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Digitising RTÉ archives is a major undertaking that has to be done right - Dr James O'Sullivan

10 Oct 2024
Dr James O'Sullivan addresses Joint Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport and Media at Leinster House.
  • Dr James O'Sullivan addresses Joint Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport and Media.
  • Dr O'Sullivan is a leading expert in digital humanities and digital literary studies.
  • UCC is widely recognised for innovative study at the forefront of the field of digital humanities, exploring how new technologies impact our lives.

Dr James O’Sullivan, Senior Lecturer in Digital Humanities at UCC, was invited to address the Joint Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport and Media at Leinster House on Wednesday, 9 October 2024. The Committee shadows the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport, Gaeltacht and Media, focusing on the following areas under the Department’s remit: tourism, culture, arts, sport and media.

Dr O’Sullivan was invited to contribute to a session intended to scrutinise the Broadcasting (Amendment) Bill 2023. The Bill intends to amend the Broadcasting Act 2009 to provide for greater public access to the RTÉ archives. Dr O’Sullivan, who is currently seconded to the Higher Education Authority, was invited to contribute to the Oireachtas committee debate as an expert in digital humanities, specifically digital curation, preservation and access, as well as the role of artificial intelligence in archival contexts.

The first part of the meeting heard from Patrick Costello, TD, Officials from Dept. of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, representatives from Raidió Teilifís Éireann (RTÉ).

Dr O’Sullivan then contributed to the session comprising various experts in relevant domains, specifically, Dr Eoin O’Dell, Associate Professor of Law, Trinity College Dublin, representatives from Archives and Records Association Ireland (ARA Ireland), the Irish Traditional Music Archive (ITMA), and Digital Rights Ireland.

Speaking ahead of the meeting, Leinster House Committee Cathaoirleach Deputy Niamh Smyth said: “The Committee’s work continues tomorrow with focus turning to the Broadcasting (Amendment) Bill 2023 which seeks to allow greater public access to content that is in the possession of our national broadcaster RTÉ. This content documents Irish life, culture and the history of the state.”

In addition to a broader submission of his views, Dr O’Sullivan was invited to make a brief statement to the Committee, in which he emphasised the need for careful consideration to be given to the selection of metadata standards, interoperability and data exchange, web integration, and the provenance of AI enhancements.

He concluded his statement with: “RTÉ’s archives contain materials of unique cultural significance, and morally yes, they should be made openly accessible, but practically, doing so is a major undertaking that has to be done right and in a manner that delivers adequate return on what would be substantial taxpayer investment.”

 

Studying Digital Humanities at UCC

Digital Humanities at UCC provides opportunities for students to explore how computer and media technologies can be applied to research and practice in the arts and humanities. Undergraduate and postgraduate students and scholars investigate how digital technologies can be applied in the exploration and betterment of culture and society.

Learn more about programmes here

 

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