Medical Journalists’ Association 2014
Health & Medicine in the Media
Changing Diabetes速 and the Apis bull logo are registered trademarks of Novo Nordisk A/S. UK/DB/1213/0536a(1) Date of preparation: September 2014
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… getting better all the time
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ou’ve got to admit we’re getting better, as the Beatles might have sung, not to mention getting bigger all the time. The MJA awards this year have simply never been more popular or hard-fought. The standard has risen in all categories and, in some, judging was briefly deadlocked. What a positive message for all medical and health journalists. You, dear colleagues, are in great professional condition. In total, nearly 220 entries were made for the combined Winter and Summer Awards, with nearly half coming from outside the association. This is good news for the MJA as the awards encourage membership, and I’m pleased to report that 46 newcomers joined us this year as a result of the two sets of awards.
L-R: MJA members Robin Stride, Jenny Sims, and Jim McGuigan
Some of the awards have evolved in response to changes in our work. For example, the old Summer Award for Website of the year has morphed into Digital innovation – and very exciting, interactive and multi-media the entries in that category were, too. In the winter, however, we have continued to focus upon particular aspects of good medical journalism: news scoops, explaining medical science, trenchant or humorous comment, and campaigning – this year’s Local health campaign and Regional journalist awards also reflect our continued attempts to reach out to those not working in London. This year we also added Personal story for those who write first person, or who ghosted stories about medical experience. This award went to Anne Wollenberg for a moving account of motor neurone disease. Looking ahead, we’re considering awards that focus on particular areas of health and medicine reporting; for example, health policy. And having seen the positive reaction to our outrageously funny Summer Awards entertainer – thank you Adam Kay of Amateur Transplants (you can hear the songs on YouTube) – we’ll be researching ways to keep you suitably amused in future, too. But what pleases me most, overall, was discovering from the comments recorded in this booklet that there is a genuine sense of jubilation about being an MJA award winner. To quote Alex Matthews-King, who won Story of the year for an article in Pulse: ‘The award is a real encouragement to keep pulling out the details of big stories like care.data.’ (Pulse also chalked up Editor of the year with Nigel Praities.)
L-R: a guest in white, Laura Donnelly, Polly Newton and MJA vice-chair David Payne
I will let Rachel Pugh, new MJA member, and winner of the Consumer freelance journalist award, sum up: ‘Winning as a freelance not only validates my approach – for which I thank both judges and sponsors – but also validates me. I have had the best-possible shot in the arm.’ See you all next winter,
Victoria Lambert, MJA chair
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L-R: David West of Roche with Nigel Praities, Ingrid Torjesen
L-R: Duncan Cantor of BI, James Gallagher and compère Adam Kay
Editor of the year (medical publication) Sponsored by Roche Winner: Nigel Praities of Pulse The judges, Linda Davies, editor of Ehealth Insider, Patricia Macnair, journalist and geriatrician, and Jo Haynes, lead editor at BMJ learning, said: ‘The shortlisted entries all showed the difference a high-calibre editor can make to the shape, style and personality of a publication, regardless of the format used. They are the conductors of the orchestra, the leaders of the band. Nigel Praities’ entry was outstanding, with riveting content; pacey but professional… a good campaigning style and a balanced, thorough approach to the difficult issue of racism in RCGP exams.’ Commended: Max Pemberton of Spectator Health Ingrid Torjesen of The Advisor
Digital innovation of the year (replacing Online innovation) Sponsored by Boehringer Ingelheim Winner: Body clock, from BBC Visual Journalism, led by James Gallagher, Rachael Buchanan and Victoria Gill The judges, independent film-maker Martin Freeth, Fiona Graham of New Scientist and Dominic Tyer, editorial director of the Pharmaceutical Marketing Group, said: ‘The range of initiatives in this category, spanning social media, data journalism, bespoke online projects, mobile and more, shows digital innovation in publishing is alive and well. [Body clock] was a really interesting and well-considered project that resulted in a useful resource that you could imagine coming back to again and again.’ Commended: Denis Campbell, George Arnett and Mona Chalabi, the Guardian Neil Durham and the GP iPad app team Branwen Jeffreys, John Walton and Patricia Whitehorne, BBC News
L-R: David Payne and Charles de Wet of BI
‘As editor, it can feel sometimes that you are ploughing a rather lonely furrow, but I take this award as an encouragement that at least my relentless haranguing of my team has been to a good end. Thank you very much.’ Nigel Praities
‘It is an honour to collect this award on behalf of a team of journalists, designers and developers who took an initial idea for exploring the body clock, and transformed it into a magnificent piece of interactive content. This was an ambitious project exploring how the body changes through the day. Winning makes those long days and sleepless nights (that ironically wrecked our body clocks), all worth while.’ James Gallagher
Gareth Iacobucci with fiancée Gráinne Haggerty (left)
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Changing tomorrow
Astellas has a vision to change tomorrow. Through our commitment to providing patients with hope for a brighter future, we aim to lead the way in our areas of therapeutic expertise; focusing where medical needs remain unmet. Through innovation, Astellas will continue to identify and develop new ways to improve the health of patients. Our aim is that we will discover tomorrow’s medical solutions to today’s healthcare problems. In this, as in everything we do, Astellas is committed to the success that comes from CHANGING TOMORROW.
www.astellas.eu © February 2012 Astellas Pharma Europe Ltd. CSC0461 ASTELLAS, LEADING LIGHT FOR LIFE, the Star logo, CHANGING TOMORROW and the Ribbon logos are trade marks of Astellas Pharma Inc. and/or its related entities.
L-R: Mindy Dooa of Astellas, Sarah Boseley and Adam Kay
Charles de Wet of BI and Rachel Pugh
Consumer staff journalist of the year Sponsored by Astellas Winner: Sarah Boseley, the Guardian Judges Simon Compton, freelance journalist, Rob Galloway, emergency medicine consultant and 2014 Winter awards winner, and Vivienne Parry, writer and broadcaster, said: ‘The best entries in this category showed that essential quality of going the extra mile… Sarah refuses to follow the crowd. While she often challenges people and institutions she makes sure all parties have their say. Opposing points of view add depth and authority. Superb writing, really opening the public’s eyes.’ Commended: Chris Smyth, The Times Clare Wilson, New Scientist
Consumer freelance of the year Sponsored by Boehringer Ingelheim Winner: Rachel Pugh
‘Some stories just about write themselves – well, after an awful lot of interviews. The sugar stories I submitted for the awards were sweet in that respect. Sorry for the pun. But writing about the controversy over statins was really hard because it pitted people I respect against those I liked and admired. All you can do as a journalist is pack your own feelings away and write what you think is the truth. I tried. Thank you so much to the MJA for your support. I went home feeling so much happier.’ Sarah Boseley
The judges, Colin Cooper, editorial director, Haymarket Medical Media, James Gallagher, BBC health and science reporter and Ian Taylor, features editor at Men's Health, said: ‘She is a highly competent writer, a compelling story-teller, and has a great eye for a quote – in short, a talented, confident journalist and a worthy winner of this award.’ Commended: Jerome Burne Martha Roberts Patrick Strudwick
Jim McGuigan and Clare Wilson
‘I went into journalism to change the world. The need for a new medical mindset powers much of my work. Winning as a freelance not only validates my approach – for which I thank both judges and sponsors – but also validates me. I have had the bestpossible shot in the arm.’ Rachel Pugh
L-R: Sarah Calkin and Rachel Pugh
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L-R: Susan Collett of MSD, Susannah Butter
L-R: Lauren Everitt, Rachel Gonzaga of GSK, Lawrence Dunhill and Matthew Hill
Young journalist of the year Sponsored by Merck Sharp & Dohme Winner: Susannah Butter, Evening Standard Judges John Illman, former health editor at the Guardian and MJA chair, Tom Moberly, editor of BMJ Careers, and Victoria Vaughan, editor in chief, primary care, at Cogora, said: ‘Susannah Butter’s personal interest stories really stood out in a high-quality field. Her enthralling narratives kept the judges hooked to the end, and brought home the impact on the individual of issues like bone-marrow donation, surrogacy, depression and self-medication.’ Commended: Sarah Calkin, Health Service Journal Alex Matthews-King, Pulse
Regional journalist of the year Sponsored by GlaxoSmithKline Winner: Matthew Hill, BBC Points West Judges Denis Campbell, health correspondent of the Guardian, Dominic Ponsford, editor of Press Gazette and Alastair McLellan, editor of Health Service Journal, said: ’The high quality of Matthew’s work is the result of a long and productive commitment to health journalism. Like all good journalists, he Is never off duty and used his holiday to nail a key lead in his Lyme disease piece.’ Commended: Lawrence Dunhill, Lancaster Telegraph Lauren Everitt, East Anglian Daily Times Adam Gretton, Eastern Daily Press
Summer Awards continue on page 15 L-R: Sarah Calkin and Vidhi Khatadia from the HSJ team in India
‘I wanted to do justice to these medical stories, humanising the experience and making the science part understandable. My interviewees all spoke to raise awareness of what they had been through – be that looking for a rare bone marrow match, withdrawing safely from drugs, or wanting more support for surrogate mothers. And in all stories the NHS generally came across well. I would like to thank the MJA for spurring me on at this early stage in my career.’ Susannah Butter ‘Regional journalism is one of the last bastions of originality. We have time to dig up stories that would otherwise never come to light, and that later sometimes go national. I discovered a Lyme disease patient in Dorset who had paid thousands of pounds for potentially lethal antibiotic treatment in America, so I decided to get my blood tested for the disease by the same US company and by the NHS. The result came back positive from the US, but negative from the NHS. As far as I know, I have never had any symptoms.’ Matthew Hill
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L-R: Jen Taylor of Lilly, Daniel Tetlow, Matthew Hill, Sir Colin Blakemore and Michelle Dixon
L-R: Stephen Cull of Roche, Sir Colin Blakemore, Jaimie Kaffash and judge Rita Som
Sarah Calkin and friend Thomas Say
Winter Awards, January 2014 ‘Our exposé of how an obstetrician from Cornwall was allowed to deliver the PM’s child, despite several enquiries into his clinical competence, snowballed. Dozens of women damaged during childbirth are now taking legal action, including over brain damage to their babies.’ Matthew Hill
Investigative reporting/scoop (consumer media) Sponsored by Lilly Winner: Matthew Hill and Daniel Tetlow Surgeons Under Scrutiny, on BBC Radio 4 Judge Michelle Dixon, director of communications at the BMA, said: ‘… a thorough and engaging investigation into the perennial issue of clinical accountability, with a strong focus on how things could be improved, and powerful but measured use of first-hand accounts.’ Commended: Denis Campbell, the Guardian Fears of new care crisis at NHS hospital Adam Gretton, Eastern Daily Press Cost-cutting NHS trust’s £13m bill on beds for patients OUTSIDE area Kate Kelland, Reuters news agency How vaccine scares cast shadows over science
Investigative reporting/scoop (professional media) Sponsored by Roche ‘Journalism has taken a bit of a beating over the past few years. At the same time the prevailing wisdom seems to be that promotion is more important than oldfashioned journalistic skill. So it is reassuring to work where investigative journalism is still highly valued, and rival magazines still race to uncover the latest scandal.’ Jaimie Kaffash
Winner: Jaimie Kaffash, Pulse Leaked report casts doubt over NHS Direct's ‘overall viability’ in wake of NHS 111 failings Judge Laura Donnelly, health editor of The Telegraph, said: ‘… a very strong story anticipating what was later confirmed re the future of NHS Direct, and that used leaked documents and sources to great effect.’ Commended: Sarah Calkin, Health Service Journal NHS 111 launched despite warnings Gemma Collins, Chemist + Druggist Sourcing out-of-stocks takes pharmacists two days a month
L-R: members Evelyn Vittery, Clare Dover and Jenny Botsford
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L-R: Sile Lane, John Illman and member Mary Black
L-R: Jim Reed, James Clayton and cameraman Justin Webb
Robin McKie with daughter Anna
Short medical film Sponsored by the Medical Journalists’ Association Winners: James Clayton and Jim Reed, BBC Newsnight Why are we still using electroconvulsive therapy? Judge Dominic Byrne, freelance radio and video producer, said: ‘… particularly well-crafted; a balanced discussion with good access, fluently told and beautifully shot.’ Commended: Lisa Desai and Yasmeen Qureshi, The Cure, on Al Jazeera English Brain pacemaker Martin Freeth, bmj.com Smelling the diagnosis
Medical science explained
Lin-Nam Wang
‘What's great about MJA awards is that the winners are chosen by your colleagues and other journalists. Broadcast channels are generally guilty of under-reporting medical stories, so it's encouraging to receive recognition for a programme reporting on these important issues. The awards parties are pretty cool, too.’ James Clayton
Sponsored by Astellas Winner: Robin McKie, The Observer Could this fish be a cure for cancer? Judge Sile Lane, campaigns director at Sense About Science said: ‘Robin McKie not only gave us a fascinating primer on genetics, bioinformatics and models of disease, but also told the story of why researchers really love their little zebra fish.’ Commended: Linda Geddes, New Scientist The germ detectives Lin-Nam Wang, The Pharmaceutical Journal Printing medicines: a new era of dispensing and drug formulation?
More Winter Awards page 12
Winter Award judges not pictured were Kathryn Bingham, Olivia Timbs, Blanche Jones and Dr Chris Smith
Ashley McKimm, former MJA chair and Jen Taylor of Lilly
‘It is particularly sweet to win an award for this piece, because it gave me the satisfaction of using the phrase “sex on the beach” in my intro. I have been waiting years to use those words in a science feature and I am grateful to the Wellcome Trust for making that possible thanks to their ground-breaking research on zebra fish and human genetics at the Sanger Centre.’ Robin McKie
L-R: David Payne, Adele Waters and Michelle Dixon
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L-R: Caroline Gosling of GSK, Sir Colin Blakemore, Denis Campbell and Chris Smyth
Vivienne Parry, who was unfortunately unable to accept her award in person
Adam Gretton and Adele Waters
Winter Awards 2014, continued from page 11 ‘The NHS does many things well, some brilliantly, but telling the world what it does by giving journalists access to its top people, is not one of them. So when the chance to interview NHS medical director Professor Sir Bruce Keogh in-depth came up, just before the coalition's controversial NHS shake-up began in April 2013, I grabbed it with both hands. Keogh was thoughtful, quietly passionate and quotable throughout – a dream interviewee. Memo to NHS communications gurus: let your top people out more.’ Denis Campbell
‘I had been a health correspondent for less than a year when I got this award, so it was a real boost for months of hard work on Ambulance Watch. And the trophy makes a great paperweight!’ Adam Gretton
Interview of health or medical figure Sponsored by GlaxoSmithKline Winner: Denis Campbell, the Guardian Bruce Keogh: time to end the open season on the NHS Judge Chris Smyth, health correspondent of The Times said: ‘Denis Campbell's interview was a delicately-written piece that combined the sense of the character of a man who is increasingly influential in the NHS with a strong news story. It ranged successfully across politics, policy and the tension between democratic accountability and medical professionalism… a worthy winner of a varied field.’ Commended: Jasmine Gardner, London Evening Standard The London super-surgeon who teaches Syrians how to save lives Catherine de Lange, The Observer Edith Heard: ‘We can’t undo what our parents have given us in terms of our genes’ Kate Kelland, Reuters news agency Concentrated HIV Epidemics Could Make AIDs Unbeatable, UN Expert Warns
Local health campaign Sponsored by Novo Nordisk Winner: Adam Gretton, Eastern Daily Press Ambulance Watch Judge Adele Waters said: ‘… this entry showed great tenacity on the part of the reporter. This is just the sort of journalism we should be encouraging.’ Commended: Dorothy-Grace Elder, a campaign for the first residential chronic pain centre in Scotland, via the Scottish Parliament, the public petitions committee and articles in the Daily Mail Caroline White, a campaign to improve sexual health services in Walthamstow, via lobbying and articles in the Waltham Forest Guardian
Excellence in journalistic skills Sponsored by the BMA
‘Fifty years history of cancer in an hour? It’s impossible. It can’t be done. Perhaps? Oh, all right then. Do it like Minority Report? Pardon? Excellence in journalistic skills award? Wow. Did they not spot all those bits we had to drop? No? Phew, and thanks.’ Vivienne Parry
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Winner: Vivienne Parry, film for Cancer Research UK and Roche The Enemy Within – 50 years of fighting cancer Judge Laura Donnelly, health editor of The Telegraph said: ‘… this film was beautifully told and brought unusual perspectives to a familiar subject.’ Commended: Patricia Macnair, The Astellas Innovation Debate, supported by New Scientist The old way? A day in the life of an NHS geriatrics ward doctor Richard Vize, the NHS Confederation Ambition, challenge, transition: Reflections on a decade of NHS commissioning
David Payne and Anne Wollenberg
Patricia Macnair
L-R: Dorothy-Grace Elder, Justine Hancock, Rob Galloway and Chloe Lambert
Column or opinion piece Sponsored by Merck Sharp & Dohme Winner: Rob Galloway (under the pseudonym Dr Nick Edwards), Daily Mail The A&E doctor who says bringing the elderly back from death can be cruel and pointless Judge Craig Brierley, media relations manager of the Wellcome Trust, said: ‘A powerful opinion piece should challenge, provoke and move us. Rob Galloway’s provocative article argued that dying people who could never survive are often resuscitated because none of us – doctors or families – is willing to have the difficult conversation about when or whether to save them.’ Commended: Max Pemberton, The Telegraph Why marriage matters but faddy diets don't Lin-Nam Wang, The Consultant Would you throw away a week in the Bahamas?
Personal story (new this year) Sponsored by the Medical Journalists’ Association Winner: Anne Wollenberg, the Guardian My battle with motor neurone disease – Neil Platt's last interview Judge Richard Vize said: ‘Anne Wollenberg’s interview with Neil Platt shortly before he died of motor neurone disease achieves great emotional intensity through Neil’s dispassionate assessment of his own condition. It eloquently reveals the frustrations of his life as it closes in, and the crushing irony of his decreasing ability to look after himself as his young son becomes ever more independent. The final sentence – “It was so difficult watching him take his first steps, holding someone else's hands” – leaves the reader deeply moved.’
‘Telling Neil Platt's story was a huge responsibility that made for one of the most heart-wrenching assignments of my career. He died before the piece was printed, but it meant a great deal to his family. It was wonderful to be able to tell them that the piece had won an award.’ Anne Wollenberg
Commended: Chloe Lambert, Glamour I found out I had MS live on Radio 1 Shaun Lintern, Nursing Times The real beauty of an A&E is hidden in the small things
Richard Vize and Kate McCann, lobby reporter at City AM
‘As a shop floor A&E doctor who uses writing as a literary catharsis to cope with my job, I am baffled and humbled that I have been given this award. I care passionately about the issue of when we doctors do too much. End-of-life care and resuscitation are often misunderstood by the public, and this misunderstanding can cause devastating problems, so that people who should die holding their loved ones’ hands, actually die with me or my colleague jumping up and down on their chests. I thank the Daily Mail for allowing me to share my concerns.’ Rob Galloway
Adele Waters and John Illman
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Hong Hu, Research Advisor, Lilly Research Laboratories
For 138 years, we have worked tirelessly to develop and deliver trusted medicines that meet real needs, finding ways to come through no matter the odds. From the development of insulin to the discovery of new treatments for mental illness, we have pioneered breakthroughs against some of the most stubborn and devastating diseases. We bring this same determination to our work today, uniting our expertise with the creativity of research partners across the globe to keep finding ways to make life better. To find out more about our promise, visit www.lilly.co.uk/about. CA30092 05/14 Š2014, Eli Lilly and Company. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
Summer Awards continued from page 9
L-R: Louise Stevenson of Lilly, Shaun Lintern and Adam Kay
Jonathan Gornall, who was unfortunately unable to accept his award in person
Staff journalist of the year (professional media) Sponsored by Lilly Winner: Shaun Lintern, Health Service Journal Judges Jenny Hope, medical correspondent of the Daily Mail, Robin McKie, science and technology editor at The Observer, and Corinne Short, editor of The Practitioner, said: ‘This category contained several contenders for top honours, writing often complex stories intended for a specialist audience but interpreted by specialists with the necessary knowledge to help frame a national agenda. Shaun's entries were meticulously researched, well-written with the arguments clearly presented. His skilful use of robust data and authoritative quotes highlighted the problems faced by individual mental health patients and illustrated the real-life issues behind the statistics.’ Commended: Gareth Iacobucci, BMJ Jaimie Kaffash, Pulse
Freelance journalist of the year (professional media) Sponsored by AbbVie Winner: Jonathan Gornall Judges Steve Ford, news editor of Nursing Times, Polly Newton, PR and media officer with the Brain Tumour Charity and Nigel Praities, editor of Pulse, said: ‘A fascinating trio of articles on a single issue, providing exclusive and comprehensive insight into the world of public health politics; an excellent canon of investigative writing, with impressive evidence of a wider impact.’ Commended: Asha Fowells Ingrid Torjesen
L-R: Asha Fowles, Philippa Manning of AbbVie and Ingrid Torjesen
‘Over the past 12 months I have been working to expose the crisis in mental health. This under-reported sector faces bias against it in the NHS. Winning the award has allowed me to build new contacts because people recognise me as someone to speak to about these issues. It’s been a great boost to my work.’ Shaun Lintern ‘Despite what some think, not all stories can be summed up in 140 characters. Unfortunately, the outlets for long-form investigative writing grow fewer. In 2013 the UK government suddenly abandoned an alcohol policy which the Prime Minister had said would save thousands of lives a year, and the editors of the BMJ wanted to know why. The result was Under the Influence, a series that exposed the extraordinary influence of the alcohol industry on public health policy. So, all credit to BMJ editor Fiona Godlee and features editor Rebecca Coombes, for keeping alight a flame of journalism elsewhere in danger of guttering out.’ Jonathan Gornall
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Value through Innovation
After more than 125 years in the business, we’re still seriously inquisitive – for our future generations’ sake. Boehringer Ingelheim has always remained true to its character as an independent family-owned company. Our vision drives us forward. It helps to foster value through innovation in our company and to look to the future with constantly renewed commitment and ambition. Today we operate with 142 affiliated companies and more than 47,000 employees worldwide. With a track record developed over 125 years, we are dedicated to improving the outlook for healthier lives. www.boehringer-ingelheim.com
abcd
L-R: Jaimie Kaffash, Alex Matthews-King and Nigel Praities
Story of the year (this year: care.data) Sponsored by Boehringer Ingelheim Winner: Alex Matthews-King, Pulse GPs bear brunt of care.data confusion
This year the MJA chose the scheme to load all GP records on a single, anonymised database which has aroused such passions both for and against. The winner’s coverage of GPs’ concerns is now included in the care.data ministerial briefing, as essential background for MPs. The judges, Victoria Lambert, chair of the MJA, Tom Sheldon, senior press manager at the Science Media Centre and Jo Willey, health editor of the Daily Express said: ‘Alex provided a comprehensive and hugely informative analysis of the whole care.data scheme, which also included break-outs, fact boxes, graphics and case studies. It was exactly what Pulse's GP readership would want to read, but also resonated with the wider audience. Alex’s article was one of the few truly balanced pieces of journalism on this subject, presenting both sides of the argument, skilfully playing one against the other.’ Commended: Laura Donnelly, The Telegraph Insurance bosses buy medical records of all NHS hospital patients Chris Smyth, The Times Sharing medical data would make UK the ‘best clinical laboratory in world’
L-R: Chris Smyth, Sarah Boseley and Laura Donnelly
‘It is great to receive this award from the MJA. I’m still in my first year as a reporter and it’s a real encouragement to keep pulling out the details of big stories like care.data. In reporting on the scheme, it became clear that it has such obvious benefits but was being pushed through without any real attempt to engage with the public, or put in place safeguards for using these data, or for the GPs who would cop the fallout from any problems. So thank you for this vote of confidence, MJA, and Pulse for taking a punt on employing me. Hopefully, we’ve helped make a national policy less risky for GPs and the public.’ Alex Matthews-King
L-R: members Joanna Lumb, Michael Holland and Jenny Bryan
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Rita Som, editor of Independent Nurse and Simon Warne
L-R: Stephen Cull of Roche, Rachel Gonzaga of GSK and Joe Barker of Astellas
Rachel Vrettos
David Payne
Thanks
T
he Medical Journalists’ Association Summer Awards were presented on July 9 this year, at a new location: in the Edwin Lutyens-designed courtyard and herb garden at BMA House, in Tavistock Square. The Winter Awards took place at the same location, indoors, on January 30. The MJA executive committee would like to thank all those who helped to make both events a success. We couldn’t do it without you.
Our principal sponsor for the Summer Awards was, once again, Boehringer Ingelheim (BI). Other sponsors were AbbVie, Astellas, GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), Lilly UK, Merck Sharp & Dohme (MSD) and Roche. Astellas, GSK, Lilly, MSD and Roche also supported the Winter Awards with, in addition, new sponsor Novo Nordisk, while the BMA was another first-time sponsor. The compère for the Summer Awards was comedian Adam Kay of Amateur Transplant (at the keyboard, risqué and very funny), and the Winter Awards were compèred by Sir Colin Blakemore, professor of neuroscience and philosophy in the School of Advanced Study, University of London, professor of neuroscience at the University of Oxford, and a former head of the Medical Research Council. We also owe a really big thank you to those who acted as judges for both sets of awards. In the course of the year, other events have been held at the Courtroom over Browns Restaurant and Brasserie, in St Martin’s Lane, and at the Medical Society of London. Not to be forgotten are MJA members themselves, on the executive committee and beyond, who contributed ideas, effort and spare time to organise these awards and other MJA events throughout the year. Particular thanks go to members Rachel Vrettos and Simon Warne for their time and professionalism in helping to manage both sets of awards, to vice-chair David Payne, for liaison at the new location, to Nina Vadjaraganian at Red Door Communications for help in organising the Summer Awards presentation, and of course to MJA hon sec Philippa Pigache, who lends a hand in just about everything. The MJA’s appreciation goes to them all. The MJA was launched in 1967 and currently has some 450 members across all media. Members include full- and part-time journalists working in all sectors, academics and clinicians who also write or broadcast, and health charity communications staff. The association, which prides itself on its independence, aims to build a community of people working in medical journalism; to provide a forum for discussing areas of common interest; to help its members achieve high standards in their work, and to improve understanding between healthcare professionals, the media and the public. For further information please visit www.mjauk.org or contact the honorary secretary, Philippa Pigache, Fairfield, Cross in Hand, Heathfield, East Sussex, TN21 0SH. Tel: 01435 868786, email: secretary@mjauk.org.
The MJA Awards book was edited by Philippa Pigache and Deanna Wilson Photography, Dan Tsantilis Designed and printed by Republic Media
L-R: MJA hon sec with member Carol Cooper and Tara Jaquin of Gorkana
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PEOPLE. PASSION. POSSIBILITIES. AXCOR141518 Date of Preparation: Sept 2014