2007 Media Awards Highlights
The media play a vital role in educating Americans about the importance of mental health and the reality of mental illnesses. Accurate and responsible coverage demonstrates to the public how mental health affects each person's life and the nation as a whole. Original, thought-provoking journalism and entertainment not only help raise general awareness and shape public opinion, but help all people live mentally healthier lives.
Each year, Mental Health America honors professional and student journalists who excel in their reporting and portrayal of mental health issues. A volunteer judging panel, representing such reputable media outlets as Channel One, Cox Newspapers, Nation's Health, Voice of America and United Press International, selected this year's 15 winning entries for their outstanding quality, educational value and creativity in addressing timely mental health topics.
Awards were presented June 8th, at Mental Health America's 2007 Annual Meeting, Bringing Wellness Home, in Washington, D.C. Winners and links to the award-winning stories, where available online, are below.
The 2008 Mental Health Media Awards program will honor reporting and portrayal of mental health issues in news and feature stories, on the national, state, local and student levels and in print and broadcast media. Mental Health America will distribute nomination brochures in early 2008. To sign up for our awards mailing list, please email mediaawards@mentalhealthamerica.net.
Local Television
Rich Sabreen and Tom Tebbens
WNET (New York, NY)
"Coping With an Alcoholic Parent"
Watch "Coping With an Alcoholic Parent"
National Television
Elizabeth Cohen, Jeanne D'Agostino and Victor Neufeld
Cable News Network
"Perfection Obsession"
Watch "Perfection Obsession"
Local Radio
Karen Brown
WFCR (Amherst, MA)
"A Burden to Be Well: Sisters and Brothers of the Mentally Ill"
Listen to "A Burden to Be Well"
National Radio
Mary Carmichael
The Infinite Mind
"Four Lives"
Listen to "Four Lives" Part 1 of 2 (Requires purchase)
Listen to "Four Lives" Part 2 of 2 (Requires purchase)
Local/Regional Magazines
Pete Earley
The Washingtonian
"Saving My Son"
National Magazines
Alison Smith
Glamour
"Why I Went Hungry"
Newspapers with a Circulation Below 100,000
Alicia Gallegos
South Bend Tribune
"Out of Sight: Mental Illness and the Criminal Justice System," 6-Part Series
Newspapers with a Circulation Above 100,000
Meg Kissinger
The Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel
"Abandoning Our Mentally Ill," 4-Part Series
Students Print Journalism
Anonymous
New Youth Connections
"Walking Away From the Fight"
Read "Walking Away From the Fight"
Advice Columns
Julie Fast
bp Magazine
Personal Mental Health Columns
Read "Straight Talk About Suicide"
Photo Essay
Benjamin Reed
St. Joseph News-Press
"Turning Away From the Institution"
View Photos 1, 2, 3 and 4
Outstanding Coverage of Mental Health Research
Sasha Aslanian and Anne Gudenkauf
American Public Media/National Public Radio
"Rewiring the Brain: Early Deprivation and Child Development"
Listen to "Rewiring the Brain"
Outstanding Portrayal of Persons with Mental Illnesses
Nancy Holland
KHOU (Houston, TX)
"Key to a Better Life"
Watch "Key to a Better Life" Part One
Watch "Key to a Better Life" Part Two
Outstanding Coverage of a Mental Health Issue
Jan Hollingsworth
The Tampa Tribune
"A Broken Mind"
Read "A Broken Mind"
Outstanding First-Person Account of a Mental Health Issue
Chris Rose
The Times-Picayune
"Hell and Back"
Read "Hell and Back" (Requires purchase)
Page last updated: 06/18/2007