Headline | Ireland | Supporting Media | Changing Attitudes

The Rosalynn Carter Fellowship for Mental Health Journalism in Ireland

in partnership with Shine's Headline programme

Founded in 1996, the highly competitive Rosalynn Carter Fellowship for Mental Health Journalism awards yearlong, non-residential fellowships to journalists from the United States, Colombia, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates to report on a mental health topic of their choice. Shine’s Headline programme, in partnership with the Carter Center, is proud to announce the inaugural rollout of this prestigious fellowship in Ireland through the Rosalynn Carter Fellowship for Mental Health Journalism in the Republic of Ireland. The 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.

The goals of the fellowship are to increase effective and accurate reporting on mental health issues; equip journalists with the tools needed to produce high-quality work that reflects an understanding of mental health challenges, and develop a diverse cohort of better-informed journalists who can more effectively report on mental health across evolving and emerging platforms.

Key Dates

Fellowship Highlights

2023/24 Fellows

Órla Ryan

Órla has worked as a journalist for over ten years and specialises in human rights and social justice. Her fellowship submission focusses on the lack of services impacting teens with schizophrenia. Currently she works at The Journal and its investigative platform, Noteworthy.

Shauna Bowers

Shauna has worked for four years as a news reporter. Her fellowship submission examines the prevalence and impact of mental health issues among those engaged in Ireland’s criminal justice system. Shauna currently works at The Irish Times.

Submission Pack

Application Form

The application form for the fellowship can be downloaded here.

Submision Instructions

This document outlines how to submit a proposal for the fellowship.

Letter of Commitment

The letter of commitment indicates that the media organisation for which you work or freelance is committed to affording you the time and editorial support to work on your project and to running your project once complete. This must be completed to be eligible for the fellowship.

Supporting Resources

FAQs

What is the purpose of the fellowship?

The three goals of the fellowship are:

Increase effective and accurate reporting on mental health issues
Equip journalists with the tools needed to produce high-quality work that reflects an understanding of mental ill health
Develop a diverse cohort of better-informed journalists who can more effectively report on mental health across evolving and emerging platforms

Am I eligible to apply for a fellowship?

Applicants must have at least three years of experience as a journalist or working directly in journalism. Previous international fellows have included audio journalists, documentary journalists, photojournalists, producers, reporters, and related roles. Applications from media professionals from all disciplines and outlets are encouraged. Blogging, academic writing, and public relations do not count toward journalism experience. Experience in mental health is not required. Applicants must submit a full fellowship application by the closing date of 18th June 2023. Applicants must be available to attend all-day meetings at The Carter Center, Atlanta, Georgia, in September at the beginning and end of their fellowship year. Applicants must be citizens or legal residents of the Republic of Ireland and also be eligible to travel to the U.S.

What themes/topics does the fellowship encourage?

Applicants are encouraged to select topics that are unique and creative. Projects may educate the public, raise awareness, inform policy, explore solutions and challenge stigma. Projects that explore mental health issues or illnesses that are typically underrepresented in the media, such as schizophrenia or psychosis, for example, are particularly welcome. Similarly, projects which propose to investigate the mental health experience of particular high-risk social groups or communities in Ireland, such as the Travelling or farming communities, are encouraged. Other topics of particular significance in an Irish context, such as dual diagnosis or legacy issues, for example, are also recommended. Please note the preceding examples do not constitute an exhaustive list of appropriate project topics. Instead, their purpose is to provide a broad idea of the types of themes and topics of particular importance to the Rosalynn Carter Fellowships for Mental Health Journalism in the Republic of Ireland (IJFP). Applicants must clearly demonstrate the relevance of their proposed project to the values and interest of the IJFP. Please also note that projects must include the voice of lived experience in order to be eligible. Visit the Rosalynn Carter Mental Health Journalism Fellowship page on The Carter Center website for more ideas of successful pitches.

What is a letter of commitment and is it essential to my application?

To be eligible for the IJFP, all applications must be accompanied by a letter of commitment to broadcast or publish the proposed project from at least one media outlet that has its primary audience in the Republic of Ireland. This letter indicates that the media organisation for which you work or freelance is committed to affording you the time and editorial support to work on your project and to running your project once complete. The template letter of commitment must be completed by the editor/producer of the media outlet, indicating their intention to publish/broadcast the project within the specified timeframe and slot. A commitment letter is required even where the applicant is the producer/editor.

Where can I find samples of previous fellowship projects?

The fellowship programme has compiled a database of projects completed by Rosalynn Carter Fellows during their fellowship year. Click HERE to visit the Rosalynn Carter Fellows’ project database.

How can I submit my video samples that are part of my application?

Please create a PDF with links to your video or audio samples and attach the PDF, along with your completed application pack, to your email application. If your video or audio samples are not currently online, please create an account on Vimeo, YouTube, or another platform, upload your files, and create a PDF with the links.

Can more than one person apply as a group or joint project?

Yes, more than one person can share a fellowship slot. Applicants proposing to share a fellowship must complete one application together and share the stipend and responsibilities of the project. Only one person per fellowship award will be funded to travel to the Carter Center’s Learning Lab in September. This means that applicants who choose to apply in a joint fellowship must elect one member of the project to attend the Carter Center, if they are successful in their application. If you’re applying for a joint or group project, please make note that it is a shared fellowship in your application.

Can I change my project during the fellowship year?

If you would like to change your project topic after you’ve been awarded a fellowship, you must contact your advisor and programme staff to discuss and receive approval for your new topic. Fellows are selected, in part, based on the strength and timeliness of the topic they proposed when applying for the fellowship.

What if I’m selected as a fellow and my project runs longer than the fellowship year?

Fellows are encouraged to continue to report on mental health beyond the fellowship. However, fellows typically have a year to complete their actual fellowship project. Fellows present their project at the end of their fellowship year. Project extensions are considered on a case-by-case basis and must be accompanied by an estimated timeline for completion. Projects are not funded beyond the fellowship year for which they were awarded.

Do fellows need to travel to the Carter Center in the United States?

Yes, fellows will be required to travel to the Carter Center, in Atlanta, Georgia, twice during the fellowship year. These visits will both occur in September – once at the beginning of the fellowship and once at the end. Travel and accommodation costs will be covered. Any other expenses incurred should come from the fellows’ stipend. Applicants to the fellowship must be eligible to travel to the U.S. To find out more about what’s involved in these trips, please visit: https://mentalhealthjournalism.org/about/

Why is Headline doing this?

Shine’s Headline programme is rooted in representation work. Back when Shine was Schizophrenia Ireland, media representation of mental illnesses like schizophrenia was of a poor standard and often harmed those living with that experience. Headline was established to address this and work with Irish media on improving these representations. Headline’s work later evolved to include educating professionals and students on the media reporting guidelines and other areas of mental health media.

The Carter Center’s mental health journalism fellowship programme and its aims, are closely aligned with Shine’s values. Through its Headline programme, and with the support of the Rosalynn Carter Mental Health Journalism Fellowship Programme in the US, we are delighted to now bring this opportunity to Irish media and their audiences.