Ivor Cummins

UNIVERSITY OF GALWAY ‘FAKE NEWS’ EXPERT FALSELY CLAIMED TO HOLD DOCTORATE, RTÉ PRIME TIME INVESTIGATION REVEALS An investigation by RTÉ Prime Time journalist Paul Murphy, published on Friday, 6 November 2026, alleges that a senior academic at the University of Galway, whose specialist interests include disinformation, fake news and media transparency, has falsely claimed to hold a doctorate from a prestigious British university. Tom Felle, an associate professor in the University of Galway’s Department of Journalism and Media and its former head, has repeatedly been described as “Dr Tom Felle” in official university publications, promotional materials and a submission to an Oireachtas committee. However, an investigation by RTÉ has established that the doctorate he claims to have received from City, University of London, in 2022 was not awarded. UNIVERSITY RECORDS CONTRADICT CLAIMED QUALIFICATION Mr Felle told RTÉ Prime Time that he had received a PhD in journalism from City, University of London, now known as City St George’s, in 2022. He explained that the qualification was a PhD by prior publication, based on academic articles produced over several years rather than a conventional doctoral thesis. However, a former senior academic at the London university told RTÉ that Mr Felle had registered for such a doctorate but had never completed it. According to that source, Mr Felle left the university without finishing the programme and was therefore never awarded the degree. RTÉ subsequently obtained information under Britain’s Freedom of Information legislation that directly contradicted his claim. City St George’s confirmed that none of the four journalism doctorates awarded during the 2021/22 and 2022/23 academic years was awarded through the prior-publication route. This was the route Mr Felle specifically claimed to have followed. UNABLE TO RECALL THE TITLE OF HIS THESIS When initially contacted by RTÉ in June, Mr Felle insisted that he had received his doctorate in 2022. However, he was unable to recall the precise title of his doctoral thesis, suggesting that it concerned journalism, media and democracy. RTÉ also established that the university library had no record of a thesis submitted by him. When questioned about this, Mr Felle could not explain the absence of the document. He further told RTÉ that he had not undergone an oral doctoral examination, known as a viva, and had neither a thesis supervisor nor an external examiner. City St George’s subsequently confirmed that doctoral degrees can only be awarded following a successful viva involving an external examiner and independent chair, and that all doctoral students have supervisors. These requirements directly contradicted Mr Felle’s description of how he obtained his qualification. UNIVERSITY OF GALWAY USED THE TITLE ‘DR’ IN OFFICIAL MATERIALS The investigation raises serious questions about how the University of Galway verified the academic qualifications of one of its senior staff members. Mr Felle previously headed the university’s Department of Journalism and Media and continues to hold the position of associate professor. University publications, student prospectuses, webpages and social media posts repeatedly referred to him as “Dr Tom Felle”. He was also identified by that title in a January 2026 submission to the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Arts, Media, Communications, Culture and Sport. The submission was presented on University of Galway headed paper. RTÉ asked the university whether it had verified his qualifications and whether it was satisfied with the use of the doctoral title in official communications. The university did not answer those specific questions. Instead, it stated that questions concerning the accuracy of academic records would be addressed internally and privately. RTÉ subsequently observed that numerous university webpages and social media posts referring to “Dr Tom Felle” had been deleted or amended to remove the title. EXPERT ON DISINFORMATION, TRANSPARENCY AND FAKE NEWS One of the most striking aspects of the investigation is Mr Felle’s area of academic expertise. His university profile identifies research interests including trust, transparency, journalism’s role in democracy, verification and the manipulation of online information. He has regularly appeared in the media discussing disinformation, online abuse and media issues. In 2024, he was appointed an expert assessor for Ireland’s media regulator, Coimisiún na Meán. He has also been listed as a judge for the 2026 Irish Journalism Awards. Mr Felle was a Fulbright Scholar in the United States in 2023 and has described providing advice to governments and international organisations. These roles demonstrate the extent to which he has been regarded as an authority on journalism, media standards and public trust. The contradiction between his professional specialism and the inaccurate academic qualification attributed to him makes the findings particularly significant. FAILURE TO RESPOND TO FOLLOW-UP QUESTIONS Following their initial telephone conversation, RTÉ Prime Time sent Mr Felle three sets of detailed questions seeking clarification about his doctorate. He did not respond. Further attempts to contact him by telephone and text message were also unsuccessful. RTÉ also reported that his LinkedIn profile had recently been deleted. PREVIOUS CONTROVERSY AT GALWAY JOURNALISM DEPARTMENT The investigation comes against the background of previous difficulties within the University of Galway’s journalism department. In 2018, when the institution was known as NUI Galway, students in the third and fourth years of journalism programmes received refunds following complaints about the quality of their courses. Mr Felle was subsequently recruited to lead the department and help rebuild its reputation. The latest revelations therefore raise renewed questions about academic standards, institutional governance and the verification of qualifications. FUNDAMENTAL QUESTIONS ABOUT ACADEMIC ACCOUNTABILITY The RTÉ investigation raises questions extending beyond one academic’s claimed qualification. How did a senior university employee come to be repeatedly identified as holding a doctorate that the awarding institution’s records contradict? What procedures were followed when his academic qualifications were assessed? Were those qualifications relevant to his appointment, promotion or other professional responsibilities? And why did the University of Galway decline to answer specific questions about whether it had verified the qualification? The university is entitled to handle confidential employment matters appropriately. However, the accuracy of academic credentials publicly used to establish professional authority is also a legitimate matter of public interest. The central irony is that an academic whose professional expertise includes exposing disinformation and promoting verification has himself become the subject of an investigation into a falsely claimed academic qualification. The findings raise important questions about the responsibility of universities to verify credentials, correct inaccurate public information and maintain the trust of students, policymakers and the wider public. Source: RTÉ Prime Time investigation by Paul Murphy, 6 November 2026 — “Galway university ‘fake news’ expert claims fake doctorate”.