Shifting Patterns: Ireland’s Evolving Relationship with News

As of 2025, a notable transformation is unfolding in how the Irish public engages with news. According to the recently released Core Research REVIEW 25, although people remain interested in news, their methods of interaction have changed significantly over the past year. This shift indicates a deeper recalibration of public awareness and engagement with the stories that matter.

Over a decade of data shows that fewer people are aware of the news around them. However, those who do follow the news are increasingly invested in its significance. This creates a tension that encapsulates the current landscape of information consumption in Ireland. The question arises: are individuals turning away from traditional news, becoming more selective, or redefining what constitutes news? All these possibilities are valid, and the extensive dataset offers valuable insights into these evolving dynamics.

Changing Dynamics of News Awareness

The Core Research dataset includes interviews with over 120,000 people in Ireland about how news impacts their lives. An analysis of over 2,000 stories across various categories—sport, politics, economics, social issues, and culture—reveals a public that is increasingly selective about the information it consumes. While a significant 41% of respondents report avoiding news due to factors like mood impact and information overload, one in five people in Ireland are willing to pay for online news. This trend aligns with broader European norms, highlighting a continued appreciation for professional journalism even as exposure is limited.

The trust in news sources has risen to 51%, which is still high by international standards. This indicates that the public is not outright rejecting news; rather, they are curating their information sources more carefully. Consequently, fewer people are aware of ongoing events compared to five years ago, but those who remain engaged feel that the stories they encounter are more impactful.

Understanding the Cultural Index

The Cultural Index, a measure combining awareness with perceived importance, underscores this shift. While average story awareness has decreased from nearly 70% in 2015, it saw a brief rise during the COVID-19 pandemic before declining to below 60% in recent years. Conversely, the perceived importance of news among engaged individuals has increased from about 65% to over 70% today.

This means that while fewer people are following the news, those who do are increasingly viewing it as consequential amidst ongoing global and economic uncertainty. Notably, only one in twenty stories achieves over 90% awareness, marking instances that significantly capture the national conversation, such as Russia’s invasion of Ukraine or the release of Fifty Shades of Grey in 2015.

The implications of this data point toward a dual reality in news consumption, characterized by diverging pathways for different demographics.

The Diverging Information Ecosystems

In the latest Core REVIEW 25, respondents were asked about their daily news sources. The results reveal two distinct information ecosystems: one traditional and institutional, and the other personalized and algorithm-driven.

For older adults, traditional formats remain predominant, with 57% of those aged over 40 watching live TV news or documentaries daily. This contrasts sharply with just 36% of younger adults engaging with these formats. Similar patterns are evident in radio and print news consumption. For this demographic, information is still predominantly filtered through established institutions that emphasize verification and context.

Conversely, younger generations inhabit a more personalized news landscape. Nearly 48% of those under 40 stream online video for news daily, compared to 30% of older adults. Engagement with social media influencers and platforms like Reddit is also significantly higher among younger users. For instance, 65% of younger adults use WhatsApp daily to share news, compared to 53% of their older counterparts.

As news awareness declines while resonance increases, these diverging ecosystems may significantly influence how different generations interpret Ireland’s challenges and opportunities. The evolving relationship with news raises the critical question of whether people are disengaging from traditional narratives or consuming entirely different realities shaped by their personalized networks.

Finian Murphy, a researcher and strategist focused on public sentiment and culture, emphasizes the importance of understanding these shifts. As the dynamics of news consumption continue to evolve, the need for credible journalism remains essential to inform and engage the public.