In-PharmaTechnologist journalist honoured as award winner 15/03/2007 -In-PharmaTechnologist.com and Outsourcing-Pharma.com journalist Kirsty Barnes has received the honour of being announced among the place winners of the 2006 Awards for Excellence in Health Care Journalism (AHCJ).
The annual contest, which drew 400 entries, was
set up three years ago to recognise and commend the best health reporting across
nine categories covering print, broadcast and online media.
The US-based AHCJ said it created the awards because of concerns that special
interest groups were seeking to sway media coverage by awarding large prizes for
coverage of medical and health issues. No health care companies or agencies fund
the association's awards and contest entries were screened and judged by 44
fellow journalists working for such reputable publications as USA Today and the
Los Angeles Times.
"Across all categories, the entries were outstanding," said
Julie Appleby, co-chair of the contest and a USA Today health writer. "This
year's winners clearly explained topics that touch so many."
Charles Ornstein, contest co-chair and Health Policy Reporter for the Los
Angeles Times added:"As one judge told us, choosing the best of
the best was"tough, tough, tough" and "richly
rewarding.""
Ms Barnes was awarded third place in the trade/online journals/newsletters
category for her notable Insulin Series, which appeared on
In-PharmaTechnologist.com last year.
As millions of diabetics around the world wait in hope for a more convenient way
to receive their insulin, the Insulin Series identified the imminent
launch of the world's first non-injectable insulin treatment as a pivotal
development within the industry and was a very popular, informative and
influential series covering the developments from both a human, and an industry
business perspective.
The series began with a snapshot of the insulin delivery industry, followed by a
rundown of the developments in non-injectable insulin being made by the dominant
industry players. It then reviewed the innovations being made by the budding
biotech companies that are also now trying to compete in this space. The launch
of the world's first non-injectable insulin and its potential impact on the
industry were the focus of the next stories in the series. The final articles
took a look at the possible winners and losers from the changing state of this
lucrative industry.
The awards will be presented at Health Journalism 2007, the eighth annual
conference of the AHCJ on March 17 this week in Los Angeles. Among the speakers
at the conference will be California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and a slew
of Hollywood writers, producers and actors.
AHCJ, founded in 1998, is an independent, nonprofit organisation dedicated to
advancing public understanding of health care issues. Its mission is to improve
the quality, accuracy and visibility of health care reporting, writing and
editing.
