This year’s lecture theme was fake news, and the ever looming question - who can we trust?
The keynote speaker for the evening was writer, journalist and broadcaster Olivia O’Leary.
Also present on the night was moderator Professor Brian Mac Craith - Chair of the
Commission for the Future of Media.
The evening kicked off at the bar of Dublin’s iconic Light House Cinema. Members of the
RTS and industry professionals gathered for a wine and canapé reception ahead of the
evening’s discussion.
Although the evening outside was wintery, the ambience of the Light House was inviting and
warm as colleagues and members caught up with one another, before taking their seat
inside.

Olivia began her speech with a callback to her time presenting Prime Time in the 80s - RTÉs
long running current affairs television programme.
“I was the absolute voice” She stated “Full of authority and institutional certainty”
She recalled that in the past news reporters and journalists were seen as dependable and
trustworthy sources from which to receive truthful information - “Handing down tablets of
stone.” She quipped.

She went on to pose that in today's culture, people aren’t looking for a stern “absolute” voice
any longer. They want something “relatable and spontaneous”.
Over the hour that followed, Olivia further delved into ways in which society has changed
throughout her lengthy career in journalism and media, and how the idea of fake news has
become more and more pressing in recent years.

She discussed examples from the recent AI conceived Halloween Party, which duped
hundreds of expectant citizens into the city centre for a parade which was never real in the
first place, to the recent campaign and ultimate re-election of Donald Trump in the USA.
The lecture, although raising concerning ideas at times, was impressively analysed by Olivia,
who spoke in a way that kept the entire audience captivated from beginning to end.
After she was finished speaking a lively Q&A took place, with thought provoking questions
from many in the audience, which Olivia answered with great consideration.
The full lecture and Q&A will be available to view online.
The second annual Gay Byrne Memorial Lecture was another great success. We are so
grateful to Olivia O’Leary for her fantastic speech, and to Brian for his terrific moderation of
the evening and subsequent Q&A.

We are already looking forward to 2025s instalment, and we hope to see all our members
and guests back again for another great evening of conversation.

Please see our gallery for all the photos from the evening.