Mark Little (journalist)

Mark Richard Little
Born
Dublin, Ireland
NationalityIrish
EducationTrinity College Dublin
OccupationJournalist
Notable creditPrime Time
SpouseTara Peterman

Mark Little is an Irish journalist, television presenter and author.[1] He presented Prime Time for RTÉ until December 2009.[2] He took a year of leave of absence from RTÉ to pursue a project centered on digital media and global journalism.[3] He launched the project in April 2010, called Storyful.[4] which he sold to News International in 2013.[5] In 2015 he joined Twitter, first as vice president of media and partnerships for Twitter in Europe and later becoming managing director of Twitter in Ireland. He resigned from the position in 2016.

Early life and education

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Little was born in Dublin[6] and lived in Malahide, County Dublin, later moving to Oughterard, County Galway.[7]

He studied Economic and Social Studies at Trinity College Dublin for 5 years, and took his BA degree in 1997. During college, he served as president of the Students' Union for a year, and was a member of the Labour Party.[7]

Career

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Little began his 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,[8] after answering a newspaper advertisement.[9] He became RTÉ's first Washington Correspondent in 1995.[10] He remained there until 2001, before returning to Dublin to become Foreign Affairs Correspondent. His Washington post was filled by Carole Coleman.[11] In 2001 he won TV Journalist of the Year in the ESB National Media Awards.[12][13]

In his time with RTÉ, he has met such US politicians as Bill Clinton, Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama.[14] 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.[12] In 2008, he presented American Dream: Dead or Alive on RTÉ One.[14]

Little often presented RTÉ News specials such as Government budgets and elections.[15][16]

In 2002, he joined RTÉ's flagship current affairs programme Prime Time, which he co-presented with Miriam O'Callaghan.[12] In November 2009, he announced his desire to take a leave of absence from RTÉ for the period of a year.[17] His reason was to pursue a project combining digital media and global journalism.[12] On 17 December 2009, he presented his final Prime Time.[3] This being a field he has experience in through his work on Twitter.[9] On 12 April 2010, his new project, storyful.com, was launched. He developed the website along with other web journalists.[4]

In 2016, Little resigned from Twitter and started Neva Labs, which was launched in 2018 as Kinzen.[18] On October 5, 2022, Spotify announced it had acquired Kinzen for an undisclosed amount.[19]

Personal life

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In his early 20s, Little was in a relationship with Maxine Brady, the then president of the Union of Students in Ireland.[9] His first child, a daughter, Sorcha, was born when Little was 21.[7]

As of December 2009, Little was married to Tara Peterman, an American who worked with him on Prime Time, they had two children, Daisy and Tommy, and lived in Dalkey, County Dublin.[7][20]

References

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  1. ^ Catherine O'Mahony (9 May 2010). "Little makes large strides in the world of new media". Sunday Business Post. Archived from the original on 24 May 2010.
  2. ^ "The Hot Press interview: Mark Little". Hot Press. Retrieved 6 November 2009.
  3. ^ a b Kevin Doyle (17 December 2009). "It's Mark's last time on Prime Time in TV gamble". Evening Herald. Retrieved 18 December 2009.
  4. ^ a b Mark Little (12 April 2010). "Welcome to Storyful". Storyful. Retrieved 18 April 2010.
  5. ^ "NPR: News - This Helpful App Exposes Viral Hoaxes for News Outlets - Listen via Stitcher Radio On Demand". stitcher.com (Podcast). Archived from the original on 30 October 2014.
  6. ^ "Exchanging for the Better: Speakers". Exchanging for the Better. Archived from the original on 10 October 2009. Retrieved 6 November 2009.
  7. ^ a b c d Paul Cullen (15 December 2009). "Separating the news from the noise". The Irish Times. Retrieved 18 December 2009.
  8. ^ "Mark Little to take one year leave of absence". Business and Leadership. 6 November 2009. Retrieved 6 November 2009.
  9. ^ a b c Una Mullally (13 December 2009). "Profile: Mark Little - A prime time for a career change". Sunday Tribune. Archived from the original on 3 February 2011. Retrieved 18 December 2009.
  10. ^ "RTÉ Archives: 1990". RTÉ Libraries and Archives. Retrieved 9 June 2009.
  11. ^ "RTÉ appointment to Washington". The Irish Times. 10 October 2000. Retrieved 18 December 2009.
  12. ^ a b c d "Veteran RTÉ journalist to pursue digital media dream". Silicon Republic. 6 November 2009. Retrieved 6 November 2009.
  13. ^ "RTÉ Scoope 9 ESB National Media Awards". IFTN. 8 November 2001. Retrieved 7 December 2009.
  14. ^ a b "The Afternoon Show: Mark Little". The Afternoon Show. 28 February 2008. Retrieved 18 December 2009.
  15. ^ "RTÉ Elections Coverage Information Including Exit Poll Information". RTÉ Press Centre. 5 June 2009. Retrieved 18 December 2009.
  16. ^ "Budget 2010 - Wednesday 9 December". RTÉ Press Centre. 4 December 2009. Retrieved 18 December 2009.
  17. ^ "Mark Little takes Leave of Absence from RTÉ". RTÉ Press Centre. 6 November 2009. Retrieved 6 November 2009. [dead link]
  18. ^ Mark Littles Kinzen news app to launch in January by Laura Slattery, Irish Times, October 28, 2018.
  19. ^ "Spotify Continues to Ramp Up Platform Safety Efforts with Acquisition of Kinzen". Spotify. Retrieved 11 October 2022.
  20. ^ "Life Lessons". RTÉ Guide. 9 December 2009. Archived from the original on 17 December 2008. Retrieved 6 November 2009.
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Media offices
Preceded by
New position
 RTÉ News Washington Correspondent
1995-2001 		Succeeded by
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