Mental Health Journalism Fellowship 2025 Winner Announced

Mental Health Journalism Fellowship Winner Announced

‍June 16, 2025

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Shine is delighted to announce Newstalk journalist James Wilson as the winner of the Rosalynn Carter Fellowship for Mental Health Journalism in the Republic of Ireland (RCJF) for 2025/26.

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The Fellowship programme, founded by former United States First Lady Rosalynn Carter, equips journalists across the world with the required resources to report on mental and behavioural health issues in a way that helps to deconstruct the stigma faced by millions of people daily. With the support of Shine’s Media Programme and The Carter Center, Irish journalists will have the crucial tools and guidance necessary to produce work that supports this important cause. Shine’s Media Programme, (formerly known as Headline) is a national programme of Shine and, as well as the fellowship, runs the annual Mental Health Media Awards. We support people affected by mental illness and their families/supporters.

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Following news of his successful pitch, James said, ‘I am so honoured and excited to have been chosen as this year's Rosalynn Carter Fellow for Mental Health Journalism.’ James will represent Ireland, and join a prestigious alumni of over 250 mental health journalism fellows from across the world. His project will explore the long-term mental health impact of the Troubles with a variety of outputs which will be broadcast across Newstalk in 2026. During his fellowship year, James will have access to an extensive network of former fellows and journalists, as well as an international advisory panel, specialist training and a stipend.

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Making the announcement, Shine Media Programme’s Leader, Áine O’Meara said: “The depth and range of proposals submitted by applicants from across the country is a testament to the Irish media’s interest in mental health issues. Together with The Carter Center, over the last two years we’ve supported projects from The Irish Times, The Journal, RTÉ Radio, and Newstalk. We’re delighted to now support James with his project and are grateful to all those who submitted proposals this year.”

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Carter Center CEO Paige Alexander said, “For two years now, the Rosalynn Carter Fellowship for Mental Health Journalism has partnered with Shine to equip Irish media with the knowledge and resources they need to report on mental health issues both accurately and ethically. Much like the first two cohorts of journalists, I know that the important work James is pursuing will not only advance Mrs. Carter's vision for this program, but it will improve our collective understanding of the effects of conflict on mental health.”

Shine CEO Nicola Byrne congratulated James, saying it is a most interesting project that will explore an aspect of the Troubles that merits wider exploration. “The insights and learnings from it will be valuable in informing and improving supports for people in Ireland living with the mental health impact of conflict. It is timely too, in a wider context, given the serious conflicts elsewhere in the world at present, to highlight the psychological effects it causes.”

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Fellows have one year to complete their projects and will publish stories from their investigations over the course of that year. James will join the fellows group who will present their completed work at The Carter Center in October 2026. Joining him this October will be 2024/25 fellows Brian O’Connell from RTÉ and Claire Darmody from Newstalk.

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For more information on the fellowship, visit: The Rosalynn Carter Fellowship for Mental Health Journalism in Ireland