Biography
Mary Dundon is the Head of Journalism and a Senior Lecturer in Journalism at the University of Limerick. She set up two journalism programmes in UL in 2010 the BA in Journalism and New Media and the Masters in Journalism. Under Mary's editorial supervision, the UL postgraduate journalism students became the first university students in Ireland to produce a local newspaper for a disadvantaged area,
This newspaper has since developed into
Before joining the University of Limerick, Mary worked as journalist for 16 years with
She worked as a secondary school teacher in Ballinteer Community School before taking up a career in journalism and was the Public Relations Manager for the Limerick Co-ordination Office from 2005 2008.
Research Interests
Relationship between journalists and politicians
I took sabbatical leave in the AY 20162017 to start my research the relationship between journalists and politicians in three countries - Italy, the UK and Ireland between 2012 and 2017.
The aim of this research is to do a PhD by publication of a number of journal articles on this topic that will be submitted to City University in London by 2021.
During my sabbatical leave I worked in the Department of Politics at the University of Bologna in Italy carrying out research for my first journal article - the relationship between Italian journalists and politicians between 2012 and 2017.
I am currently writing up this journal article and I will present my findings at the European Communications Research and Education Association (ECREA) conference in Lugano, Switzeraland in 2018.
Following my presentation of these findings at the ECREA conference I will submit a journal article on the same topic to the journal: Journalism: Theory, Practice and Criticism, edited by Howard Thumber, City University, London, UKand Ann Barbie Zelizer, University of Pennsylvania, USA ( Sage).
In 2018, I will research the second journal article on the same research question this time focusing on the relationship between journalists and politicians in the UK. In 2019, I will research a third journal article on the same research question focusing on the relationship between journalists and politicians in Ireland. In 2020, I intend to publish a fourth journal article entitled: Political Correspondents and Compromise: A Comparative Study, Ireland and the UK 2012- 2017.
In 2021, I propose to research a fifth journal article on the same topic, entitled: Political Correspondents and Compromise: A Comparative Study, Ireland and Italy 2012. 2017.
All these journal articles will be submitted to the journal: Journalism: Theory, Practice and Criticism, edited by Howard Thumber, City University, London, UK and Anne Barbie Zelizer, University of Pennsylvania, USA, ( Sage). I will also submit the comparative study on the relationship between journalists and politicians in Ireland and Italy to the Irish Communications Review, Dublin Institute of Technology.
Professional Activities
Award
- 2000 - Justice Media Award
Employment
- Cork Institute of Technology - External Examiner
Outreach
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I have developed an outreach media project with the disadvantaged communities in Limerick city.
The Graduate Diploma/MA in Journalism students produce a local newspaper for these communities every year in consultation with all local groups. To date we have produced four newspapers: The Moyross Voice (2009 and 20011) The Southill Voice (2009) and The Parish Voice (2010).
In developed and delivered an outreach community newspaper production course for members of the disadvantaged communities in Limerick areas designated for regeneration in 2009.
The participants received a Certificate in Newspaper Production.