The Guardian’s James Meikle scooped first prize at the industry’s leading awards for medical journalism.
The Guardian’s James Meikle scooped first prize at the industry’s leading awards for medical journalism.
He was the winner of the General Medical Consumer News category at the prestigious Norwich Union Healthcare Medical Journalism Awards 2003 for his piece on CJD. The Awards recognise and reward the talent, enterprise and responsibility of those in the fields of medical and related financial journalism.
The winners, which came from a wide range of media, were named at the awards ceremony in London last night (Tuesday 25 November 2003).
Celia Hall, chairperson of judges and medical editor on The Daily Telegraph, said of James’s entry: "This was a great scoop that led to an inquiry and a change in the way the health service protects patients from accidental infection via contaminated surgical instruments. A piece that was head and shoulders above the rest. James’s article is a classic example of dedication to a subject."
The awards are now in their twelfth year of sponsorship by Norwich Union Healthcare, and are administered in conjunction with the Medical Journalists’ Association.
Cathryn Riley, managing director of Norwich Union Healthcare, said: "This year we received the highest number of entries ever. But along with the volume of entries, what has also impressed me is their sheer diversity – at a time when the world of medicine, health and health finance are becoming ever more complex.
"I am delighted that Norwich Union Healthcare and the Medical Journalists’ Association are able to provide an avenue for journalists to be recognised and rewarded for the crucial role they play in both educating consumers and informing specialist audiences."
The full list of Norwich Union Healthcare Medical Journalism Awards winners:
GENERAL MEDICAL
Consumer News
Ł1,000 first prize - Awarded to: James Meikle, Health Correspondent, The Guardian
Ł150 runner-up prize - Awarded to: Jenny Hope, Medical Correspondent, The Daily Mail
Trade News
Ł1,000 first prize - Awarded to Laura Donnelly, News Editor, Health Service Journal
Ł150 runner-up prize - Awarded to Ian Cameron, Senior Reporter, Pulse
Consumer Feature
Ł1,000 first prize - Awarded to Karen Gold, Freelancer, Times & Higher Education Supplement
Ł150 runner-up prize - Awarded to Jeremy Laurance, Health Editor, The Independent
Special commendation - Awarded to Colin Meek, Freelancer, Health Which?
Trade Feature
Ł1,000 first prize - Awarded to Ray Moynihan, Editor, BMJ
Ł150 runner-up prize - Awarded to Nick Edwards, Deputy Editor, Health Service Journal
Special commendation - Awarded to Matthew Chalmers, Features Editor, Physics World
Young Professional
Ł500 prize - Awarded to Krysia Diver, Health Editor, Birmingham Evening Mail
FINANCING HEALTHCARE
Consumer News
Ł1,000 first prize - Awarded to Alex Gore, Investigative Reporter, Norwich Evening News
Ł150 runner-up prize - Awarded to Liz Phillips, Freelancer, Daily Mail/Money Mail
Special commendation - Awarded to James Daley, Personal Finance Reporter, Sunday Telegraph
Trade News
Ł1,000 first prize - Awarded to Paul Smith, Reporter, Health Service Journal
Ł150 runner-up prize - Awarded to Lynn Rouse, Features Editor, Post Magazine
Special commendation - Awarded to Nerys Hairon, Senior Reporter, Pulse
Young Professional
Ł500 prize - Awarded to Angela Faherty, Senior Reporter, Cover Magazine
Special commendation – Awarded to Jennifer Taylor, Features Writer, Medeconomics
BROADCASTING
Ł1,000 first prize - Awarded to Matthew Hill, Health Correspondent, BBC Radio 4
Ł150 runner-up prize - Awarded to Sarah Barclay, Reporter, Panorama
Special commendation - Awarded to Andrew Veitch, Science Correspondent, Channel 4 News
Special commendation - Awarded to Erika Wright, Senior Reporter, BBC Radio 4
ONLINE
Ł1,000 first prize - Awarded to Martha Roberts, Freelance Health Writer, www.icircle.com
Ł150 runner-up prize - Awarded to Dr Melissa Sayer, GP, www.bbc.co.uk/teens
Special commendation - Awarded to Helen Pearson, Reporter, www.nature.com/nsu
-ends-
Media contact: Jo Misson, Matt Buchanan or Charlotte Ruddlesdin at QBO Bell Pottinger on 020 7861 2424 or Lorna Wiltshire at the Norwich Union Press Office on 01904 723 236 or 07788 471 849
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 750,000 customers. It is one of the largest providers of income protection and private medical insurance in the UK.
Norwich Union Healthcare is a member of the General Insurance Standards Council, the Association of British Insurers and the Financial Ombudsman Service.
Norwich Union is the UK’s largest insurer. It is a leading provider of life, pensions and investment products and one of the leading IFA providers. IFAs provide around 70% of the company’s long-term savings business.
Norwich Union has strategic alliances with building societies and other leading UK brand names including Tesco Personal Finance and The Royal Bank of Scotland Group.
Norwich Union’s news releases and a selection of images are available from Aviva’s internet press centre at www.aviva.com/media
An ISDN facility is available for studio quality broadcast. Call the press office on 08703 66 68 68
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