Press Council Rejects Website Membership – Legal Challenge Filed
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.