Skip to content
​SA health journalists to compete for top honours in 2015 Discovery Health Journalism Awards

News -

​SA health journalists to compete for top honours in 2015 Discovery Health Journalism Awards

SA health journalists to compete for top honours in 2015 Discovery Health Journalism Awards

26 March 2015 – Discovery today announced the prestigious group of SA healthcare journalists who will be competing for top honours in this year’s Discovery Health Journalism Awards. The announcement of this year’s finalists follows rigorous review by the respected, independent judging panel, which included Convenor of the panel, Professor Tawana Kupe, Dr Bavesh Kan, Siki Mgabadeli, Nicola Christofides and Anna-Maria Lombard. Finalists were identified from journalists who entered their health reports and stories done from 1 January to 31 December 2014.

When asked about the entries and the influence of these awards, Professor Kupe, said, “The quality of the entries in most of the categories of the Discovery Health Journalism Awards was very high and we can confirm that it has stimulated good journalism and high-quality information, analysis and investigations into the critical role of health in the creation of sustainable societies.” He also said that, “We can now start seeing an emerging system of health journalists who are specialising in a range of health issues, from health systems and policies to the importance and benefits of self-awareness and a healthy lifestyle”.

Commenting on this year’s selection process, Dr Jonathan Broomberg, CEO of Discovery Health said, “The Discovery Health Journalism Awards are now in its eighth year and have demonstrated marked success in raising the benchmark of reporting on health and healthcare issues. Journalists who have submitted their work have all shown a remarkable demonstration of the highest journalism principles and an increased focus on making topics around our country’s healthcare system and people’s health easier to understand.”

Categories and finalists

This year, the judging panel did not identify finalists in the categories ‘Best health journalism, foreign media’ and ‘Best healthy lifestyle feature’. Other categories and finalists are:

Best television health journalism

  • Jacqui Jayamaha, eNCA, Front Door Abortions
  • Julie Laurenz, eTV, Viola’s Hope
  • Megan Lubke, Checkpoint eTV, Masego’s Story

Best radio health journalism

  • Chanel September, Eye Witness News, The Many Faces of HIV/AIDS
  • Giovanni Gerbi, Primedia Broadcasting, Medical Negligence
  • Paul McNally, WITS Radio Academy, Lucky’s Challenge

Best consumer reporting

  • Amy Green, Mail & Guardian, Transplants, Tragedies and True Kindness: The State of Organ Transplanting
  • Ernusta Van Wyngaard, Kuier Magazine, Die Seer Wat Bly
  • Ina Skosana and Thandeka Mayo, Mail & Guardian, Double Stigma Leaves Gay Men with Little Hope

Best health news reporting

  • Kamcilla Pillay, Daily News, How Bakkies Ferry Patients
  • Sipho Kings, Mail & Guardian, How Eskom’s Coal Kills

Best health economics journalism

  • Andile Makholwa and Zeenat Moorad, Financial Mail, The Cost of Obesity
  • Lynley Donelly, Mail & Guardian, Ebola Batters West Africa’s Economy
  • Christy van der Merwe, RISKSA, Healthcare Costs Under the Microscope

Best investigative reporting

  • Phillip de Wet, Mail & Guardian, Drug Patents
  • Sipho Kings, Mail & Guardian, Cancer Valley Pays Price
  • Thanduxolo Jika and Mosibudi Ratlebjane, Checkpoint, Death by Water: Babies Die in the North West

Best analysis and commentary

  • Christy van der Merwe, RISKSA, Filling the Gaps: Health Insurance Tug of War
  • Tamar Kahn and Andile Makholwa, Financial Mail, Crippled: Can SA’s Public Health System Be Saved?
  • Mia Malan, Mail & Guardian, How Policy is Failing South Africa’s Community Health Workers

Young upcoming health journalist of the year

  • Amy Green, Mail & Guardian, War Declared on the Superbugs
  • Chelsea Geach, Cape Argus, Shock to the System
  • Fathima Simjee, Special Assignment: SABC 3, From the Brink of Death

Discovery Foundation Nation-builder Award

  • Carol Albertyn, MNET Carte Blanche, Leukemia Life Line
  • Ina Skosana, Mail & Guardian, Autism and its Uncommon Angels
  • Mia Malan, Mail & Guardian, The Rural Doctor Who Came Home to Live, Love and Heal

“We once again applied the criteria of overall high quality reporting, originality and clarity in how the story is presented, how well the subject is understood and communicated, and clinical and scientific accuracy”, said Professor Kupe on the process of selecting this year’s finalists.

On 27 May 2015, finalists in each category will be hosted at a gala event. Category winners will receive a cash prize of R25 000 each. One of these well-deserving journalists will walk away with a total prize of R75 000, and the Discovery Health Journalist of the Year Award.

For more information about the Discovery Health Journalism Awards, please contact:

Nozuko Basson

Reputation Manager

011 529 1450

082 561 5002

nozukob@discovery.co.za

Discovery Health Journalism Awards

Contacts

Felicity Hudson

Felicity Hudson

Press contact Head of Reputation Management Discovery Group 0115294514
Nthabiseng Chapeshamano

Nthabiseng Chapeshamano

Press contact Senior Reputation Manager Invest, Cogence, Long & Short Term Insurance, and Sustainability
Zeenat Moorad

Zeenat Moorad

Press contact Senior Reputation Manager Banking | Vitality | Sponsorships
Karishma Jivan

Karishma Jivan

Press contact Senior Reputation Management Consultant Healthcare & Sustainability
Sesona Ngqakamba

Sesona Ngqakamba

Press contact Reputation Management Consultant Banking | Vitality | Sponsorships
Lianne Osterberger

Lianne Osterberger

Press contact Senior Manager: Media Relations and Reputation Management 083 27 27 313
Hannah Newbold

Hannah Newbold

Press contact Reputation Management Consultant Insure & Invest