The Medical Journalism Awards 2007

• What are the Medical Journalism Awards?
• How do I enter?
• Judges
• General Medical
• Financing Healthcare
• Broadcast -
  TV and Radio
• Norwich Union Healthcare Story of the Year
• About Norwich Union Healthcare
• About The Medical Journalists’ Association
• 2007 Winners

2007 Winners

GENERAL MEDICAL

Comments by Mark Nicholls, Health Correspondent for the Eastern Daily Press and chair of the general medical judging panel.

Consumer Feature - Winner

Jean Rafferty - Sunday Herald - 'Confused, sick, starving...old'

"This was beautifully written, and a powerful piece. It exposed a topic that is often brushed under the carpet and the people who run hospitals need to sit up and take notice of an article like this".

Trade Feature - Winner

Emma Dent - Health Service Journal - 'Tell them what it's like here'

"This piece was comprehensive. Emma brought nursing in Malawi vividly to life through a great 'word picture' and conveyed the emotions very well." Fellow judge Brian Butler of the British Medical Association added, "I was really moved by this story".

Consumer News - Winner

Emma Brady - Birmingham Post - 'Pioneering op to save Neil's hand'

"This was an outstanding piece of journalism that had all the right ingredients. It was a very well written story showing what medicine can achieve and was vividly illustrated with a number of interviewees giving each side of the story."

Trade News - Winner

Victoria Vaughan - Health Service Journal - 'NHS will not meet MRSA target next year - or possibly ever'.

"This was a very good exclusive story based on a leaked memo. Victoria was great at not letting the Department of Health off the hook - it laid them bare. Not only did it reveal the MRSA problems but also exposed that the memo advised on how to massage the media on the topic."

Special Commendation

Emma Wilkinson - Pulse - 'HPV vaccination may be given to schoolgirls'

"This piece was a fantastic scoop on HPV vaccines that wasn't picked up in the national press until nine months later when it became a big story. Emma was months ahead of the game, and spot on! For me that is strong journalism".

Best Newcomer - Winner

Clare Boyd - Nottingham Evening Post - 'MRSA - City Develops Vaccine

"This piece was an in-depth analysis on a possible solution for MRSA being pioneered in Nottingham. It used a range of interviewees and was brilliantly put together".

FINANCING HEALTHCARE

Comments from Jeff Prestridge, Personal Finance Editor of the Daily Mail and chair of the financing healthcare judging panel.

Trade - Winner

Kate Hughes - Financial Adviser 'A sick state of affairs'.

"This was an original piece of work that approached arguments in a cutting edge and different way. It was an interesting exposé and was well written and well-paced".

Special Commendation

Johanna Gornitzki - Cover - 'Equal measures'

"This was a well balanced, thought-provoking article on a topical issue. Johanna's article was chosen because it took arguments forward and was well-researched".

Consumer - Winner

Esther Shaw - Independent on Sunday - 'Cutting the cost of dental treatment'

"This piece was well written and had an excellent use of a case study. It gave a concise rundown of the problems in NHS dentistry and was also well presented with clear tables and practical advice to the consumer, which was as comprehensive as you can get".

Special Commendation

Emma Brady - Birmingham Post - 'You can't put a price on living your life'.

"This piece was well written and on an interesting topic, which although regional, could apply throughout the UK".

Best Newcomer - Winner

Emily Perryman - Health Insurance - 'Retro-perspective'

"This article presented very clear, concise arguments which didn't try to sway the reader and challenged the industry".

BROADCAST

Comments from Jon Godel, Editor of IRN and chair of the judging broadcast judging panel.

TV National - Winner

Fergus Walsh - BBC News - 'Malaria'

"This was gripping television; beautifully shot with an outstanding script that really communicated a culture divide".

Special Commendation

Victoria Macdonald - Channel 4 News - 'Junior Doctors'

"This was a good scoop. A genuine, exclusive story that was turned around in a few hours uncovering incompetence in the industry. Very watchable".

TV Regional - Winner

Julian Sturdy - Inside Out East - 'Stammering'

"This was astounding television - a hugely engaging, outstanding piece of journalism which kept up great momentum and approached the subject matter sensitively.

Special Commendation

Samantha Polling - BBC Scotland - 'Critical error: the Lisa Norris story'

"This was a well made, interesting piece with genuine interest that could also work well as a national piece.

Radio National - Winner

Vivienne Parry - BBC Radio 4 - 'Am I normal?'

"This was a wonderful insight into madness and how horrible voices in the head can be for many people. It approached a topic that people are afraid of discussing with a great script, good rhythm and great presenting style'

Special Commendation

Catherine Carr - BBC Radio 4 - 'Fishy oils'

"This was a wonderfully attacked piece, helping to protect the public from bad science".

Radio Regional - Winner

Amanda Hargreaves - BBC Radio Scotland - 'Through the looking glass'

"An eye opening report on a debilitating condition very few experts have heard of. Well told and solidly delivered"

Special Commendation

Peter McManus - BBC Radio Scotland - 'Autism'

"This was an interesting exploration of bio-medicine."

NORWICH UNION HEALTHCARE STORY OF THE YEAR

Comment from the Right Honorable Kevin Barron MP, member of the judging panel.

Winner

Julian Sturdy - Inside Out East - 'Stammering'

"This piece dealt with an emotional subject in an insightful and informative way. I am proud to present this award recognising the highest standard of medical journalism, and the important role it plays in informing society."