Episode 2 - GLITCH: Irish Media's Unethical Use of User-Generated Content

Derek Bowler

Since the advent of social media in the mid 2000s, the use of user-generated content (UGC) by news organisations around the world has dramatically changed the media landscape, with editorial agendas and programme rundowns now strongly featuring eyewitness content. Internationally, media organisations are investing large sums in building units and tools to help discover, verify and distribute such content across their platforms. Media organisations in Ireland, too, have been quick to use UGC as a new source of content. Yet many of these organisations are using such content unethically; without proper verification standards, without permissions from content owners; instead, they often favour a “Fair Use” policy in using the content. Numerous media organisations and outlets in Ireland have used UGC in broadcasts, online and across their social media platforms without permissions from the content owners, and without attribution or courtesy to them. There have also been repeated instances of misattribution and the re-use of unauthorised copies of the original content. The aim of this piece is to highlight the unethical practices of Irish media organisations and how they are knowingly operating outside of both Irish and international copyright law. How the organisations are using this “free content” and their disregard for content ownership, potentially denying revenue for content creators.