Coimisiún na Meán has today (04.06.2026) issued a call for applications for funding to develop and provide training in fact-checking, pre-bunking, and de-bunking. The training, for development in 2026, will target graduate, early career and mid-career journalists and media professionals working in news and current affairs. This training could include expertise in pre-bunking training; warning in advance about manipulation attempts/misleading strategies or de-bunking training, which focuses on showing that a piece of information is untrue while also highlighting what is true.
Rónán Ó Domhnaill, Media Development Commissioner at Coimisiún na Meán said: “This funding is a key part of An Coimisiún’s Media Skills and Development Programme which aims to support training, learning and development activities across the media sector. This dedicated strand of the Programme will support the growth of fact-checking expertise in Irish media in line with the National Counter Disinformation Strategy (NCDS) which was published last year.”
“The fund is open to academic institutions, representative bodies of regulated media entities and accredited bodies with expertise on fact-checking. We would also welcome applications from partnerships and collaborations with a media organisation. Applications for funding must demonstrate alignment with the NCDS, which highlighted the importance of fact-checking and pre-bunking expertise in Irish media and committed to identify sources of funding for related training activities.”
The National Counter Disinformation Strategy fulfils a recommendation of the Future of Media Commission which recognised the challenges of disinformation. The Strategy has a number of commitments which focus on initiatives like fact-checking, media literacy and supporting trust in the media.
Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport, Patrick O’Donovan TD said: “I am very happy to support this new fact-checking strand of Coimisiún na Meán’s Media Skills and Development Fund. It will help build the skills and expertise of media professionals. While Ireland already has a healthy and vibrant media sector we must continue to support it.
The National Counter Disinformation Strategy, which was published in April 2025, aims to encourage a strong, independent media sector that provides high-quality journalism and was designed to encourage collaboration. Therefore, it is most welcome to see the scheme supporting partnerships and collaborations.
This funding, alongside the media literacy support scheme, also being delivered by Coimisiún na Meán, and the call for research proposals, being delivered by the Royal Irish Academy, are all supported from the €1.1 million I secured to support implementation of the Strategy in last year’s budget.”
Submission information is available on our dedicated webpage. Closing date is 2nd July 2026.
Applications for funding can be for graduate/early career training in fact-checking, pre-bunking and de-bunking; the provision of mentorship or internship focused on fact-checking in the media and/or partnerships that facilitate access to training. All activities must take place in 2026.