Dundalk IT graduates honoured for student journalism at Shine Media Awards

A group of Film and TV graduates from Dundalk IT have been named winners of the Student Journalism Award at the 2025 Shine Media Awards. The award, created in partnership with TheJournal.ie, recognises outstanding student-produced radio, television, digital, or print pieces.

This year’s honour went to ‘The Real Cian Stanley,’ a powerful documentary written by graduate Cian Stanley from Stackallen, Co. Meath, and brought to life by his crew—Tom Johnson, Hannah Meehan, David Daly, and Jake Cooney. The deeply personal documentary shares Cian’s own story from being diagnosed with dyspraxia at a young age to overcoming some very difficult obstacles in his life.

The Student Journalism Award was among 12 award categories, which recognise excellence in Irish media coverage of mental health issues across all platforms. The awards celebrate journalists, producers, editors, content creators and contributors whose work improves public understanding of mental health, challenges stereotypes, and fosters informed discussion. DKIT was the only college to have 2 nominations in this category. Another DkIT student film, ‘The Dungeon’ – created by Ben Holland and brought to life by his crew Katie Hughes, Max Farrelly and Shauna Bowden, was also in the running for this award. 

Speaking at the awards, Shine CEO Nicola Byrne said: "This is a celebration of the very best of Irish journalism in telling stories of mental health. Our winners have not only shown great skill and creativity, but also deep respect and empathy for the people whose voices they’ve amplified. Their work challenges stereotypes, sparks important conversations, and helps create a more compassionate Ireland. We are delighted to honour their important work with these awards."

The crew behind The Real Cian Stanley, were among winners such as Kitty Holland from The Irish Times, RTE’s John Downes and Ann Murphy from The Irish Examiner. 

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Speaking after the awards, Cian Stanley said: “The Shine Awards was such a fantastic experience and a great way to meet contacts in the industry. It was great to get so many compliments for our cinematography, editing and direction and the quality of film production that has come out of DKIT. I’m really grateful to see the documentary connect with people, and to have it acknowledged by the Shine Awards, it really is a great reminder of how powerful it can be to share your truth!”

This is the second accolade for ‘The Real Cian Stanley’ crew, who were also winners of the Best Student Film in Ireland at the recent Silk Road International Film Festival. The festival which has been held for the past 13 years is an increasingly acclaimed Irish festival that showcases world cinema and a special selection of films from countries along the historic Silk Road routes. Its mission is to celebrate culturally diverse filmmaking, highlight emerging international talent, and connect global artists with audiences through screenings, talks, and events.

To learn more about this year’s Shine Award winners visit: Shine News - Winners of Shine’s Mental Health Media Awards 2025 announced