Mark Little Announces One-Year Leave of Absence: Key Details

His leave of absence will begin in the New Year.

In a statement issued today, Little said the rise of social media platforms like Youtube, Twitter, and Facebook provides journalists an opportunity to change how they report the world. “I would like to take a more direct role in that transformation,” he said.

“Unfortunately, that means taking a break from my work with Miriam and the Prime Time team, who have been like a family to me.  In particular, I would like to mention Miriam, who has been a great personal friend to me and someone who has taught me an amazing amount about broadcasting. Whilst I will be leaving in the New Year, I look forward to maintaining a long-term relationship with RTÉ.”

Little began his journalistic career at the Sunday Business Post before being hired by RTÉ as a TV news reporter in 1991. He launched RTÉ’s first Washington office and was based there from 1995 to 2001. He returned to Dublin to take up the post of RTÉ’s foreign affairs correspondent before joining Prime Time in 2002.

He was named TV Journalist of the Year in 2001 for his reporting on the situation in Afghanistan. He is the author of three books, Turn Left at Greenland, Zulu Time, and last year’s The New America – The Rise of the Obama Generation.