For some time now, Discovery Health's Vitality members have been reaping the rewards of a pioneering method of health insurance offered by the company . Members receive 'points' when they take it upon themselves to make choices that will improve their health, these points are then translated into discounts from companies that have associated themselves with the Vitality arm of Discovery. Now Discovery has made another large and pioneering stride in the field of South African health by launching the Health Journalism Excellence Awards which will acknowledge and reward journalists that excel in the field of health journalism.
www.discovery.co.za
Health Journalism Excellence Awards launched by Discovery Health
Discovery Health has launched the Health Journalism Excellence Awards with R275 000 in prize money for outstanding health reporting. Discovery Health has launched the Health Journalism Excellence Awards in South Africa, with R275 000 in prize money to journalists for outstanding health reporting. These are the first awards dedicated to the field of health in South Africa, says Neville Koopowitz, CEO of Discovery Health.
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.”
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
Best healthy lifestyle feature
Best investigative reporting
Best analysis and commentary writing
Best radio health journalism
Best television health journalism
Best trade publication health journalism
Best health economics journalism
Discovery Health Journalist of the 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 journalismawards@discovery.co.za. Journalists making broadcast entries should present copies of their work with a transcript. Guidelines, rules and more information can be found on the Discovery website.
Source: Journalism.co.za Monday, 09 February 2009
