Applications open for 2024/25 Rosalynn Carter Fellowship for Mental Health Journalism in the Republic of Ireland.
Following its successful launch in 2023, Shine’s Headline programme is opening its second year of applications for the Rosalynn Carter Fellowship for Mental Health Journalism in the Republic of Ireland.
Founded in 1996, the Rosalynn Carter Fellowship for Mental Health Journalism awards year long, non-residential fellowships to journalists from the United States and Ireland to report on a mental health topic of their choice. The annual fellowship offers two Irish media professionals an outstanding opportunity to produce a unique and funded mental health project and to join a community of international fellows, experts and like-minded professionals. Fellows receive a generous stipend, US-based training, networking opportunities, and access to top experts and resources in mental health and journalism.
Headline’s Programme Leader, Áine O’Meara, said: “The fellowship provides journalists with the crucial resources needed to produce challenging, underrepresented and much needed mental health stories. Making it as accessible as possible to cover these stories is a fundamental part of Headline’s work, and we are delighted to offer media professionals the opportunity to do so through our partnership with The Carter Center.”
The two successful applicants will join 2023/24 fellows, Órla Ryan (The Journal/Noteworthy) and Shauna Bowers (The Irish Times), in representing Ireland at The Carter Center in September 2024. There they will have the opportunity to engage with international experts in mental health journalism and a global network of 250 alumni fellows.
Shine CEO, Nicola Byrne said: “Shine is proud of its long history of working with the Irish media to break down the stigma attached to mental illness. We look forward to this year's projects building on the fundamental work started by our 2023/2024 fellows Órla and Shauna, in amplifying the voice of lived experience in Ireland.”
Reflecting on the success of the fellowship so far, Carter Center CEO Paige Alexander said: “We know that quality reporting on mental health issues can have a tremendous impact on educating the public, decreasing stigma, and even changing policies on mental health, and are grateful to Headline and Shine for bringing this programme to Irish media.”
Project proposals for the 2024/25 fellowship are invited from Irish media professionals working across print, broadcast and digital platforms. Applications are open from now until May 13th, 2024. Further information on the submission process, proposal requirements and eligibility can be found here.
Want to learn more and hear from current fellows about their experience? Representatives from Headline and The Carter Center will be joined by current fellows at a webinar on March 5th to guide prospective applicants through a sample proposal, discuss project themes and answer questions. Register for the Fellowship Information Webinar by clicking here.
Or contact Headline at fellowship@headline.ie
About Shine
Shine is the national organisation dedicated to campaigning for the rights and empowerment of people affected by mental illness. Shine supports individuals and groups to enhance their recovery, challenge negative attitudes and behaviours and deliver a variety of programmes and services to support individuals with lived experience of mental health challenges and their families and supporters.
Shine is the only national mental health organisation specifically founded to support all family members.
We operate two national programmes, See Change and Headline. See Change is dedicated to ending mental health stigma and discrimination. Headline’s work is outlined below.
For more information on Shine’s programmes and services, go to: https://shine.ie
About Headline
Headline is Shine’s national programme for responsible reporting and representation of mental ill health. We are a recognised global leader in innovative media and mental health practices. The media has an enormous impact on how people form their opinions about others and the society in which they live. This includes how people form their opinions on mental health and illness. Headline works collaboratively with media professionals, policymakers, academics and other stakeholders to reduce suicide contagion via the media, improve the media’s ability to cover mental health stories, and enhance audiences’ understanding of mental health experiences. We achieve this through our media monitoring, student and professional workshops, research, policy collaborations, fellowships and awards. Most recently, Headline has provided recommendations to the World Health Organization on their suicide reporting guidelines, Coimisiún na Meán on the Code of Programme Standards and Online Safety Code, and has presented at the World Congress on Suicide Prevention.
For more information visit www.headline.ie or contact fellowship@headline.ie
About The Carter Center
A not-for-profit, nongovernmental organization, The Carter Center has helped to improve life for people in over 80 countries by resolving conflicts; advancing democracy, human rights, and economic opportunity; preventing diseases; and improving mental health care. The Carter Center was founded in 1982 by former U.S. President Jimmy Carter and former First Lady Rosalynn Carter, in partnership with Emory University, to advance peace and health worldwide. Visit our website CarterCenter.org | Follow us on Twitter @CarterCenter | Follow us on Instagram @thecartercenter | Like us on Facebook Facebook.com/CarterCenter | Watch us on YouTube YouTube.com/CarterCenter