Following discussions in Strasbourg at The European Council in June 2023, the EACD formally endorsed and joined the ICCO Media Information and Education Pledge at the 2023 ICCO Global Summit in Warsaw. The pledge is designed by international organisations representing PR, communications, broadcast media, journalism, public institutions, and online media to acknowledge a shared responsibility in tackling misinformation and disinformation and to commit to raising awareness of the problem and sharing best practice solutions and prevention methods. The EACD has particular responsibility for this activity in Europe’s corporate affairs and communications sector, in addition to the wider public.

Tackling misinformation and disinformation is a primary issue for the EACD this year and is being actioned at EACD events throughout Europe and at the EACD Summit in Brussels. We will investigate the subject and its impact in Ireland at this special event and invite leading communications and media professionals to come together to discuss the challenges and explore solutions.

Reasons to attend:
This is an exclusive forum for Ireland’s communications and media leaders to talk about how we can tackle misinformation and disinformation collectively, to come together to discuss the challenges and explore solutions.

Event Schedule:

  • 6:00-6:30: arrivals and networking
  • 6.30-6:40: Welcome & Intro from Andrew
  • 6:40-7:20: Panel discussion
  • 7:20-7:40: Audience Q&A
  • 7:40: Networking after.

Panellists:


Susan Daly – Managing Editor of Journal Media, lead of the TheJournal FactCheck project and member of the Steering Group of Media Literacy Ireland
Susan is Managing Editor of Journal Media, Ireland’s largest online-only news media publisher and founder of the TheJournal FactCheck which was established in 2016 in the run-up to the General Election of that year. It has since expanded its operations from fact-checking political speech to surfacing and tackling misinformation and disinformation across all spheres that inform and influence Irish citizens’ decision-making.
Just last month it launched a brand-new media literacy resource called The Journal FactCheck Knowledge Bank which shares essential explainers around major topics and a fact-checking toolkit so the public can build their own resilience and awareness of what they see, hear and read online. Susan is a member of the Steering Group of Media Literacy Ireland and sits on the advisory board of FuJo (Institute of Future Media, Democracy and Society) in DCU. She also leads The Journal FactCheck’s participation in the EDMO (European Digital Media Observatory) Ireland hub.

 

Tiernan Kenny – Director of Communications and Public Affairs at Coimisiún na Meán
Tiernan Kenny is Director of Communications and Public Affairs at Coimisiún na Meán, Ireland’s commission for regulating broadcasters and online media, and supporting media development. Coimisiún na Meán is responsible for:
• Setting up a new regulatory regime for online safety.
• Regulating broadcasting and on-demand services.
• Supporting the development of the wider media sector with funding schemes, together with initiatives to promote the Irish language, media literacy, as well as equality, diversity and inclusion in the media sector.
Tiernan was previously the Head of International Strategy and Engagement at Ofcom. He has over a decade of experience working on technology and digital policy issues in Dublin, Brussels and London, including privacy and data protection, cybersecurity, intellectual property, media policy and platform regulation. He has spent time working in the non-profit sector, focusing on accessible technology standards. He also worked for the UK’s largest business association on Brexit-related issues.

 


Donal O’Donovan – the Business Editor of the Irish Independent and Sunday Independent
Donal O’Donovan is the Business Editor of the Irish Independent and Sunday Independent at Mediahuis Ireland. He joined Independent Newspapers in 2010 as a Senior Business Reporter and was Business Editor and Deputy Business Editor of the Irish Independent before taking up his current role. Donal is also Chair of the Business Journalist Association of Ireland.
Before joining Mediahuis Ireland, Donal worked as an analyst and journalist at Thomson Reuters in London covering mostly M&A and bond markets, including as assistant editor of International Financing Review Magazine and is a former presenter of Newstalk’s Business Breakfast. He also worked in local radio and at a dot.com media start-up early in his career.
From Limerick, Donal has a BA in History and Sociology and MA in Sociology from University College Cork and a Higher Diploma in Social Media Law from Kings Inns in Dublin.

 


Sinead Tuite – Vaccines Business Lead at MSD Ireland
Sinead Tuite is the Vaccines Business Lead at MSD in Ireland. Currently based in Ireland, she oversees key vaccines focus areas including HPV, Pneumococcal, and Varicella. Sinead is dedicated to simplifying processes, championing patient advocacy, and building dynamic teams. With her extensive background in senior marketing and communications roles, she excels in designing and executing corporate marketing strategies, brand strategies, customer and digital solutions, and supply chain management. Sinead is also a co-founder of MSD Ireland’s Women’s Network and leads the MSD Women’s Network in Europe, passionately promoting diversity and inclusion.

 

 


Andrew Hillier – Managing Director at Ballinger Equine, EACD Board Member
Andrew is Managing Director at Ballinger Equine and Director of Communications at Ah! He has held Director of Communications and Chief Communications Officer posts at the UK Veterinary Management Group, South-East England Development Agency, Thorngate Churcher Trust, and UK regional and city government bodies. With a background as a communications specialist in the fossil fuel and nuclear energy sectors, Andrew later served as communications adviser to the UK Forensic Science Service and London’s Metropolitan Police. He is experienced leading strategic communications in crisis and reputation-critical scenarios. A member of the Chartered Institute of Journalists, and the Chartered Institute of Public Relations, he is a former CIPR Greater London Chairman and National Council Member. Andrew currently leads EACD liaison and engagement with the ICCO and The Trust Project’s initiative to combat misinformation and disinformation as supported by European Council.

 


Moderator:

Martyn Rosney – Partner at Reputation Inc and EACD Lead for Ireland
Martyn is a partner with Reputation Inc, a leading international reputation management consultancy. Based in Dublin, Ireland, Martyn works in all areas of corporate reputation management for his Irish and international clients in the financial services, FMCG, retail, consumer goods, professional services, pharma and tech sectors. His expertise areas include strategic issues and crisis advice, stakeholder engagement, executive profiling, media relations, communications training and long-term reputation management programmes. Martyn’s enthusiasm for his profession coupled with his client work has seen him represent Ireland at the Cannes Lions, be named the inaugural winner of the PRII/PRCA/CIPR Young Communications Professional of the Year for Ireland as well as being the first Irish based professional to feature on PR Week UK’s 30 Under 30. Martyn is a Fellow of the Public Relations Institute of Ireland and former board member. Martyn is a regular commentator in media, speaker at industry events and is a guest lecturer on corporate reputation in UCD Smurfit School.

 

 

Supported by: