2008–2009

THE Rosalynn Carter FellowshipsFOR MENTAL HEALTH JOURNALISM

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Left: Mrs. Carter addressesjournalism faculty andstudents at ColumbiaUniversity in New York.

Rosalynn Carter has been a visible, activeleader in the mental health field for morethan 30 years. During the Carter presidential

administration, she served as honorary chair of thePresident’s Commission on Mental Health from1977-1978. Upon returning to Georgia in 1981,Mrs. Carter collaborated with the Emory UniversityDepartment of Psychiatry to pursue her ongoinginterest in mental health. In 1985, they organizedthe Rosalynn Carter Symposium on Mental HealthPolicy. Each year, this event brings together nationalleaders in the mental health community to examinean issue of common concern.

With the inception of the Rosalynn CarterFellowships for Mental Health Journalism in 1996,Mrs. Carter launched one of the most successfulnational programs to address the stigma associatedwith mental illnesses. Mrs. Carter also has beenthe driving force behind the Carter Center MentalHealth Task Force, which provides continuitybetween the annual symposia and guides theactivities of the Mental Health Program staff.

With Mental Health IssuesRosalynn Carter’s Role“Informed journalists can havea significant impact on publicunderstanding of mental healthissues, as they shape debate andtrends with the words and picturesthey convey. They influence theirpeers and stimulate discussionamong the general public, andan informed public can reducestigma and discrimination.”

—Former First Lady Rosalynn Carter

Journalists in all forms of media play an increasingly important role inshaping public understanding and debate about health care issues. As part ofa national effort to reduce stigma and discrimination, the Rosalynn CarterFellowships for Mental Health Journalism provide stipends to journalists tostudy a selected topic regarding mental health or mental illnesses.

Mental illnesses constitute some of the most serious, unrecognized, under-reported health problems in the United States. Despite the current healthcare “revolution,” mental health issues often remain shrouded in myth ormystery, perpetuating stigma and discrimination against people with mentalillnesses, their families, and the professionals who treat them. The overallaim of the program is to improve media portrayals of mental illnesses byemphasizing the importance of accurate depictions, including focusing onthe whole person and not just the illness.

The fellowship program’s goals are to:• Increase accurate reporting on mental health issues and decreaseincorrect, stereotypical information;

• Help journalists produce high-quality work that reflects an understandingof mental health issues through exposure to well-established resources inthe field; and

• Develop a cadre of better-informed print and electronic journalists whocan report more accurate information through media outlets and influencetheir peers to do the same.

StigmaFighting theMichelle Roberts2004–2005 FellowInvestigativeReporterThe OregonianPortland, Ore.

“Because I hadthe fellowship,I could explorethe universe of records. You read somuch you can get immune to the outragefactor. I was really at that point by the timeI arrived for an interview with a femalevictim of sex abuse. The first thing I sawwas her arms. They were cut so deep thatshe looked like a burn victim from years ofcutting herself in the state hospital. I saidto myself then, ‘This is why I am doing this.This still matters. She’s still breathing.’”

of mental illnesses

See samples of Roberts’ work in the fellowship archives atwww.cartercenter.org/health/mental_health/fellowships/index.html

Ilse Pauw, 2007–2008 fellow

Professional DevelopmentEach fellow is matched with a Fellowship Advisory Board member who willserve as a mentor and provide technical assistance and information aboutcomplex mental health or journalism issues as well as share professionalcontacts within their fields of expertise. All fellows are required to contact

their mentor three times within the first three months of thefellowship year, and are encouraged to consult with their mentorthroughout the fellowship. Fellows also must submit a mid-yearsummary of their progress that will be distributed to Mrs. Carter,the Fellowship Advisory Board, Mental Health Task Forcemembers, and program staff.

When appropriate, the program requests that fellows conduct onetraining session related to mental health and journalism for theirpeers during the fellowship year. Training can be held in a varietyof formats, including brown bag lunches, seminars, or panels.

FellowshipsWhat the Offer

Bob Meyers,member,fellowshipadvisory board

StipendsEvery year, sixU.S. fellows areawardedstipends of$10,000 each.International fellows will receive a comparable stipend in their owncurrency. Stipends cover an array of expenses during the fellowship project;expenses may include travel, materials, and other incidentals.

FlexibilityFellows enjoy a great deal of flexibility in scheduling their project workthroughout the year. Fellows are required to make two expense-paid visitsto The Carter Center in Atlanta, Ga. The first occurs in September at thebeginning of the Fellowship year when fellows meet with Mrs. Carter, theiradvisers, and other fellows to discuss their project plans. The second visitcomes in September at the end of the fellowship year when fellows presenttheir completed projects and discuss challenges and successes in mentalhealth reporting. The fellowships do not require recipients to leave theirplaces of employment.

Jimmie Briggs2006–2007 FellowFreelance JournalistNew York, N.Y.

“Being a part of the mental healthjournalism program allowed methe opportunity to have life-alteringencounters with survivors of rape inthe Democratic Republic of the Congo.The relationships I built—in Africa andAtlanta—are ones that I will continue tonurture. With everything I report now, I’m

constantly look-ing for the mentalhealth angle toexplore.”

See samples of Briggs’ work in the fellowship archives atwww.cartercenter.org/health/mental_health/fellowships/index.html

Stephen Smith1998–1999 FellowExecutive EditorAmerican RadioWorksSt. Paul, Minn.

“In addition to providing support forindividual projects, the fellowship programforges valuable professional relationships.Karen Brown’s fellowship followed mineby seven years. Still, we worked togetherto distribute a national version of herradio project, ‘A Mind of Their Own,’through the documentary series I run,‘American RadioWorks.’ Karen’s programwas an intimate look at the controversialissue of diagnosing and treating bipolardisorder in children.”

CreativityFellows are encouraged to select topics that are unique and creative.Projects may educate the public, raise awareness, or inform other journalistsin the field. Subjects may range from a report on the use of telemedicine inmental health or a documentary on suicide prevention to a series of reportson the impact of managed care on the delivery of mental health services.The Carter Center Mental Health Program provides resources through itsnetwork of scientific, health care, education, consumer, family, provider,and government organizations and agencies.

VarietyFellowships are tailored to suit the needs, interests, and experiences ofeach fellow; no two fellows will have the same experience.

Marion Scherand Phil Smith,2005–2006 fellows

See samples of Smith’s work in the fellowship archives atwww.cartercenter.org/health/mental_health/fellowships/index.html

Ben Druss, M.D., M.P.H.Rosalynn Carter Endowed Chair in MentalHealth, Rollins School of Public HealthEmory UniversityMember, The Carter Center MentalHealth Task Force

Kathryn E. CadeThe Carter Center Mental HealthTask Force Liaison

Paul Jay Fink, M.D.Professor of Psychiatry,Temple University School of MedicineConsultant, Youth Violence andYouth MurderPast President, AmericanPsychiatric Association

Larry FricksDirector, Appalachian Consulting GroupFormer Director, Office of ConsumerRelations, Georgia Department of HumanResources, Division of Mental Health

John F. HeadFellow, 1999–2000Freelance Journalist

Kay Redfield Jamison, Ph.D.Professor of Psychiatry, The Johns HopkinsUniversity School of Medicine

Lawrence A. Kutner, Ph.D.Co-director, Harvard Medical SchoolCenter for Mental Health and Media

Bill LichtensteinPresident, LCMediaSenior Executive Producer,“The Infinite Mind”

Bob MeyersPresident, National Press Foundation

Ellen Mickiewicz, Ph.D.James R. Shepley Professor ofPublic Policy Studies, Duke UniversityDirector, DeWitt Wallace Center forMedia and Democracy, Duke University

Arlene MorganAssociate Dean, Prizes and ProgramsColumbia University GraduateSchool of Journalism

Otto Wahl, Ph.D.Director, The Graduate Instituteof Professional PsychologyUniversity of Hartford

Isabel WilkersonJames M. Cox Jr. Chair,Department of JournalismEmory University

The Fellowship Advisory BoardLawrence Kutner,Ph.D.Advisory BoardMemberCo-director, HarvardMedical SchoolCenter for MentalHealth and Media

“I’m a psychologist, but I’ve also been acolumnist for The New York Times and forseveral magazines, a television reporterand documentary producer, and a radiotalk show host. The best part of mentoringthe fellows is the opportunity to workwith high-level professional journalistson a wide range of issues. We challengeand learn from each other about every-thing from neuroscience research tonewsroom politics to ways to raisefunds for productions.”

mentAndrea PetersenNews Editor,Personal JournalThe Wall Street JournalBrooklyn, N.Y.

Write a series of articlesand a book on thediagnoses, causes, andtreatment of anxietydisorders.

Molly Knight RaskinFreelance JournalistWashington, D.C.

Write a series offeature-length articleson borderline personalitydisorder to give a generalunderstanding of the ill-ness as well as highlightrecent breakthroughs intreatment.

Ilse PauwSenior Writer/EditorHealth24.comCape Town, SouthAfrica

Write a series offeature articles high-lighting individualsliving with a mentalillness.

Paul RaduCo-Founder, RomanianCenter for InvestigativeJournalismInvestigative JournalismTrainer and InvestigativeProjects CoordinatorBucharest, Romania

Conduct specializedtraining about mentalhealth issues for journal-ists in Romania.

Journalism Fellows2007–2008

Kevin RoyNews Anchor/ReporterWLS-TV,ABC7 ChicagoChicago, Ill.

Produce a series of storiesabout suicide prevention,including what is beingdone to bring downsuicide rates in Illinois.

al healthMarc ShafferDocumentaryFilmmakerOakland, Calif.

Produce a televisiondocumentary on thecriminalization of peoplewith mental illnesses thatwill explore the reasonsthose with severe mentalillnesses are incarceratedand solutions to reversethis destructive trend.

Chandra ThomasStaff WriterAtlanta MagazineAtlanta, Ga.

Explore the stigmasurrounding mentalillnesses in the African-American community.

Alexandru UlmanuAssistant Professor,School of Journalism andMass CommunicationUniversity of BucharestUniversitatea MediaBucharest, Romania

Conduct specializedtraining about mentalhealth issues for journal-ists in Romania.

Gregory WarnerFreelance JournalistNew York, N.Y.

Produce a radio episodeabout the treatment oftrauma in the UnitedStates and abroad.

Pieter van ZylSenior WriterMedia 24Cape Town, SouthAfrica

Explore and portray theinfluence of crime onSouth Africa’s children,therapists, single parents,and others, as well asprovide journalistswith guidelines onhow to interviewvictims of crime.

While the majority of Rosalynn Carter journalism fellows hail from theUnited States, international journalists have participated since 2001. As inthe United States, mental illnesses in most countries are under-recognizedhealth problems, often characterized by stigma and misinformation. The

program awards fellowships in select countriesto educate local journalists about mentalhealth issues.

The first international program was in NewZealand, which awarded 10 journalists withfellowships over a five-year period (see box formore information on New Zealand). Today,the program has been established in southernAfrica and Romania.

Southern AfricaTo date, eight journalists from southern Africahave received fellowships. These journalistshave covered a variety of topics for southernAfrican readers, including exploring theimpact of trauma, shift work, and organiza-tional changes on the mental health of

InternationalThe Connection

New Zealand Mental Health Media GrantsA goal of the Rosalynn Carter fellowships is to help journalists reportmental health issues more accurately and influence their colleagues to dothe same. In 2006, the New Zealand Mental Health Media Grants programwas established to sustain the work of the Rosalynn Carter fellowshipprogram in New Zealand without The Carter Center. The Foundation ofNew Zealand and the national anti-stigma campaign “Like Minds, LikeMine,” are co-creators and supporters of the new program.The first recipient, radio journalist Halina Ogonowska-Coates, will be

recording people’s experience of mental illness to build up a media file ofin-depth personal stories that can be drawn on by media at short notice.She sees the collection as an opportunity to generate a greater communityunderstanding of the actual experience of mental illness.“We hope stigma and discrimination continue to diminish as we connect

the voices of people with experience of mental illness with the widerworld,” said Judi Clements, chief executive of The Mental HealthFoundation of New Zealand. To learn more, visit www.mediagrants.org.nz.

South African police officers; and a series of articles on the mental health ofSouth Africans living with HIV/AIDS.

RomaniaIn August 2007, two Romanian journalists were awarded Rosalynn Carterfellowships. This is the first time that journalists from the Eastern Europeancountry participated in the program. This inaugural class of Romanian fellowswill work collaboratively to develop a curriculum and relevant teachingmaterials for courses aimed at promoting more responsible mental healthjournalism. The Carter Center and the Center for Independent Journalismin Bucharest, Romania, are partners in this important new program.

Tamar Kahn2006–2007 FellowScience and Health Editor/CorrespondentBusiness DayCape Town, South Africa

“I wasn’t seeing a lot of stories in the localmedia exploring why so many policemenwere committing suicide or committingacts of violence against their lovedones. I wondered what might be causingthe situation and why it wasn’t beingaddressed. I hoped my stories wouldtake our leadersto places theywould nevergo, and perhapseven promptthem into takingsome action.”

Ioana Avadani,international adviser,and AlexandruUlmanu, 2007–2008fellow

Ioana AvadaniExecutive DirectorCenter for Independent JournalismBucharest, Romania

Anton HarberCaxton Professor of Journalismand Media StudiesUniversity of the WitwatersrandSouth Africa

International Advisers

See samples of Kahn’s work in the fellowship archives atwww.cartercenter.org/health/mental_health/fellowships/index.html

2006–2007 FellowsAndrea BallReporter, Austin American-Statesman, Austin, TexasSeries of articles thatchronicle the emotionaland psychological burdenssurrounding a family deal-ing with a premature birth

Tracy BretonReporter, The ProvidenceJournal, Cranston, R.I.Series of articles that exam-ine the abuse, neglect,and exploitation of elderlypeople with mental healthissues in Rhode Island,focusing particularly onhow the state is meetingthe needs of its elderlyresidents as compared toother states and countries

Jimmie BriggsFreelance JournalistNew York, N.Y.The psychosocial impactof gender-based violence

on female survivors of warliving in the DemocraticRepublic of the Congo

David DentFreelance JournalistNew York, N.Y.The mental health chal-lenges that many HurricaneKatrina survivors encoun-tered while moving to andforging new lives in theWest

Tamar KahnScience and HealthEditor/CorrespondentBusiness DayCape Town, South AfricaSeries of articles on theimpact of trauma, shiftwork, and organizationalchanges on the mentalhealth of South Africanpolice officers, includinghow their mental healthproblems affect theirfamilies, co-workers, andthe citizens they protect

Susan KruglinskiAssociate EditorDiscover magazineNew York, N.Y.Series of articles about aperson with a mental illnesswho has never receivedtreatment, a person whohas received long-termtreatment but remains ill,a mental health worker,and a neuroscientist

Vida Li SikFeatures WriterDrum magazineJohannesburg, South AfricaHouseholds headed bychildren as a result ofHIV/AIDS and the helpavailable to them to copewith stress and depression

Karen RussoField ProducerABC News “Nightline”New York, N.Y.Television piece focusingon the state of mentalhealth care in Ethiopia andthe novel approaches thatdoctors are taking to carefor patients with mentalillnesses

Stephanie SmithMedical News ProducerCNN, New York, N.Y.Four-part documentaryon the mental health ofchildren living in Oregonwho have been orphanedby their parents’ metham-phetamine use

Alix SpiegelFreelance ReporterNational Public RadioWashington, D.C.Psychosocial impact ofHurricane Katrina on theresidents of the Gulf Coastthrough several follow-upradio stories

2005–2006 FellowsKaren BrownReporter, WFCR-FMNorthampton, Mass.Radio documentaryon the effects of mental ill-nesses on siblings, fromgrowing up with a siblingwith a mental illness toforging relationships asan adult

Julianne HillWriter/ProducerWorldwide Skur, Inc.Chicago, Ill.Television news series onthe work done in Chicagoto reduce the stigma andchallenges facing individu-als with mental illnesses

Ingrid LearyFreelance Reporter andProducer, TV3 NewsAuckland, New ZealandSeries of news features onliving with mental illnessesin New Zealand and neigh-boring Pacific countries

Shandukani MathaguFreelance JournalistSibasa, South AfricaSeries of radio interviewsexploring the impact of theTshivenda communicativeexpressions on mentalillnesses in the Vhembearea of the Limpopoprovince of South Africa

Encarnacion PyleReporterThe Columbus DispatchColumbus, OhioArticles on the differences

Previous Fellows

Media outlets listed were accurate at time of fellowship.

in discrimination and stig-ma faced by two people inCentral Ohio—one withParkinson’s disease andanother with schizophrenia

Marion ScherFreelance JournalistJohannesburg, South AfricaComparison of the stigmaattached to mental illnessin both rural and urbanareas and black andwhite communities inSouth Africa

Phil SmithExecutive ProducerSpoken FeaturesRadio New ZealandWellington, New ZealandRadio features thatexplore the popular beliefthat people with mentalillnesses are dangerous,as well as investigatethe treatment of mentalillnesses by the NewZealand prison system

Michelle TrudeauContributing CorrespondentNational Public RadioIrvine, Calif.Series of radio storieson the psychological

development and well-being of immigrantchildren and adolescents

Rob WatersFreelance JournalistBerkeley, Calif.Series of articles onthe mental health needsand problems of children infoster care and the effortsmade by leaders around thecountry to address them

Leigh WoosleyReporter, Tulsa WorldTulsa, Okla.Series of articles profilingadults with anxiety disor-ders who manage success-fully within the workplaceand social settings

2004–2005 FellowsCaroline Clauss-EhlersFreelance WriterNew York, N.Y.Series of articles thatexplore the impact stigmahas on access to mentalhealth treatment, utiliza-tion of mental healthservices, and coping forLatino families

Tom DavisColumnist, The RecordMetuchen, N.J.Series of articles followingthe progress of a New Jerseyprogram designed to divertpeople from the prison sys-tem and find alternativehelp for mentally illinmates

Paul DiamondProducerRadio New ZealandWellington, New ZealandSeries of radio features onMaori-based initiativesaimed at improving Maorimental health

Claire KeetonReporter, Sunday TimesJohannesburg, South AfricaSeries of articles on themental health of SouthAfricans living withHIV/AIDS

Jim MarbrookProducer, Director,and WriterAuckland, New ZealandVideo pieces that explorethe role of Maori culture inhealing and wellness

Kevin McCormackProducer, KRON-TVSan Francisco, Calif.Multipart series on howfamilies cope with mentalillness and the controversysurrounding involuntarycommitment

Peggy MearsProducerBrainchild ProductionsIrvine, Calif.Series of radio pieces focus-ing on mental illnesses inadolescents and the chal-lenge that developmentalstages and dramatic transi-tions present in detectionand treatment

Greg MillerStaff Writer and OnlineNews Editor

Science magazineBlacksburg, Va.Series of articles exploringthe looming mental healthcrisis in the developingcountries

Michelle RobertsReporterThe OregonianPortland, Ore.Series of articles about theresiliency of children, par-ticularly how they over-come trauma, abuse, andother mental health crises

Kathryn StrachanFreelance WriterJohannesburg, South AfricaSeries of in-depthmagazine articles ondeinstitutionalizationprograms in South Africa

www.cartercenter.orgVisit the Carter Center Web site for compre-hensive information on the Rosalynn CarterFellowships for Mental Health Journalism,including an archive of past fellowship projectsthat can be searched according to name,fellowship class, or topic: www.cartercenter.org/health/mental_health/fellowships/index.html

EligibilityEligible applicants must:• Have at least three years ofprofessional experience in printor electronic journalism (writing,reporting, editing, producing,filmmaking)

• Submit a complete applicationpacket

• Attend orientation and presen-tation meetings in Septemberat the beginning and end ofthe fellowship year

Application PacketThe application packetmust be mailed (no faxes ore-mails accepted). The packetincludes the following:• Complete the online profileof personal and professionalinformation available on theCarter Center Web site:

www.cartercenter.org. Theprofile may be e-mailed toccmhp@emory.edu, or ahard copy may be includedwith the application packet.

• Resume: Include a list of repre-sentative publications; member-ship in professional organizations;major journalism prizes and/orawards and year awarded.

• Objectives for Fellowshipand Project Description: In aninformal essay not to exceed1000 words, the following pointsmust be addressed:–describe reasons for applyingand how this fellowship couldbenefit the applicant’s bodyof work;–clearly outline the proposedproject and a plan forcarrying it out;–discuss the significance andtimeliness of the topic, and

Fellowship awards will be announcedon the Carter Center Web site(www.cartercenter.org) Friday,July 18, 2008, 9 a.m. EDT. Inquiriesregarding the fellowships are welcomethroughout the year.

InstructionsApplication

explain the feasibility ofcompleting the project;–detail the potential impactthe chosen topic, and overallfellowship project, may have onreducing the stigma of mentalillnesses; and–describe the expectedaudience reach.

• Samples of Professional Work:Submit up to three examples ofyour work. At least one of thesamples should be in the mediaform proposed. Printed materialsshould be in the format in whichthey were originally published,and electronic news reportsshould be airchecks. Do notsubmit an item that cannot bereplaced, as materials will notbe returned.

• Letters of Recommendation*:Provide letters from two peoplefamiliar with your work, com-menting on your abilities andpotential as a journalist. Letters

must be originals: signed andprinted on letterhead.

• Letter of Support*: One letterfrom your organization’spublisher, editor, producer,manager, or director, supportingthe application. If self-employed,the third letter must comefrom an individual familiarwith your work. Letters mustbe originals: signed and printedon letterhead.

* Letters may be included with the applicationpacket or mailed directly to the MentalHealth Program. Letters cannot be e-mailed.

Time LineApplication packets and letters ofrecommendation and support for2008–2009 fellowships must bepostmarked no later than Monday,April 28, 2008. Materials post-marked after the deadline willnot be accepted. Due to the largenumber of applicants for thefellowship positions, individualfeedback on applications willnot be provided.

Southern African and Romanianapplicants should consult the JournalismFellowship Web site, www.cartercenter.org/health/mental_health/fellowships/index.html, for country-specific application submission guidelines andcontact information.

U.S. applicantsshould send allapplication materials to:

Rebecca G. Palpant, M.S.Senior Program AssociateMental Health ProgramThe Carter CenterOne Copenhill453 Freedom ParkwayAtlanta, GA 30307

Inquiries:ccmhp@emory.eduwww.cartercenter.org(404) 420-5165

The Rosalynn Carter Fellowships for MentalHealth Journalism are made possible through

support from the following partners:

Annenberg Foundation

Boston Foundation

Bristol-Myers Squibb Company

Elfenworks Foundation

Charles Engelhard Foundation

William Randolph Hearst Foundation

Charles E. Kubly Foundation

Walter H. and Phyllis J. Shorenstein Foundation

Sidney Stern Memorial Trust

…and many generous individuals

The Carter Center Mental Health ProgramOne Copenhill

453 Freedom ParkwayAtlanta, GA 30307

ccmhp@emory.edu (404) 420-5165www.cartercenter.org fax (404) 420-5158

To view projects completed under the auspices of theRosalynn Carter Fellowships for Mental Health Journalism,

visit www.cartercenter.org.

The Carter Center January 2008

Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter founded the not-for-profit Carter Centerin 1982 in partnership with Emory University. Guided by a fundamental com-

mitment to human rights and the alleviation of human suffering,the Center brings people and resources together to wage peace,

fight disease, and build hope worldwide.