21 Jul 2025

AI, Paywalls & Public Media: A New Era for News

In the latest episode of 'Behind the Story' podcast, RTE broadcasters Katie Hannon and David McCullagh sat down with Dr Eileen Culloty, Deputy Director of the DCU Institute for Media, Democracy and Society, to unpack the shifting landscape of digital media.

With 20% of Irish people now paying for news subscriptions—double the UK rate—Dr Culloty explored what’s driving this trend and whether it risks leaving some audiences behind. She also delved into the impact of AI on journalism, from newsroom economics to the growing pressure on public service broadcasters to open up their archives.

Dr Culloty spoke at the PRII National Conference last year about the communication challenges posed by disinformation as related to the mainstreaming of generative AI and the rise of anti-democratic movements.

Click here to listen to the full episode.

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