Discovery Health launches health journ awards

Health reporting is said to be particularly challenging in terms of advancing public understanding of health care, as it is a diverse field involving a complex range of issues or debates covering finance, economics, ethics, clinical policy, science, wellness, medical technology, research, and the human experience.

“Discovery recognises that it takes skill and expert knowledge to get a medical or health economics story right and convey it to the public in such a manner that it is factually correct whilst still accessible and understandable,” noted Koopowitz.

“Excellent health reporting is a crucial public service and we believe in the integrity of fair and well researched articles. With these awards we aim to recognise and reward journalists and media professionals who set the reporting benchmark in the industry.”

Nine categories

The Discovery Health Journalism Excellence Awards are open to any journalist reporting in the health field, working for a print or broadcast media house in South Africa. There are nine categories, of which eight categories receive R25 000 each and an overall Health Journalist of the Year winner will receive R75 000 in prize money.

The awards are open to journalists, columnists and reporters who work in print and broadcast media, covering a broad spectrum of health and healthcare topics. Stories published between January 2008 and December 2008 will be eligible for the competition, and entries must be received by the competition closing date of 16 February 2009.

“An independent panel of health and media experts will review the entries and the winners will receive their awards at a gala event during the first half of 2009,” added Koopowitz.

The categories are:

Best health news reporting

The award is for a distinguished example of reporting of breaking news, presented in a print publication. The chief criteria are vigour of writing, clinical and scientific accuracy, exclusivity of angle and the ability to present a fair and balanced report under great pressure of time.

Best healthy lifestyle feature

This award is for distinguished example of feature writing on a health and wellness issue, presented in a print consumer publication. The chief criteria are excellence of writing, depth of understanding of subject, clinical and scientific accuracy and the ability to inform, motivate and inspire readers to lead healthier lives.

Best investigative reporting

This award is for a distinguished example of investigative reporting on a health or healthcare issue, presented as a single article or series by an individual or team in a print publication. The chief criteria are vigour of writing, depth of reporting and research, exclusivity of angle, clinical and scientific accuracy and impact on the healthcare arena and broader society.

Best analysis and commentary writing

This award is for distinguished commentary or editorial writing on a health or health care issue, presented in a print publication. The chief criteria are clarity and originality of style, sound reasoning, depth of analysis and understanding of subject and the power to influence public opinion.

Best radio health journalism

This radio award is for a distinguished example of a news or feature report on a health or healthcare issue. The main criteria are originality of presentation, depth of understanding, clarity of style, on-the-spot reporting as well as clinical and scientific accuracy.

Best television health journalism

This television award is for a distinguished example of a news or feature report on a health or healthcare issue in the medium of television. The chief criteria are originality of presentation, depth of understanding, clarity of style, on-the-spot reporting as well as clinical and scientific accuracy.

Best trade publication health journalism

For a distinguished example of a news or feature report on a health or healthcare issue, presented in a print trade publication. The chief criteria are clarity and accessibility of writing, depth of reporting and research, understanding of subject, clinical and scientific accuracy, and ability to inform and influence decision-makers in the health care arena.

Best health economics journalism

This award is for a distinguished example of reporting on significant issues of concern to the healthcare industry and its stakeholders, presented in a print publication. The chief criteria are clarity and accessibility of writing, depth of reporting and research, originality of angle, clinical and scientific accuracy, as well as expert understanding of the issues affecting health economics in South African society.

Discovery Health Journalist of the Year

This award is for distinguished reporting and writing on health and healthcare issues in a print publication, demonstrating a commitment to the highest principles of journalism in pursuit of a greater understanding of health and healthcare by society at large. The award is for a body of exemplary work that sets the benchmark for other health journalists. Entrants must submit a total of three works that were published in South African newspapers or magazines during the relevant year.

Entries can be submitted by, post or hand delivery to Discovery's Sandton office for the attention of Allim Milazi, head of Discovery media relations. Email entries must be sent to . Journalists making broadcast entries should present copies of their work with a transcript. Rules and further information are available on www.discovery.co.za.

• Why no online category? Upon enquiry, Bizcommunity.com was told that Discovery “deliberated robustly” before determining the award categories. While the awards currently do not have an online category, such a category may be included in the future. Also, online material syndicated in print media may be entered in the relevant category.