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Health Journalist of the Year 2012 - Heather Wiseman, 'Mission for life' Australian Rural Doctor.

Australia’s Best Health Journalism Recognised

Medicines Australia Chief Executive Dr Brendan Shaw today congratulated Heather Wiseman of Australian Rural Doctor, on winning the 2012 National Press Club Health Journalist of the Year Award.

Ms Wiseman was named as one of the four category winners for the story “Mission for life”.  Her prize as overall winner is an international study tour with a focus on the health industry.

The Awards were presented at the Address by chairman of Medicines Australia Mark Masterson at the National Press Club today" Dr Shaw said.

“This is a richly deserved award. Heather is a very worthy winner in a field that was of a particularly high standard.” Dr Shaw said.

“Health journalists play a significant role in raising awareness of health-related issues. These awards recognise the importance of that role.”

National Press Club President Laurie Wilson also thanked Medicines Australia as Awards Principal sponsor, NAB Health, Qantas, Telstra Health and VISA as supporting sponsors.

The full list of winners is:

Category 1 - News feature/article on health, health science or innovation 

Winner - 'Dark Corridors', Sarah Colyer Australian Doctor

- Commendations - 'Your Genetic Future' Liz Finkel Cosmos magazine & 'Key to cure is evolution and revolution', Amy Corderoy Sydney Morning Herald

Category 2 - Documentary on health, health science or innovation

- Winner - 'MS', Rahni Sadler and Penelope Cross Network Seven

- Commendation - 'Orgasm: the trouble with sex', Maryanne Demasi ABC Catalyst 

Category 3 - News Feature/Article on health policy, economics or business

- Winner - 'Where have all the new drugs gone', John Kron Australian Doctor

Category 4 - News Feature/Article for reporting to medical professionals

- Winner - 'Mission for life', Heather Wiseman Australian Rural Doctor

- Commendation - 'Into the light', Stephen Pincock Australian Doctor

THE AWARDS OBJECTIVE

To create awareness of health, medicine and innovation issues and contributions to health science and innovation in Australia.

HEALTH, MEDICINE & INNOVATION AWARDS OVERVIEW

The Awards will recognise journalists who have contributed the best work on health and health science topics within a 12 month period to broadening community understanding of sciences and innovation issues and/or events by explaining or examining related policies, technologies, trends and/or personnel in their chosen medium.

HEALTH, MEDICINE & INNOVATION AWARDS OBJECTIVES

The objectives of these Awards are to:

  • Encourage broader media coverage and documentaries on health and health science related issues
  • Reward excellence in journalism in Australia
  • Increase the national focus of the health, medicine and innovation sectors on the contribution that journalists can make to broadening awareness of their aims and activities

ELIGIBILITY & SUBMISSION CRITERIA

The Awards are open to all journalists including freelance, who have been resident in Australia working as journalists between the dates to be specified when submissions open.

Applicants must have at least two years experience in journalism.

Applications must be for work published or broadcast in Australia during the qualifying period, (to be announced when awards open). Submitted work must be the original work of the applicant. Joint applications will be accepted.

Entries can be submitted in any medium, print radio, television and should be accompanied by a brief written statement backgrounding the submission and a current CV of the applicant.

Applicants who have received any financial or in kind sponsorship from a health sector corporation in relation to their entry must declare all details.

The judges reserve the right to award only those categories where an application is judged to be outstanding.

HEALTH JOURNALIST OF THE YEAR WINNERS

2003  DEB RICHARDS                    AUSTRALIAN DOCTOR
2004  CHRISTINE JACKMAN            WEEKEND AUSTRALIAN MAGAZINE
2005  HEDLEY THOMAS                  COURIER MAIL 
2006  JILL MARGO                        AUSTRALIAN FINANCIAL REVIEW
2007  ROY ECCLESTON                  THE WEEKEND AUSTRALIAN
2008  PAUL SMITH                        AUSTRALIAN DOCTOR
2009  PAUL SMITH                        AUSTRALIAN DOCTOR
2010  EMMA YOUNG                      COSMOS MAGAZINE
2011  SONYA PEMBERTON              PEMBERTON FILMS
2012   HEATHER WISEMAN             AUSTRALIAN RURAL DOCOR