Mark Little (journalist)

Mark Richard Little
Born

10 September 1968

[1]
Nationality Irish
Education Trinity College Dublin
Occupation Journalist
Notable credit(s) Prime Time
Spouse(s) Tara Peterman
Children 3

Mark Little (born 1968) is an Irish journalist, television presenter, author and "social media visionary".[2] He presented Prime Time for RTÉ until December 2009.[3] He took a year of leave of absence from RTÉ to pursue a project centred on digital media and global journalism.[4] He launched the project in April 2010, called Storyful.[5] which he has now sold to News International[6]

Early and personal life

Little was born in Dublin [7] and lived in Malahide, County Dublin, but later moved to Oughterard, County Galway.[8] He studied Economic and Social Studies at Trinity College, Dublin for 5 years and took his BA (Ord.) degree in 1997 (late commencement). During his college career he was president of the Students’ Union for a year and a member of the Labour Party.[8] He joined the Dublin City University Graduate Journalism programme in 1990, but later dropped out.[9]

His first child, Sorcha, was born when Little was 21.[8] Her mother was Maxine Brady, the then president of the Union of Students in Ireland.[10] He is married to Tara Peterman, an American who worked with him on Prime Time, with two children, Daisy and Tommy, and lives in Dalkey, County Dublin.[8][11]

Career

Little began is career in journalism working for The Sunday Business Post. He was then hired as a TV reporter for RTÉ News and Current Affairs in 1991,[12] after answering a newspaper advertisement.[10] He became RTÉ's first Washington Correspondent in 1995.[13] He remained there until 2001, before returning to Dublin to become Foreign Affairs Correspondent. His Washington post was filled by Carole Coleman.[14] In 2001 he won TV Journalist of the Year in the ESB National Media Awards.[15][16]

In his time with RTÉ, he has met such US politicians as Bill Clinton, Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama.[17] He presented the documentary programme Who’s Afraid of Islam? in 2006. He has also reported from disaster and conflict areas such as, Iraq, Europe, Asia, Africa and the Americas.[15] In 2008, he presented American Dream: Dead or Alive on RTÉ One.[17]

Little often presented RTÉ News specials such as Government budgets and elections.[18][19]

In 2002, he joined RTÉ's flagship current affairs programme Prime Time, which he co-presented with Miriam O'Callaghan.[15] In November 2009, he announced his desire to take a leave of absence from RTÉ for the period of a year.[1] His reason was to pursue a project combining digital media and global journalism.[15] On 17 December 2009, he presented his final Prime Time.[4] This being a field he has experience in through his work on Twitter.[10] On 12 April 2010, his new project, storyful.com, was launched. He developed the website along with other web journalists.[5]

Little has written three books, two of which are on an American topic.[8] Turn Left at Greenland and Zulu Time were published in 2002 and 2004.[17] His third book The New America, was published in 2008.[11]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Mark Little takes Leave of Absence from RTÉ". RTÉ Press Centre. 6 November 2009. Retrieved 2009-11-06.
  2. ↑ Catherine O'Mahony (9 May 2010). "Little makes large strides in the world of new media". Sunday Business Post.
  3. ↑ "The Hot Press interview: Mark Little". Hot Press. Retrieved 2009-11-06.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Kevin Doyle (17 December 2009). "It's Mark's last time on Prime Time in TV gamble". Evening Herald. Retrieved 18 December 2009.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 Mark Little (12 April 2010). "Welcome to Storyful". Storyful. Retrieved 18 April 2010.
  6. ↑ http://www.stitcher.com/podcast/national-public-radio/npr-news/e/this-helpful-app-exposes-viral-hoaxes-for-news-outlets-35828350?autoplay=true
  7. ↑ "Exchanging for the Better: Speakers". Exchanging for the Better. Retrieved 2009-11-06.
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 8.4 Paul Cullen (15 December 2009). "Separating the news from the noise". The Irish Times. Retrieved 18 December 2009.
  9. ↑ Jane Ruffino (October 21, 2009). "When dropping out doesn't mean screwing up". The Irish Times. Retrieved 2009-11-06.
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 Una Mullally (13 December 2009). "Profile: Mark Little - A prime time for a career change". Sunday Tribune. Retrieved 18 December 2009.
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 "Life Lessons". RTÉ Guide. 9 December 2009. Retrieved 2009-11-06.
  12. ↑ "Mark Little to take one year leave of absence". Business and Leadership. 6 November 2009. Retrieved 2009-11-06.
  13. ↑ "RTÉ Archives: 1990". RTÉ Libraries and Archives. Retrieved 2009-06-09.
  14. ↑ "RTÉ appointment to Washington". The Irish Times. 10 October 2000. Retrieved 18 December 2009.
  15. ↑ 15.0 15.1 15.2 15.3 "Veteran RTÉ journalist to pursue digital media dream". Silicon Republic. 6 November 2009. Retrieved 2009-11-06.
  16. ↑ "RTÉ Scoope 9 ESB National Media Awards". IFTN. 8 November 2001. Retrieved 7 December 2009.
  17. ↑ 17.0 17.1 17.2 "The Afternoon Show: Mark Little". The Afternoon Show. 28 February 2008. Retrieved 18 December 2009.
  18. ↑ "RTÉ Elections Coverage Information Including Exit Poll Information". RTÉ Press Centre. 5 June 2009. Retrieved 18 December 2009.
  19. ↑ "Budget 2010 - Wednesday 9 December". RTÉ Press Centre. 4 December 2009. Retrieved 18 December 2009.

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