RNZ Journalist Wins Rosalynn Carter Fellowship

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Radio New Zealand Journalist Wins
Rosalynn Carter Fellowship

Radio New Zealand’s Mike Gourley will be presented with a prestigious Rosalynn Carter Fellowship for Mental Health Journalism at a ceremony in Wellington tonight by the Minister of Social Services, Steve Maharey.

He is one of only two non-American journalists to receive the Award. This is the first time the Award has been offered to journalists outside the United States.

The Award is an acknowledgement of the impact informed journalists can have upon public understanding of mental health issues, as they shape debate and trends with the words and pictures they convey. Gourley produces National Radio’s Future Indicative programme which focuses on the experience and issues of disability, including mental illness.

The Rosalynn Carter Fellowships for Mental Health Journalism provide grants to journalists to study selected topics regarding mental health or illness. Each year, six American and two international fellows are awarded grants of $12,000 (NZ) each to cover expenses during the fellowship project, including travel, materials and other costs.

Fellows also make two expense-paid visits to The Carter Center in Atlanta. The first occurs at the beginning of the fellowship to meet with their project advisors, the second at the end of the fellowship year to present their completed project. Each visit lasts two days and one of the highlights is meeting with the former U.S President Jimmy Carter’s wife, Rosalynn Carter.

Gourley’s project will be to look at the way the news media reports mental health issues and the impact this has on the public perception of mental illness.

Future Indicative is broadcast at 7pm on Sunday nights on National Radio.

Contact information:

Mike Gourley Ph: (04) 387 7297 after 10.30pm Wednesday evening
(04) 471 0933 RNZ or (025) 205-1663 Mobile

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