Finalists in 2015 Discovery Health Journalism Awards

Finalists were selected from journalists who entered their health reports and stories done from 1 January to 31 December 2014.

Professor Kupe said, "The quality of the entries in most of the categories was very high and we can confirm that it has stimulated good journalism and high-quality information, analysis and investigations into the critical role of health in the creation of sustainable societies.

"We again applied the criteria of overall high quality reporting, originality and clarity in how the story is presented, how well the subject is understood and communicated, and clinical and scientific accuracy.

"We can now start seeing an emerging system of health journalists who are specialising in a range of health issues, from health systems and policies to the importance and benefits of self-awareness and a healthy lifestyle."

Categories and finalists

This year, the judging panel did not identify finalists in the categories 'Best health journalism, foreign media' and 'Best healthy lifestyle feature'. Other categories and finalists are:

Best television health journalism

• Jacqui Jayamaha, eNCA, Front Door Abortions
• Julie Laurenz, eTV, Viola's Hope
• Megan Lubke, Checkpoint eTV, Masego's Story

Best radio health journalism

• Chanel September, Eye Witness News, The Many Faces of HIV/Aids
• Giovanni Gerbi, Primedia Broadcasting, Medical Negligence
• Paul McNally, WITS Radio Academy, Lucky's Challenge

Best consumer reporting

• Amy Green, Mail & Guardian, Transplants, Tragedies and True Kindness: The State of Organ Transplanting
• Ernusta Van Wyngaard, Kuier Magazine, Die Seer Wat Bly
• Ina Skosana and Thandeka Mayo, Mail & Guardian, Double Stigma Leaves Gay Men with Little Hope

Best health news reporting

• Kamcilla Pillay, Daily News, How Bakkies Ferry Patients
• Sipho Kings, Mail & Guardian, How Eskom's Coal Kills

Best health economics journalism

• Andile Makholwa and Zeenat Moorad, Financial Mail, The Cost of Obesity
• Lynley Donelly, Mail & Guardian, Ebola Batters West Africa's Economy
• Christy van der Merwe, RISKA, Healthcare Costs Under the Microscope

Best investigative reporting

• Phillip de Wet, Mail & Guardian, Drug Patents
• Sipho Kings, Mail & Guardian, Cancer Valley Pays Price
• Thanduxolo Jika and Mosibudi Ratlebjane, Checkpoint, Death by Water: Babies Die in the North West

Best analysis and commentary

• Christy van der Merwe, RISKA, Filling the Gaps: Health Insurance Tug of War
• Tamar Kahn and Andile Makholwa, Financial Mail, Crippled: Can SA's Public Health System Be Saved?
• Mia Malan, Mail & Guardian, How Policy is Failing South Africa's Community Health Workers

Young upcoming health journalist of the year

• Amy Green, Mail & Guardian, War Declared on the Superbugs
• Chelsea Geach, Cape Argus, Shock to the System
• Fathima Simjee, Special Assignment: SABC 3, From the Brink of Death

Discovery Foundation Nation-builder Award

• Carol Albertyn, MNET Carte Blanche, Leukemia Life Line
• Ina Skosana, Mail & Guardian, Autism and its Uncommon Angels
• Mia Malan, Mail & Guardian, The Rural Doctor Who Came Home to Live, Love and Heal

On 27 May 2015, finalists in each category will be hosted at a gala event. Category winners will receive a cash prize of R25,000 each. One of these journalists will walk away with a prize of R75,000, and the Discovery Health Journalist of the Year Award.