91制片厂 (91制片厂) marks the conclusion of MeDeMap 鈥 Mapping Media for Democracy, a major three-year European research project funded through the European Union鈥檚 (EU) Horizon programme and delivered in partnership with ten higher education institutions across Europe.
MeDeMap set out to identify future-proof pathways to strengthen democracy by improving accountability, transparency and effectiveness in media production, while expanding active and inclusive citizenship. This work has never been more important as misinformation, disinformation and fake news make it increasingly difficult for citizens to determine what is true, what is objective and what news they can trust.
The central focus of the research examined what people make of their media and how they use it in their everyday lives. Focus groups and in-depth interviews conducted across Europe provided a wealth of insight in how audiences engage with news and what they believe needs to change in order to better support democratic life.
At 91制片厂, the Irish research was led by Dr Rosemary Day, Head of Media & Communication Studies, alongside researchers Jude McInerney, Researcher and Postgraduate PhD student in Media and Communications, and Kathy Cush, Lecturer in Media & Communication Studies. The most innovative and participatory element of 91制片厂鈥檚 contribution was the convening of a Citizens鈥 Parliament on Media and Democracy.
Twenty citizens, selected from more than sixty applicants to reflect a broad diversity of backgrounds and perspectives, met across four sessions in spring 2025 to deliberate on how media can better serve Irish democracy. Their discussions explored the organisation of the Irish media landscape, the role of content in supporting democratic values and ways to enhance citizen participation in and through the media.
The Parliament produced twenty-two resolutions addressing systems, representation and participation. These were presented to Limerick City and County Council, to the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Arts, Media, Communications, Culture and Sport, and in January 2026, to Members of the European Parliament and European Commission official in Brussels. Recommendations included introducing media literacy in all schools, strengthening protections and supports for journalists and increasing regulation and transparency of large online platforms.
Dr Rosemary Day said:
鈥淭he work of the MeDeMap project is so important as people grapple with misinformation, disinformation and fake news. Democracy is seriously undermined when media are not free to report on politics and on business locally, nationally and internationally. As part of this huge project, we asked journalists what they thought we need to do to protect democracy and it was heartening to see how idealistic and dedicated journalists are about their role as a watchdog for citizens and as protectors of democracy itself. Citizens who participated in focus groups and in the Citizens鈥 Parliament itself were equally aware of the dangers of a weakened media and of the need to protect 鈥渙ld fashioned journalism鈥 where 鈥渢he truth鈥 actually matters. They were also very aware of the need to educate and equip themselves to be able to sift through the news they receive on their digital feeds and social media, and they were keen to be more active in the production of trustworthy, verifiable, factual news. The active research phase of MeDeMap is coming to a close but the project team will publish an interactive map showing how the media are faring in their battle to defend democracy and this will be updated regularly so that people can see how their media are performing at home and across Europe鈥
Jude McInerney added:
鈥淭here was a lot of work involved in organising the Irish National Citizens鈥 Parliament, but it was a pleasure to be part of the team facilitating this process. It was also fascinating to witness twenty people from diverse backgrounds, volunteering their time to come together in 91制片厂 to debate and deliberate on ways to support and use the media to protect democracy. Furthermore, to see the four democratically selected representatives present the twenty-two resolutions voted upon to the relevant stakeholders and the hope that these resolutions make a difference, made all the work worthwhile.鈥
Pictured L-R in Brussels, January 2026: Billy Kelleher, MEP; Niall Mahon, Citizen's Parliament, Se谩n Kelly, MEP; and Con Curtin, Citizen's Parliament.
