Headline is pleased to announce that Órla Ryan of The Journal, working with its investigative platform Noteworthy, and Shauna Bowers of The Irish Times have been selected as the inaugural winners of the Rosalynn Carter Fellowships for Mental Health Journalism in the Republic of Ireland (RCJF).
Ryan and Bowers will represent Ireland and join over 250 mental health journalism alumni fellows from across the globe.
The fellowship empowers journalists to tell stories that reflect the complexities of mental health challenges. With the support of Headline, Shine and The Carter Center, Órla and Shauna will have the time and resources needed to produce that important work.
Who are the fellows?
Órla Ryan has worked as a journalist for over ten years. Her submission focusses on how inadequate services are impacting teens with schizophrenia.
Currently she works at The Journal and specialises in human rights and social justice. Her podcast, ‘Redacted Lives’ won the Best Podcast category in the Spider Awards 2023 and received a silver trophy at the prestigious New York Festivals Radio Awards. Ryan was also nominated for the Journalism Excellence Award from the Irish Red Cross Humanitarian Awards 2022.
Shauna Bowers has worked as a journalist for four years as a news reporter. Her submission examines the prevalence and impact of mental health issues among those engaged in the criminal justice system.
Currently she works at The Irish Times. Previously she has written for The Times Ireland edition, The Sunday Times in Ireland and The Irish Examiner. Bowers’ work has been shortlisted for a number of Irish journalism awards.
They both will receive a €10,000 stipend and the opportunity to travel to Atlanta, Georgia, USA to visit The Carter Center at the beginning and end of their fellowship year and meet their peers.
We would like to thank everyone who applied for the fellowship this year. The judging process was tough, and we encourage unsuccessful candidates to apply again next year.
For more information on Rosalynn Carter Fellowship for Mental Health Journalism visit Headline | Ireland | Supporting Media | Changing Attitudes | Headline