A new scholarship programme aimed at immigrant student journalists has been launched in Dublin.
The Mary Holland Journal-ism Scholarships, provided by the Dublin Institute of Technology (DIT) and the Forum for Migration and Communication (FOMACS) at DIT’s Centre for Transcultural Research and Media Practice, have been designed to encourage the participation of immigrant journalists in the Irish media.
“The scholarships arose out of concern about how immigrants are portrayed in the media,” said Harry Browne, a lecturer in journalism at DIT and part of the FOMACS programme. “The need was proven that immigrants themselves should produce media. This includes media such as print, broadcast and online. We are trying to encourage immigrants’ participation in the media yet our courses are full of Irish students, so we need to provide opportunities.
“FOMACS and DIT, along with the support of The Atlantic Philanthropies, are providing these scholarships to help improve the world of Irish journalism.”
According to Browne, successful scholarship candidates will already have primary degrees, not necessarily from Ireland, and will be offered places on the Masters in Journalism programme at DIT. He also emphasises that although the scholarships are targeted at immigrant students, the scope of their journalism would not be limited to immigration issues.
“We would expect the Masters degree journalism students to bring an outsider’s eye to reporting and commenting on all matters in Ireland, not just immigration,” he said. “We have an Estonian student, for example, who brings a terrific perspective to Irish issues and affairs. He will see a story from a new angle that maybe Irish students will not see.
“Immigrant reporters and journalists can bring a fresh perspective that is not caught up in the clichés and stereotypes of Irish life. Being an outsider who then becomes an insider can be a valuable thing in journalism.”
Browne added: “It is appropriate that the scholarships are named in memory of Mary Holland the late Irish Times journalist. She was a strong voice over the years for a pluralist Ireland and one of the great liberal dissenters in Irish public life.
“She was an example of the immigrant experience herself, born to Irish parents in England and considered Irish in England. When she first came to cover Northern Ireland for the Observer newspaper she was considered English in Ireland, an example of how identities can be so fluid.”
Browne hopes that foreign-born journalists will avail of this new opportunity and follow in Holland’s success.
The scholarship programme is an initiative of FOMACS, supported by The Altantic Philanthropies in partnership with Ralaheen Research and Design Ltd, the Migrant Rights Centre Ireland (MCRI), Integrating Ireland, the Immigrant Council of Ireland, the Irish Refugee Council, the Refugee Information Service (RIS) and Metro Eireann newspaper.
