TMA Honors Outstanding Health Reporting

 August 9, 2017

The Texas Medical Association (TMA) announced winning journalists across the state in the 2017 TMA Anson Jones, MD, Awards for excellence in health and medical news reporting during 2016 (see winner list below). TMA member physicians presented the awards to journalists in their newsrooms throughout the spring and summer on this, the 60th anniversary of the competition.

“For 60 years, TMA has carried on the tradition of honoring the best works by Texas journalists that convey important health information to the public,” said TMA’s Council on Health Promotion Chair Benjamin Lee, MD, of Dallas. The council oversees the competition. “Each year, we see timely and important news reports from both small-town and large metropolitan news outlets that help Texans live healthier lives.”

The annual TMA awards recognize print, television, radio, and online media journalists in 11 award categories. One award honors the Texas Health Journalist of the Year to recognize a body of work produced in a single year by a print, broadcast, or online journalist.

Award winners receive $500. The journalist of the year receives $1,000.

In 1957, TMA physicians gave a Fort Worth Star-Telegram reporter the first Anson Jones, MD, Award. (A fountain pen was part of honoree Blair Justice’s winnings.) Since then, TMA has continued to honor top-notch Texas journalists with the annual awards named after the pioneer physician and prolific writer who served as the last president of the Texas Republic. Ironically, the Star-Telegram happened to win an award again on this milestone anniversary.

TMA currently is accepting entries for the 2018 awards competition. Journalists have until Jan. 10, 2018, to submit an entry for any news story published or aired in 2017. Members of TMA’s Council on Health Promotion judge the competition, along with respected former journalists from both news publishing and broadcast fields.

“2017 already has its share of health news, from the attempts to revamp the Affordable Care Act, to telemedicine, to the opioid crisis,” said Dr. Lee. “We encourage journalists to enter their stories in the Anson Jones awards and hopefully become a winner.”

Journalists can direct questions to ansonjones[at]texmed[dot]org or call Tammy Wishard, TMA outreach coordinator, at (512) 370-1470.

TMA 2017 Anson Jones, MD, Award Winners

Large-Market Television               

Winner: Border Counties Prepare for Local Zika Transmission
Bianca Castro and Linda Angelle
KXAS-TV NBC 5, Dallas/Fort Worth

Honorable Mention:
Digital Pills Help Patient, Doctors Keep Track of Medications       
Bianca Castro, Linda Angelle, and Guy Mitchell             
KXAS-TV NBC 5, Dallas/Fort Worth

                                               

Small-Market Television              
Winner: Colon Cancer Survivor Says Symptoms Can Be Silent       
Brittany Price    
KJTV Fox 34, Lubbock

                                               

In-Depth Television        
Winner: Few Children Receiving Cancer-Preventing Vaccine        
Sally Hernandez, Chris Nelson, John Hinkle, and Rachel Garza     
KXAN-TV, Austin

Honorable Mention: Prescription for Savings
Terri Gruca, Scott Guest, and Erica Faccone         
KVUE-TV, Austin

                                               

Large-Circulation Print  
No winner selected                                       

                                               

Small-Circulation Print  
Winner: Missouri City Doctor Hosts Baby in Need of Heart Surgery            
Joe Southern    
Fort Bend Star

Honorable Mention: Are Freestanding ERs Driving Up Costs?
Matt Goodman
D CEO Magazine, Dallas

Honorable Mention: Daughter Provides Ultimate Gift to Father          
Laura Garcia and Anna Ramirez 
Victoria Advocate

                                               

In-Depth Print  
Winner: A Dallas ER Doc Confronts Racism            
Jamie Thompson             
D Magazine, Dallas

Honorable Mention: Rural Hospital Series      
Bill Hanna           
Fort Worth Star-Telegram

                                               

Radio
No winner selected                                       

                                               

In-Depth Radio
Winner: Ease in Anti-Overdose Drug Access Leads to More Lives Saved  
Paul Flahive       
Texas Public Radio, San Antonio

Honorable Mention: THINK: Inheriting Cancer             
Krys Boyd, Jeff Whittington, and Stephen Becker            
KERA FM, Dallas

Honorable Mention: Lead Exposure: It’s More Than a Water Problem              
Sam Baker          
KERA FM, Dallas

                                               

Online/Mixed Media Package    
Winner: Frozen in Time 
Sonia Azad, Taylor Lumsden, and Jeff Anastasio
WFAA-TV, Dallas

                                               

Online Single Article/Blog            
Winner: For Foster Kids, a Push to Make Medical Care Treat Psychological Pain   
Edgar Walters   
The Texas Tribune

                   

Texas Health Journalist of the Year          
Winner: Wendy Rigby    
Texas Public Radio, San Antonio

Honorable Mention: Lauren Silverman            
KERA FM, Dallas

Honorable Mention: Matt Goodman
D Magazine, Dallas

TMA is the largest state medical society in the nation, representing more than 50,000 physician and medical student members. It is located in Austin and has 110 component county medical societies around the state. TMA’s key objective since 1853 is to improve the health of all Texans.

TMA is the largest state medical society in the nation, representing more than 50,000 physician and medical student members. It is located in Austin and has 110 component county medical societies around the state. TMA’s key objective since 1853 is to improve the health of all Texans. TMA Foundation raises funds to support the public health and science priority initiatives of TMA and the Family of Medicine.

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Contact:  Brent Annear (512) 370-1381; cell: (512) 656-7320; email: brent.annear[at]texmed[dot]org

Marcus Cooper (512) 370-1382; cell: (512) 650-5336; email: marcus.cooper[at]texmed[dot]org

Connect with TMA on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.

Check out MeAndMyDoctor.com for interesting and timely news on health care issues and policy.

Last Updated On

August 09, 2017

Originally Published On

August 09, 2017

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