Kevin Rafter is anIrish academic and non-executive director. He is the author of numerous books on media and politics topics, having previously worked as a political journalist.[1]
He chaired an independent review panel on civil service reform in 2015[6] and was the independent rapporteur to the talks that led to the formation of Ireland's minority coalition in 2016.[7] He is a board member of Dublin Bus and Oxfam Ireland.[8]
In June 2019 Rafter was appointed Chair of the Arts Council.[9]
Prior to 2008, Rafter held editorial positions with theIrish Times (political reporter),Sunday Times (political correspondent),Sunday Tribune (political editor/assistant editor),Magill magazine (editor) andRTÉ, the Irish national broadcaster (Prime Time reporter andThis Week presenter).[10][11]
Rafter has authored/edited over a dozen books including, most recently,Political Advertising in the 2014 European Parliament Elections (2017).[12] His previous books include biographyMartin Mansergh (2002)[13] - and several histories of Irish political parties includingClann na Poblachta (1996),Sinn Féin (2005),Democratic Left (2010),[14] andFine Gael(2010)[15]
His list of academic publications include numerous book chapters and research journal articles with a specific focus on media and politics including a study of Irish journalists in 2016.[16]
