RTE Appoints New Disinformation and Policy Correspondents

RTÉ Appoints Disinformation Correspondent Amid Growing Online Falsehoods Concern

RTÉ has appointed multimedia journalist Kate McDonald as its new disinformation correspondent, marking a significant step in the national broadcaster’s commitment to tackling false and misleading information in the digital landscape.

McDonald, who has worked with RTÉ since 2023, will take on the role as part of the broadcaster’s Clarity unit, which focuses on disinformation, discourse, and democracy. The unit was established last year following RTÉ’s 2023 announcement of plans to hire a dedicated disinformation correspondent.

In her new position, McDonald will strengthen the broadcaster’s coverage on what RTÉ describes as “the growing challenge posed by false and misleading information online.” This includes investigating AI-generated deepfake content, which has become increasingly sophisticated and difficult to detect.

“I’m really looking forward to building on my work investigating online harms and their real-world impact,” McDonald said of her appointment. “Whether that’s the ‘rabbit hole’ effects of social media algorithms or the trading of personal data to track our movements.”

She added that she would continue to “examine how digital systems shape the information people encounter and how that affects their everyday lives,” highlighting the increasing importance of digital literacy in today’s media environment.

The appointment comes at a critical time when disinformation campaigns and fake news have become major concerns globally, affecting politics, public health, and social cohesion. Media organizations worldwide have been expanding their fact-checking operations and establishing dedicated units to combat misinformation.

In addition to McDonald’s appointment, RTÉ also announced that Prime Time journalist and presenter Louise Byrne will take on a new role as policy and analysis correspondent with the current affairs program.

This newly created brief will see Byrne “focus on how policies and actions impact everyday life,” according to RTÉ. She will be responsible for monitoring and interpreting government and EU policy developments for Prime Time on RTÉ One and across online platforms.

Byrne expressed enthusiasm for her new role, stating: “I’m really looking forward to the new challenge – bringing context, background and analysis on key policy decisions to our viewers.”

She emphasized the timeliness of her appointment amid significant planned increases in government capital spending: “The State is planning a significant increase in capital spending as part of its plan to boost housing and infrastructure. There’s never been a more important time for Prime Time to ensure its sharpest focus on the decisions and projects ahead.”

These appointments reflect a growing trend among public service broadcasters to dedicate resources to specialized areas of journalism that help audiences navigate complex information landscapes. Similar roles have been created at other major news organizations including the BBC, which has its own disinformation and social media correspondent positions.

Media experts suggest that such specialized roles are crucial in helping rebuild public trust in news organizations at a time when confidence in media has been eroded partly due to the proliferation of false information online.

The Clarity unit represents RTÉ’s strategic response to these challenges, positioning the broadcaster as not only a provider of news but also as a guide for viewers and listeners in distinguishing credible information from falsehoods in an increasingly complex media environment.

As digital platforms continue to evolve and AI technologies advance, the role of public service media in providing reliable information and context becomes increasingly vital to maintaining a well-informed democracy.