Journalists who excel in helping readers understand the complex fields of health and healthcare finance have received major awards for their work.
Journalists who excel in helping readers understand the complex fields of health and healthcare finance have received major awards for their work.
The three top consumer Ł1000 prizes in the tenth anniversary year of the Norwich Union Healthcare/Medical Journalists’ Association, Medical Journalism Awards have been won by Rachel Ellis of The Mail on Sunday, Reg Little of The Oxford Mail and Shunil Roy-Chauduri of Moneywise.
The three top trade Ł1000 prizes in the tenth anniversary year of the Norwich Union Healthcare/Medical Journalists’ Association, Medical Journalism Awards have been won by Alison Moore writing for the Health Service Journal, John Camm of Hospital Doctor, and Julian Birch writing for Health Insurance.
Other winners and entrants came from a wide range of media, including national press, radio and broadcast, financial trade and consumer press, regional newspapers and specialist and online publications.
There are now four categories for the awards, covering general medical journalism and financing healthcare. Broadcast and online categories have been introduced this year.
Rachel Ellis won first prize for consumer news in the General Medical Journalism section for her report on the use and effects of the “stop smoking” drug Zyban. Her coverage of this issue led the Government’s Medicines Control Agency to impose tighter controls on the use of the drug.
Alison Moore won first prize in the General Medical Journalism trade news section for her reporting on hygiene in hospitals. The judges felt she broke the story about clean-up hit squads tackling the problem with real panache.
A feature that brought a human dimension to a medical world first – a permanent artificial heart fitted inside a patient whose own heart was almost destroyed by disease - won first prize in the General Medical Journalism consumer features category for Reg Little.
A hard-hitting article on the risk to doctors from animal activism campaigns won first prize in the General Medical Journalism features category for John Camm.
In the Financing Healthcare consumer category Shunil Roy- Chaudari won first prize for providing a guide to and examination of health insurance cover.
In the Financing Healthcare category Julian Birch won first prize for a piece of journalism on attempting to buy income protection cover. The judges praised his provocative, entertaining and stimulating style.
Vivian White, a BBC journalist for Panorama won first prize in the Broadcast section for his report on the modern health service. The judges were impressed by his analysis of why the system was failing to deliver, and his crisp prose and thoughtful observations.
Christine Webber won the Online award for her accessible explanation of psychotherapy treatments. The judges thought the piece was well researched and the information well suited to presentation on the net.
The panel of judges were impressed at the high standard of entrants across the categories and pleased that recognition was now given to broadcast and online media.
Financing Healthcare
Trade runner-up (Ł150): Sarah Ball for a feature in Employee Benefits
Consumer runner-up (Ł150): James Hopegood for a feature in Financial Mail
Young Entrant Award winner (Ł500): Sarah Coles for a comprehensive and eye- catching feature in Employee Benefits Commendations: Moira O’Neill for a feature in Health Insurance Barbara Cockburn for a feature in Health Insurance
The other prizes and certificates were: General Medical Journalism
Features, trade runner-up (Ł150): Helene Mulholland for a feature in Nursing Times
News, consumer runner-up (Ł150): Dr Roger Highfield, Science Editor, for a feature in Daily Telegraph
Features, consumer runner-up (Ł150): Janette Marshall for a feature in Eve
Young Entrant Award winner (Ł500): Madeleine Brindley for a feature in Nottingham
Evening Post Commendation: Jenny Hudson for a feature in Birmingham Post
Broadcasting:
Runner-up (Ł150): Pauline Newman at the BBC World Service
Online:
Runner-up (Ł150): Pauline Skypala for a feature on ftyourmoney.com
The awards were presented last night at Vinopolis in London by David Rogers, managing director of Norwich Union Healthcare.
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Media contacts:
Louise Zucchi, Norwich Union Press Office, 08703 66 68 60
Val Arnison, Norwich Union Healthcare, 01993 813545
Notes to Editors:
- Norwich Union Healthcare was founded in 1990 as the healthcare arm of Norwich Union and now provides a range of income protection and private medical insurance products to around 675,000 customers. It is one of the largest providers of income protection and private medical insurance in the UK.
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