Top health journalists awarded

The Discovery Health Journalist of the Year Award, and a cash prize of R75,000, was won by Anso Thom of Health-e News at a gala awards ceremony in Sandton on Tuesday, 5 May, 2009.

7 May 2009

The judging panel commended the media fraternity for making the judging process of the inaugural Discovery Health Journalism Excellence Awards "tough, but inspiring and thought-provoking".

Professor Tawana Kupe, convener of the judging panel and executive dean of the humanities faculty at the University of the Witwatersrand, and his panel of independent judges, issued citations on some of the entries:

"In her analysis piece looking at the differing economic and human development impacts of HIV/AIDS on South Africa, 'A steady erosion', Belinda Beresford of the Mail & Guardian newspaper has managed to show the macro-economic impact of HIV/AIDS and the hypocrisy of government's initial concerns about the cost of ARVs. She has done what very few financial journalists ever manage to do - and that is to make financial issues relevant by putting a human face to them."

"Letitia Watson's entry - 'Manto keer hoër pryse by privaathospitale' - looks at the cost of health-care, which is a major issue for all consumers. Letitia's story looks at the factors that affect the fees that consumers pay for health services. She takes what could be just a “newsy” incident - the drama between the Council for Medical Schemes and private hospitals, and the involvement of Dr Manto Tshabalala-Msimang, the former Minister of Health - and provides an excellent explanation for its implications, without losing the drama that was unfolding during the controversy. The story was well written, clear and was analytical."

"The rampant and ever-increasing HIV/AIDS epidemic has redefined the way we live in South Africa and our perceptions of people living with HIV/AIDS. Combined with the government's non-committal and ineffective stance on the aetiology and treatment of the disease has dramatically impacted on our society where thousands still die of AIDS. Anso Thom's series of articles on the treatment of AIDS with vitamins and natural remedies, along with the very humane portrayal of the consequences of inappropriate treatment, provides a well-balanced, insightful and very sober view of all the issues surrounding the impact of the HIV/AIDS pandemic."

For more citations, go to www.discovery.co.za.

"Clear winners among the top entries were well-sourced, impartial stories. Journalists went out in the field and pulled out all the stops to ensure they were objective and well-informed," said Neville Koopowitz, CEO of Discovery Health.

"It's very clear these journalists share a passion for their craft. And we look forward to nurturing these awards into an institution.

"We are proud to be among journalists who test the very real debates in the health-care industry and share our passion for providing accurate information and facilitating robust discussion. They make it possible for ordinary South Africans to come to grips with the many complex and challenging issues that affect their health and wellbeing. Congratulations to all the winners here today," concluded Koopowitz.

The other winners were:

Best Health Reporting
Winner: Gaynor Noyce - The Citizen ("Patient lumped with hefty bill")
Best Healthy Lifestyle Feature
No winner was announced in this category.
Best Investigative Reporting
Winner: Tamar Kahn - Business Day ("A minefield of misconceptions")
Best Analysis and Commentary Writing
Winner: Chris Bateman - SA Medical Journal ("New health ministers - so little time, so much to do")
Commendation: Claire Keeton - Sunday Times ("The sad tale of a swinging king and his dying country")
Best Radio Health Journalism
No winner was selected in this category.
Best Television Journalism
Winner: Yolisa Njamela - SABC TV ("Abortion dumpings")
Commendation: Nicky Troll and Julie Laurenz - Nguni Productions/Carte Blanche ("Front door abortions")
Commendation: Devi Govender (presenter) - Carte Blanche ("Front door abortions")
Best Trade Publication Health Journalism
Winner: Chris Bateman - SA Medical Journal ("Multidisciplinary Teams - The Rural Way Forward")
Best Health Economics Reporting
Joint Winners: Belinda Beresford - Mail & Guardian ("A steady erosion" and "War over health care") and Letitia Watson - Rapport ("Manto keer hoër pryse by privaathospitale and Bedryf frons oor Manto se planne").
Discovery Health Journalist of the Year
Winner: Anso Thom - Health-e News ("Tragic Legacy of Matthias Rath", "Strict on medicines, soft on natural remedies" and "Clinging to life for her children's sake")

Other panellists for the Discovery Health Journalism Awards were Nicola Christofides, senior lecturer at the University of Witwatersrand at the School of Public Health; Siki Mgabadeli, broadcast journalist; Mandy de Waal, former broadcast journalist and Bavesh Kana, senior research scientist at the MRC/NHLS/WITS Molecular Mycobacteriology Research Unit.

Category winners won R25,000 each and the overall winner won R75,000 in prize money.