2012 Public Health Agency Media Awards – Call for entries

2012 Public Health Agency Media Awards – Call for entries

The seventh annual Public Health Agency (PHA) media awards, run by the Western Investing for Health Partnership, is inviting entries from media students across Northern Ireland which address key public health or health improvement issues.

Evidence shows that the media, in its many formats, not only has a strong influence in shaping the public’s attitudes to, and awareness of, health issues, but also has a key role in raising awareness of health in its broadest context. Many aspects of life impact on our health and wellbeing, including the environment  we live in, poverty, education and employment to mention just a few.

The annual media awards aims to increase media awareness of the public health agenda by involving current students and instil a stronger journalistic appreciation of public health issues and their impact on the population.

Launching the 2012 Media Awards, Brendan Bonner, Head of Health and Social Wellbeing Improvement (West), PHA said: “I would encourage any media student from across Northern Ireland to enter these awards. The competition has produced some very high quality products over the past six years which have proved to be beneficial for both Public Health professionals and media students alike. Previous entries have been used by professionals in a number of information and awareness raising programmes, while students have been able to use their productions for their academic and career portfolios. This scheme is considered to be one of the highlights in the local public health agenda and academic calendar for media students.”


The 2012 categories are:

  • Best Photographic Image
  • Best Moving Image
  • Best Journalistic Piece

Two additional categories have been sponsored this year:

  • Alcohol - by ‘Drink Think Project’ in Derry, funded by Big Lottery 
  • Suicide Prevention - by CONTACT the ‘Lifeline Crisis Helpline’ service provider.

The closing date for submissions in the 2012 competition is Friday 10th February 2012. The judging panel will meet at the end of February and the award ceremony will take place on Thursday 22nd March 2012 at Magee Campus, University of Ulster. For more information, contact Ailish O’Neill, Public Health Agency on 028 7186 0086.

If you or someone you know is in distress or despair, call Lifeline: 0808 808 8000. It is a confidential service, where trained counsellors will listen and help immediately on the phone and follow-up with other support if necessary. This confidential helpline is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. You can also access the website www.lifelinehelpline.info    

Further information

Contact the PHA Press Office on: (028) 9031 1611.

Notes to the editor
  • The WIFH Partnership has 32 intersectoral members: 17 statutory bodies, 12 community and voluntary sector organisations, and three from the private sector.
  • Lifeline crisis response helpline (0808 808 8000) supports those in distress or despair. It is a confidential service, where counsellors will listen and help. They are trained to provide support a range of issues including, anxiety, depression, trauma, abuse, self-harm and suicide. Lifeline is delivered by CONTACT.
  • ‘Drink Think Project’ was established by the Bogside and Brandywell Health Forum and aims to work in partnership to protect the next generation of children from alcohol related harm. Further information from www.drinkthinkproject.org
  • A leaflet, Steps for stress, is available to download at www.mindingyourhead.info and includes self-help exercises as well as details on local support. The leaflet will be available at the end of November from a wide range of organisations including CABs, social security offices, health services facilities and community and voluntary groups.
  • When reporting on suicide, or suspected suicide, please abide by the Samaritans/Irish Institute of Suicidology media guidelines, available at: www.samaritans.org/pdf/IrishMediaGuidelines2009.pdf. These are not the same as the PCC guidelines.
  • The Health and Social Wellbeing Improvement Team is located at Gransha Park House, 15 Gransha Park, L’Derry.