Judges announced for Novo Nordisk Media Prize

24 Apr 2012

The judge panel for this year's Novo Nordisk Media Prize have been announced. They are Yusuf Abramjee, head of news at Primedia and chair of the National Press Club; Prof Frederick (Derick) Raal, head of endocrinology and metabolism at the University of the Witwatersrand; and Natalia Thompson of Now Media.

The 2011/2012 prize is awarded annually for excellent journalism in the field of diabetes in two categories - print and online. Entries close on 30 June 2012.

"With the prevalence of diabetes increasing throughout the world, there is an urgent need to provide the public with as much information as possible about the disease," says Shelley Harris, the PR manager of Novo Nordisk South Africa. "Naturally, the media has a key role to play in this process and that's why we established this prize, to reward clear, accessible and well-researched communications in the field."

Entries

Entries should be easy-to-read, engaging and informative and no less than 350 words in length. Features should have appeared in the general media rather than in professional journals and must deal with the subject of diabetes itself, rather than with research, products or professional opinions.

Short-listing will be done at national level and South African-based journalists working for South African publications and websites are invited to submit articles published between 1 November 2011 and 30 June 2012 for consideration.

"What we're looking for is coverage of the disease by journalists who've grasped the depth of the subject and have communicated it in an accessible and noteworthy way," says Harris.

The criteria for each category, information about the judges and further details of the judging process are available online at www.novonordisk.co.za. Entries should be emailed to az.oc.ezirpaidemnn@setebaid.