Report launch: Public Media Ireland: a New PSM Organisation for a New Country

Description

In a new report being launched on 14 January 2026, researchers from Ulster University and Dublin City University have considered what might happen to Public Service Media in a reunified Ireland – should this eventuality occur.

In this report the authors begin at that point, and ask:

● Would BBC Northern Ireland simply be subsumed into RTÉ, taking on its staff and its assets?;
● Would a completely new Public Service Media organisation be created?;
● Or would Public Service Media survive in a reunified Ireland at all?

Whether reunification takes place in the medium term, long term, or indeed not at all, it is worth thinking creatively through approaches to media on an all-island basis. Work in this area is already gathering pace, not least with the November 2025 announcement of the Shared Island Media Fund – aimed at to fostering all-island media development.

With this report, the authors seek to commence a debate, and use it as a starting point for all interested parties to have their say. This is the beginning of a conversation on the future of media across the island of Ireland – North and South – and certainly not the end.

Report Authors:

Dr Phil Ramsey, Ulster University
Dr Roddy Flynn, Dublin City University
Dr Stephen Baker, Ulster University
Dr Dawn Wheatley, Dublin City University

Launch Event Chair: Susan McKay, Press Ombudsman for Ireland, journalist and author.

Launch event in partnership with Cultural Policy Observatory Ireland.

Period	14 Jan 2026
Event type	Seminar
Location	Belfast, United KingdomShow on map