2012 Public Health Agency Media Award winners announced

The seventh annual Public Health Agency (PHA) media awards, with the Western Investing for Health Partnership, have honoured media students for their grasp of public health issues at an awards ceremony at the University of Ulster (UU) Magee Campus, last Thursday (22 March).

University and college students in the media industry were invited to submit articles, pictures or stories on a current public health issue. Categories and prize winners included:

Best Written Piece
1st prize: Angela Davison, North West Regional College (NWRC) Derry, Christians Against Poverty.
2nd prize: Naomi Kehoe, NWRC Derry, Teenagers’ Teeth Top Tooth Decay.

Best Moving Image
1st prize: Charlie Doherty and Kieran McCormick, NWRC Derry, Elder Abuse.
2nd prize: Dan Doran, Owen Gormley and Aidan Ingram, South West Regional College Enniskillen, Rob, the Healthy Lifestyle Robot.
Highly commended: Brendan McCallion and Ronan Lawrence, NWRC Derry, Depression in Young People.
Highly commended: Ruth Campbell, Mairead Hasson, Peter McConnell, Katie Hunter, UU Coleraine, Child Poverty in Northern Ireland.

Best Photographic Piece
1st prize: Kayleigh Mullen, UU Coleraine, Poverty Begins In The Home.
2nd prize: Thomas Caldwell, NWRC Derry, Stop Smoking.
Highly commended: Julie Moore, NWRC Derry, Never Text + Drive.
Highly commended: Rebecca Austin, NWRC Limavady, Skinny Bulletin.

Explaining the significance of the awards, Brendan Bonner, PHA Head of Health and Social Wellbeing Improvement (West) and co-chair of the WIFH Partnership, said: “These media awards provide a unique experience, focusing on public health and its relationship with the media. They encourage young people who are considering a career in the media and journalism to take a broader approach to reporting health issues, which can directly impact on improving the health and wellbeing of their audiences.”

This year, two additional awards were included, in partnership with the Drink Think Project, Derry and Lifeline. Winners included:

Drink Think Awards:
Best Written Piece
Joint 1st Prize: Conor Burns, NWRC Derry, Margaret’s Battle.
Joint 1st Prize: Garret Hargan, NWRC Derry, Think Self Think Health.

Best Moving Image
Joint 1st Prize: Christopher McKeever, NWRC Derry, Never too late.
Joint 1st Prize: Eimear Canning, NWRC Derry, Binge Drinking.      

Best Photographic Piece
1st Prize: Jerome Reynolds, NWRC Derry, Is it really worth it?
Highly commended: Michael McCloskey, NWRC Limavady, Don’t look for answers at the bottom of a bottle.

Joanne Smith, Manager of the Drink Think Project, said: “Drink Think is delighted to have a category in the awards dedicated to looking at the culture of alcohol. There have been some quality entries this year which show a fresh perspective on relaying sensible drinking messages. We are keen to get involved in the awards to get the media reporters, presenters and marketeers of tomorrow to think about the role of alcohol in society and their role in influencing the public’s views on alcohol.”

Lifeline Awards:
Best Moving Image
1st Prize: Paul Murray, NWRC Limavady, Bullying Time Bomb.
Highly commended: Aidan Campbell, NWRC Derry, A Positive Future.
Highly commended: Simon McFadden, NWRC Derry, Mental Health.

Best Photographic Piece 
1st Prize: Eimear Canning, NWRC Derry, We’re here to help.
Highly commended: Gemma McFaul, NWRC Limavady, There is always someone to talk to.             
Highly commended: Richard Hamilton, NWRC Derry, Don’t Despair.

Sinead O’Neill, Lifeline, said: “We were delighted that the Lifeline category was added to this year’s PHA Media Awards. It is a unique opportunity for students to research and develop innovative media projects which our organisation can use in the future. It is great to see such interest and enthusiasm from these students and their sensitive depiction of very important public health matters. Suicide prevention is a very important issue for our young people, so it is wonderful that they have produced examples of promotional materials for a vital service such as Lifeline.”

The PHA Student Media Awards are an important part of academic study, providing a working brief for students to combine their creative and technical abilities, while sending out the appropriate message. Previous winners are now employed by various media organisations including RTE, BBC and the North West Regional College media department.

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

For information on all winners go to the Student Media Awards section on www.westernifh.org