Shine’s Mental Health Media Awards

Please read through the Award Entry Rules carefully before applying.  

Shine will create a longlist based on the work's adherence to the rules of entry. The judging panel will then decide a shortlist of 5 entries per category, to be announced in November. All shortlisted nominees will be invited to the awards ceremony in December, where one winner per category will be announced.

Entries are considered by our panel of distinguished judges made up of people with expertise in both media and mental health. Both professional and lived experience are represented.

Please remember to allow sufficient time and attention to providing supporting information where specified in the submission form.

• Entries will open on 28 August 2024 and close at midnight on 21 September 2025.
• Only work originally published or broadcast between the period 23 September 2024 and 21 September 2025 will be considered. Please make sure the publication date is clearly visible in any file or link you submit.
• The principal occupation of the author(s)/broadcaster(s) of work entered in the respective categories must be one of the following: journalist, broadcaster, researcher, producer or editor. Note: Exceptions to this rule are the Special Recognition Award, Digital Award, and Student Award categories.
• Media professionals must ordinarily work in Ireland and/or work for newspapers/news websites published in Ireland or production companies whose work is broadcast in Ireland.
• All entries must be made via the online entry system. Files must be submitted in PDF format, or mp4 for audio or video submissions, and must be less than 100MB in size. For links to online content please include a password for viewing, where required.
• All entries related to suicide or self-harm must comply, as far as is possible, with the Samaritans Media Guidelines.
• In instances where insufficient entries for a category are received, the category will not proceed.

• Entries may be made by a third party or by the nominee themselves.
• No more than 2 entries per nominee, per category are allowed. No more than 5 entries per nominee across all categories are allowed.
• The volume of nominations will not have an impact on the judges’ decision. A piece of work with 10 nominations will be considered in the same light as a piece with one nomination.
• Third party nominators may enter only one nominee per category.
• For productions or publications where a collaboration has taken place, if shortlisted, you will be contacted by Shine Media Programme team to specify who should be credited in the shortlist

• Personal social media accounts will not be accepted as entries in any category.
• For a piece of media to be considered broadcast, it must have been played on a national or local radio or television station.
• Short Form Broadcast pieces constitute a segment of a programme, i.e., a section in a news, current affairs, magazine or entertainment programme.
• Long Form Broadcast pieces constitute a self-contained episode of a show or series or a standalone feature, i.e., a documentary.

• Entrants for the Student Award must be a current student of a third level course (i.e., diploma, undergraduate, postgraduate) or have recently graduated (within 2025).
• Where a student is one of several collaborators on a piece they nominate or are nominated for, nominees/nominators must give a detailed account of the student’s role on the nominated piece of media (i.e., researcher, writer, presenter, producer), and why their input makes the piece worthy of awarding.
• The bursary will be made available to winners who take up the newsroom placement only.
• Work that has received professional editorial oversight should not be entered. For example, work that was completed during a work placement for a professional publication or outlet.
• Entries may also be included from student publications or stations, provided that entry did not receive any professional editorial oversight.

• Shine receives positive feedback from members of the public on many reports and broadcasts made through the year. Often journalists or producers are unaware of the positive impact a piece can have on audiences who relate to their content. With this in mind, Shine may nominate work for inclusion the various categories.
• Shine and the Judging Panel may move work to another category if deemed appropriate.
• The decision of the judging panel is final.

What makes a winning entry?

• Compelling storytelling, demonstrating clear understanding of complex narratives
• Research and fact checking your stats and information.
• A good balance between personal testimony and expert opinion/factual research.
• Storytelling that breaks down stereotypes and enhances audiences’ understanding of complex mental health.

What elements will prevent your entry from winning?

• Including graphic photo or video content.
• Including excessive detail related to suicides or self-harm (methodology, note contents).
• Simplifying a reason for suicide or self-harm, especially in cases of high-profile deaths.
• Using stigmatising language (see Samaritans Media Guidelines for more info).