Canadian Health Reporters Share $300,000 in CIHR Journalism Awards

For immediate release - 2010-06

Ottawa (March 9, 2010) - Eighteen Canadian journalists are receiving funding that will allow them to conduct in-depth investigation and reporting of health research issues of interest to Canadians. They are the latest recipients of the CIHR Journalism Awards, announced today by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR).

"I have high hopes to see this year's recipients exceed the impressive output of in-depth news stories and features that last year's awards produced," said Dr. Ian Graham, CIHR's Vice-President of Knowledge Translation. "Stories like these are key to communicating the results of health research to Canadians, and to further the dialogue among researchers, health practitioners and patients."

The recipients of the Awards, worth $300,000, are:

Tier 1 Awards ($20,000 each) Tier 2 Awards ($10,000 each)
  • Alan Cassels - freelance
  • Helen Fallding - Winnipeg Free Press
  • Pamela Fayerman – Vancouver Sun
  • Paul McLaughlin - freelance
  • Peter McMahon - freelance
  • Alison Motluk – freelance
  • Anne Mullins - freelance
  • Elizabeth Payne – Ottawa Citizen
  • Kim Pittaway - freelance
  • Tina Pittaway - freelance
  • Ann Silversides - freelance
  • Mary Agnes Welch - Winnipeg Free Press
  • Jennifer Carpenter - freelance
  • Daemon Fairless – CBC radio
  • Hannah Hoag - freelance
  • Alex Hutchinson - freelance
  • Kennedy Jawoko - freelance
  • Pascale Millot – Québec Science

Now in its second year, the CIHR Journalism Awards address the continuing demand by Canadians for more quality coverage of health related issues and seek to increase the number of journalists with an interest and expertise in these issues.

The proposals received for this program were evaluated by an eight-member independent merit review committee. Four of the members were nominated by the Canadian Science Writers Association and four by the Association des communicateurs scientifiques du Québec.

The Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) is the Government of Canada's agency for health research. CIHR's mission is to create new scientific knowledge and to catalyze its translation into improved health, more effective health services and products, and a strengthened Canadian health care system. Composed of 13 Institutes, CIHR provides leadership and support to more than 13,000 health researchers and trainees across Canada.

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For more information, contact:

Michael Dwyer
Public Affairs Officer
Canadian Institutes of Health Research
Tel.:613-941-0688
Email: michael.dwyer@cihr-irsc.gc.ca