Research

The BAI is committed to developing its own knowledge and expertise to inform and support the quality of its decision making.

Research is a key activity for the BAI in this regard and helps us to ensure that our decision-making is informed and evidenced-based.  In tandem with other information gathering activities, such as public consultations and conversation events, research contributes to the development and review of our programming codes, rules and other policy documents.

The types of research undertaken by us along with a list of current and past research activities is outlined in this section of the website.

The BAI uses a variety of research methods when carrying out its work.  It will select the most appropriate research method after considering the information requirements, costs and timeframes.

Research methods may include:

• In house research (such as operational reviews, stakeholder and public consultations)
• Development of Partnerships/Sponsor
• Commissioning of specific research activities (such as questionnaires, one-to-one interviews, focus groups etc).

The BAI also subscribes to a number of external research reports such as JNLR and Nielsen.

BAI/Trinity School of Law Essay Prize 2022

In partnership with the Trinity College School of Law, the BAI is publishing an essay on the topic of EU media regulation prepared by the top student taking the module EU Digital Single Market: Media regulation as part of the postgraduate LL.M programme in Trinity College. This initiative is designed to promote public debate about media policy and practice. The 2022 winning essay focuses on the AVMS Directive in the age of VSPs and online content creation. It was written by Daniel Mooney and is edited by Dr Ewa Komorek assistant professor, Trinity College.

Media Regulation in Flux:  The AVMSD in the Age of VSPs and Online Content Creation

• Daniel Mooney, LL.M (Trinity College)

You can find a copy if the essay here

Reuters Digital News Report 2022

The BAI facilitated the inclusion of Ireland in this international research project as part of its work on media plurality in Ireland.  To maximise the use of the data, the BAI partnered with the Institute of Future Media and Journalism (FuJo) at DCU to produce a more detailed Irish specific report. More information can be found here.

Tracker survey 2016-18

The BAI has recently begun the process of establishing a tracker survey to provide information on the public opinion/perception of public service broadcasting in Ireland in terms of value and importance and how broadcasting services in Ireland deliver on particular legislative and other regulatory objectives.

JNLR 

The JNLR (Joint National Listenership Research) is a joint industry research project conducted on behalf of the Irish radio industry.

The primary objective of the JNLR survey is to provide reliable estimates of audiences to National, Regional and Local Radio, as a basis for the planning of advertising schedules. The secondary objective is to provide radio audience estimates to facilitate programming analysis/planning.  Reports are published on a quarterly basis each year.

The JNLR summary information tables are available in the publications section of this website.

The Media Research Funding Scheme provides funding to academics to conduct media related research on topical issues pertaining to the broadcasting industry. It has been designed to:

• develop and maintain links between the BAI, third level institutions and the broadcasting sector
• drive quality research initiatives to provide a strong evidence base to the regulatory environment of the BAI’s work
• provide research that will facilitate the BAI in meeting the needs of viewers and listeners in Ireland.

One of the most recent commissions has been a project on the importance of broadcast media to those of the Irish diaspora carried out by the IT Carlow and UCD.

The research, published in late 2018, can be found here.

Applications for the BAI Media Research Funding Scheme 2019 are now closed.

In 2019, the BAI, via it’s Community Media Action Plan, identified a series of actions relating to enhancing the sustainability of the Community Media sector. One of the plan’s core actions was for the BAI and CRAOL to develop and implement a new Social Benefit Framework. The consultants Nexus were appointed to develop this framework and a series of different methodologies were piloted in a number of community radio stations throughout 2019 and 2020. A Steering Group comprised of members of the BAI, CRAOL and Nexus assessed and reported on the progress of the field work.

Community Radio – Delivering Social Benefit  report examines the development and implementation of an evaluation methodology that addresses the statutory requirement for community media to deliver a social benefit to the community it serves.

The Social Benefit Framework identifies a range of benefits that can be delivered by the stations to individuals, listeners participants and the community served. Social benefits are divided into six areas and indicators. “Assessing the Benefit of Community Radio, A Toolkit for Community Radio” is a toolkit for stations to implement elements of the Framework and methodologies based on their priorities and resources.

“Introducing a Social Benefit Approach to Community Radio- A compendium of Stories” takes the new methodologies explored as part of the initiative and applies this across the community radio sector. The Framework provides Irish Community Radio with a robust framework and related methodologies to assess and demonstrate the practical social benefit offered by stations.

On completion of any research activity, the BAI publishes the outcomes including posting the reports to the publications section of this website.  The following is a list of the most recent reports issued.

• ElectCheck 2019
• Hearing Women’s Voices?
• Media Usage at an In-between Stage
• Broadcasting Irish Emigration in an Era of Global Mobility