Details of the second round of the fund to commemorate the work of campaigning journalist, Mary Raftery and to promote investigative journalism have been announced today (22.01.2013).
The theme for this round of the fund is ‘migrant issues’.
The Mary Raftery Journalism Fund was created as a result of an initiative by the family and friends of investigative journalist Mary Raftery, who died in January 2012. The aim of the fund is to promote more in-depth investigative coverage of issues close to Mary’s heart. The fund – for the coming months – will be supported by The One Foundation.
Throughout her career, Mary Raftery wrote graphic accounts of the difficulties faced by immigrants, including the 1950s Hungarian refugees and the direct provision system. The second round of the fund offers an opportunity for journalists to carry out detailed investigations into migrant issues and to expose any injustices that might exist.
Applicants from all strands of the media are invited to apply. Up to €40,000 will be available for allocation in each round. The maximum payable in any one round will be €18,000.
All applications will be considered and awards made by a panel of independent judges. The panel will be chaired by journalist Olivia O’Leary. Other members of the panel are Colm Tóibín, author and former journalist; Conor Brady, former editor of The Irish Times; Dr. Mary Corcoran, Professor of Sociology at NUI Maynooth; and Sheila Ahern, researcher and former colleague of Mary Raftery.
The migrant issues funding round is the second of three rounds supported by The One Foundation during 2012 / 2013. The first funding round – which took place in autumn 2012 – was under the theme of mental health. Awards totalling €39,000 were made to nine successful applicants from all strands of media. It is expected that successful projects will be broadcast or published throughout spring 2013 and will be promoted on www.maryrafteryfund.ie and on social media platforms.
Full details of the Mary Raftery Journalism Fund are available at www.maryrafteryfund.ie. An information workshop for perspective applicants to the fund will take place from 11am – 1pm at the Radisson Blu Hotel, Golden Lane, Dublin 8 on Wednesday, 6th February 2013. To register for the workshop, please email info@maryrafteryfund.ie.
ENDS.
Catherine Heaney / Ciara Murphy, DHR Communications @ Tel: 087-2309835 / 087-9626231 / 01-4200580
