Eulalee Thompson (second right) receives her award for Best Health Page from Dr. William Adukrow, family health adviser, PAHO Barbados. Also in photo are Debra Samuels, BWIA West Indies Airways, and Steve Stoute, senior vice-president of Sagicor, at the 13th PAHO/Caribbean Media Awards for Excellence in Health Journalism at the Hilton Barbados Hotel last Friday. - PHOTO BY DAMION MITCHELL
JOURNALISTS FROM the English-speaking Caribbean and Suriname last Friday dusted off the family jewellery and donned their finest garbs for the glitzy and glamourous calendar event in media; the Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO) Caribbean Media Awards for Excellence in Health Journalism.
Fingers with properly buffed and polished nails daintily lifted hors d'oeuvres from silver trays accompanied by fine wine and polite conversation in the elegant and almost pristine surroundings of Barbados' brand new, Hilton Barbados Hotel.
The Caribbean journalists partaking in this grand affair had all hoped to take home the top PAHO awards but alas, the evening belonged to The Gleaner newspaper.
The Gleaner's year-long health project along with the health feature, 'Your Health' attracted the judges' critical eye and outclassed other regional entries for two top prizes, Best Health Coverage by a Media House and Best Mass Media Campaign.
POST-TO-POST PERFORMANCE
In presenting the awards to the Health Project team, Dr. Wendel Abel and Eulalee Thompson, the judges noted that the work by the newspaper was "a commendable post-to-post performance" and that the health coverage throughout the year in Your Health was outstanding.
The judges were also impressed by The Gleaner's focus on the issue of abortion in January and February. They said that the campaign "brought the issue of abortion in Jamaica and the abortion law into focus". They said further that "the series elevated the paper's health page to "A" standard and had no hesitation in declaring the submission, winner of the 2005 Best Media Campaign Award.
Ms. Thompson was also individually awarded in the category, Best Health Page, in the region for the weekly publication, Your Health.
The judges noted that for more than 12 years, The Gleaner has been publishing this weekly feature and that in a reader-friendly format, comprehensive health information, from reputable local and international sources, is packaged for readers. They also commended the strong visual appeal of the product.
RIVETING STORY
The Best Radio Feature/Documentary award was presented to The Gleaner/Power 106 journalist, Damion Mitchell for his story 'Murderous Rage'. The judges said that it was a riveting story on domestic violence in Jamaica and that "the production is a blow by blow account of a harrowing story about domestic violence in Jamaica's capital".
Chief judge, the no-nonsense Kathleen Drayton, who has lived in several Caribbean islands - including Jamaica, Guyana and Barbados - besides her native Trinidad and Tobago, said that nine of the 13 possible awards were not presented as entries did not meet the standards of the PAHO awards panel.
Award winners received plaques, travel tickets compliments of British West Indies Airways and cash awards courtesy of Sagicor Life, UNICEF, FAO, the CARICOM Secretariat and the Caribbean Epidemiology Centre .
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