Tripe+Drisheen Accreditation​ Denied⁢ by ‍Press Council Amid Funding Uncertainty

The online publication Tripe+Drisheen has been denied accreditation​ by the Press Council of‌ Ireland, a decision⁢ that jeopardizes its ⁢eligibility for crucial government funding aimed at ⁤supporting local ‌democracy and court‍ reporting.

The case is scheduled⁣ for a mention in October,with the⁤ Press Council’s decision to reject the application for⁢ membership ⁢having been communicated to Tripe+Drisheen ⁢in March. The publication had provisionally been⁢ selected ‌last year to receive €38,000 in ​funding from the Media Commission.This funding was intended to bolster local journalism by enabling the hiring of two part-time reporters and expanding‍ the website’s ⁤coverage.

However, the release of these funds was contingent upon ⁢recipients being accredited member publications of ⁤the Press Council. Mr. O’Donoghue, representing Tripe+Drisheen, confirmed that the ⁢membership application process commenced⁣ last‍ November.

Press ⁢Council’s Stance and Substack Platform

mr. Montgomery, the chairman of the Press council, stated in May that while he could not divulge specific details, the board had reviewed Tripe+Drisheen’s application on multiple occasions before reaching the decision to reject‍ it in March.

Tripe+Drisheen operates on substack, ⁤a US-based platform ‍that facilitates direct subscription income for journalists through newsletters, blogs, videos, ⁣and podcasts. Mr.⁢ montgomery ⁣explicitly denied that the publication’s use of Substack was a factor in the board’s decision-making process.

Review of Membership Criteria Underway

In response to broader industry changes, the Press Council established a subcommittee in April to review ⁤its membership procedures ‍and criteria. This review is ‍being undertaken amid what is described as “rapid change” within the media ⁣landscape. When approached for an update on the status of ‌this membership review⁤ last week,both Mr. Montgomery and the⁢ Press Council ⁢declined to comment.The Irish Times⁢ reported in May that Tripe+Drisheen’s provisional‌ selection for funding highlighted the government’s commitment to supporting local news outlets. The denial of accreditation now casts a shadow over the publication’s ability to leverage this support, raising‌ questions‌ about the future of its ⁢expanded coverage plans. The ‍upcoming mention in October will likely shed further light on the ‌ongoing discussions and potential resolutions surrounding this accreditation issue.