engagement from younger audiences, with 26% of under-40s using it compared to 15% of older adults.

Social messaging platforms like WhatsApp have become vital for younger adults, with 65% using them daily to exchange news and information, compared to 53% of those over 40. This shift indicates a growing reliance on networks and micro-communities for news, rather than traditional institutions.

As overall news awareness declines, the intensity of engagement with news stories rises. The divergence in information consumption habits across generations may lead to varied interpretations of Ireland’s challenges and future. Rather than disengaging, younger audiences are engaging with entirely different realities shaped by their personalized information streams.

Finian Murphy, a researcher and strategist focused on public sentiment, emphasizes the importance of these findings for understanding modern news consumption. As the media landscape evolves, so too does the relationship between the public and the information that shapes their lives.