The Rosalynn Carter Fellowship for Mental Health Journalism in Ireland

in partnership with Shine

The Rosalynn Carter Fellowship for Mental Health Journalism in Ireland

About the Fellowship

Founded in 1996, the highly competitive Rosalynn Carter Fellowship for Mental Health Journalism awards yearlong, non-residential fellowships to journalists from the United States, Ireland, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates to report on a mental health topic of their choice. In 2023, Shine in partnership with The Carter Center, proudly announced the rollout of this prestigious fellowship in Ireland through the Rosalynn Carter Fellowship for Mental Health Journalism in the Republic of Ireland. 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.

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 all platforms.

Key Dates 2025

April 11th: Applications Open 

April 17th: Fellowship Q&A Session 

May 21st: Applications Close 

June 12th: 2025/26 Fellow Announced 

October 5th-8th: Annual Fellowship Meeting in Atlanta, US

 

Fellowship Highlights

One fellowship awarded to an Irish media professional

€8,000 stipend per fellow

Access to top international experts and resources in the mental health and journalism fields

Flexible non-residential fellowship

Training and networking opportunities

Submission Pack

Download the 2025 Submission Instructions

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

Download the 2025 Application Form

The application form for the fellowship can be downloaded here.

Download the 2025 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.

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 May 14th 2025. 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, hearing voices 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 completedby Rosalynn Carter Fellows during their fellowship year. Click HERE to visit the Rosalynn Carter Fellows’ project database. Or visit the catalogue on this page for previous work byIrish fellows. 

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 onVimeo, 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?

Shine will not be accepting applications from joint or group fellowship projects. Applications should be made by individuals who will assume sole responsibility for their intended project. While the fellow will be responsible for delivering the project, and the management of its budget, we expect there will be editorial input on the contents of the story from their relevant organisations, as well as input from other media professionals as required, e.g. photographer, data visualiser, legal advisor, etc. but this is managed by the fellow.

If you are an editor and wish some of your team to work on the project with you, you may apply as the fellow and commit to sharing all learnings with your colleagues. While other names may be given a byline, only one person will be identified as the fellow. If you are a producer pitching a project where a presenter will be the primary interviewer, the presenter must also commit to the high-standards and trauma-informed approach adopted by all fellows. Please be explicit in your application about your role and anyone else’s role in delivering your project.

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 Shine 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 must present their project at the end of their fellowship year at The Carter Center. 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 and the final installment of the stipend may be held back if a fellow has not made significant progress with their project. The Carter Center may also post pone the fellow’s final trip to The Carter Center if the project has not significantly progressed.

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 October –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 Shine doing this?

Shine’s Media Programme is rooted in representation work. Back whenShine was Schizophrenia Ireland, media representation of mental illnesses like schizophrenia was of a poor standard and often harmed those living with that experience. A massively disproportionate amount of coverage about these topics was given to court or crime reporting which impacted audiences’ perceptions of these experiences. This continues today. Shine’s Media Programme was established to address this and work withIrish media on improving these representations. Our 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 Media Programme, and with the support of the Rosalynn Carter Mental Health Journalism FellowshipProgramme in the US, we are delighted to bring this opportunity to Irish media and their audiences.

Can fellowship projects be entered in awards?

Pieces produced as part of the fellowship are not eligible for submission to the Mental Health Media Awards, but can be entered in other journalism awards. Any mental health reporting that is outside of the scope of your fellowship project can be entered in the Mental Health Media Awards.

Do fellowship project pieces need to be freely accessible to the public?

Yes, any pieces published or produced as part of your fellowship projectmust be freely accessible to the public and not exist behind a paywall.