RTÉ Appoints New Disinformation and Policy Correspondents

In a move addressing growing concerns about online misinformation, Ireland’s national broadcaster RTÉ has appointed Kate McDonald as its new disinformation correspondent, a key position within the organization’s Clarity unit. McDonald, who has worked as a multimedia journalist with RTÉ since 2023, will take on this specialized role focusing on the challenges posed by false and misleading information in the digital sphere.

The announcement came on Monday, alongside news that Louise Byrne, an established RTÉ Prime Time journalist and presenter, has been named policy and analysis correspondent for the same program.

RTÉ’s Clarity unit, established in 2023, represents the broadcaster’s dedicated initiative to tackle issues related to “disinformation, discourse, and democracy” in an increasingly complex media landscape. The creation of these specialized roles signals RTÉ’s commitment to addressing misinformation at a time when digital content manipulation has become a pressing societal concern.

McDonald’s appointment follows through on RTÉ’s stated intention from last year to hire a dedicated disinformation correspondent. In her new role, McDonald will be responsible for strengthening coverage on what RTÉ describes as “the growing challenge posed by false and misleading information online,” with particular attention to AI-generated deepfake content—a technological development that has raised significant concerns about information integrity.

“I’m really looking forward to building on my work investigating online harms and their real-world impact, whether that’s the ‘rabbit hole’ effects of social media algorithms or the trading of personal data to track our movements,” McDonald said following the announcement. She added, “I’ll continue to examine how digital systems shape the information people encounter and how that affects their everyday lives.”

The appointment comes at a critical juncture for media organizations worldwide as they grapple with the proliferation of misinformation across digital platforms. Research has shown that false information can spread six times faster than factual content on social media networks, highlighting the urgent need for dedicated journalism in this area.

Byrne’s new role as policy and analysis correspondent for Prime Time represents another strategic shift for RTÉ. This newly created position will focus on translating policy developments into accessible content for viewers, examining “how policies and actions impact everyday life.” According to RTÉ, Byrne will monitor and interpret government, EU, and other institutional policy developments for Prime Time on RTÉ One and across online platforms.

Expressing enthusiasm about her new responsibilities, Byrne said: “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 this focus, noting, “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 broader trend among public service broadcasters across Europe, which are increasingly creating dedicated roles to address misinformation and provide deeper analysis of complex policy issues. The European Broadcasting Union reported last year that more than 60% of its member organizations have established specialized units or roles focused on fact-checking and disinformation.

For RTÉ, these new positions come during a period of transformation for the national broadcaster as it adapts to changing media consumption patterns and public expectations for reliable information in an era of digital disruption.

Industry experts suggest that dedicated disinformation coverage will become a standard component of responsible journalism as societies worldwide confront the challenges of maintaining information integrity in the digital age.