Applications open for 2026/2027 Rosalyn Carter Fellowship for Mental Health Journalism in Ireland

Applications open for 2026/2027 Rosalyn Carter Fellowship for Mental Health Journalism in Ireland.

In partnership with The Carter Center and Shine Media Programme.

April 22,2026 – Shine’s Media Programme is proud to announce that applications are now open for the 2026/2027 Rosalynn Carter Fellowship for Mental Health Journalism in the Republic of Ireland, continuing its partnership with The Carter Center to support high-quality, stigma reducing mental health reporting across Ireland.  

Founded by former U.S First Lady Rosalynn Carter in 1996, the prestigious fellowships equip journalists with training, resources, and mentorship to produce projects that strengthen public understanding of mental health and behavioural health challenges.  

In Ireland, the fellowship is run by Shine’s Media Programme since 2023, offering one journalist an €8,000 stipend to produce a project on mental health, with support, mentoring, access to international experts and the attendance at the annual Carter Center Fellowship meeting in Atlanta.

Announcing the 2026/27 call for applications, Áine O’Meara, Shine Media Programme Lead, said: “We’re delighted to continue this partnership with The Carter Center, building on the strong standards already present across the sector. This fellowship is about working alongside journalists to create the space, support and resources needed to explore under-represented mental health experiences with care and depth. It recognises the vital role journalism already plays, while offering an opportunity to broaden the conversation, elevate diverse voices, and strengthen public understanding in a meaningful way.”

Last year’s Irish fellow, James Wilson, a journalist with Newstalk, was selected for his project examining the long-term mental health impact of the Troubles.  "It is a huge privilege to be this year's Rosalynn Carter Fellow for Mental Health Journalism in Ireland. It has been immensely rewarding and I have learnt so much about mental health and journalistic best practices from The Carter Center. Meeting with so many victims of the Troubles is something I will never forget and I feel honoured to have been entrusted with their stories. I cannot recommend the Rosalynn Carter Fellow more highly to those thinking of applying, it has truly been the highlight of my career.”

His work continues the legacy of previous Irish fellows including Brian O’Connell (RTÉ Radio 1), Claire Darmody (Newstalk), Órla Ryan (The Irish Times), and Shauna Bowers (The Irish Times), all of whom have used their fellowship year to bring greater depth, humanity and accuracy to coverage of mental health across Ireland.  

Nicola Byrne, CEO of Shine added: “The way mental illness is reported has real consequences for people’s lives. Media can reinforce stigma, or it can challenge it.  The fellowship programme is an important resource for journalists in helping them to understand complex mental health conditions, challenge long-standing stereotypes and reduce discrimination around mental health.”  

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Key Dates – 2026/27 Fellowship Cycle

April 20th – Applications Open

April 28th – Fellowship Q&A session (online)

May 14th – Fellowship Q&A session (online)

June 2nd – Applications Close

June 25th – 2026/27 fellow announced September 14th-15th -Annual Carter Fellowship Meeting, Atlanta, USA

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This Fellowship is non-residential and open to journalists working across print, broadcast and digital media in Ireland. All applicants are invited to propose an original mental health project that combines story telling with responsible and informed reporting.  

For  more information, or to see the work of former fellows, go to https://www.shine.ie/fellowship

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