Awards: Rules & How to Enter

Contest categories have been adjusted this year

Since 2004, the Awards for Excellence in Health Care Journalism have recognized the best health reporting in print, broadcast and online media. The contest was created by journalists for journalists and is not influenced or funded by commercial or special-interest groups.

Following on changes begun last year, the contest retains its topic-based categories, where entries compete head-to-head no matter whether they appeared in magazines, newspapers, trade publications or on radio or television stations or websites.

This year, however, the contest adds size divisions to an additional two categories, Public Health and Health Policy. The additions bring to 12 the number of overall contest categories. The only categories not divided into size divisions are Beat Reporting and Trade.

“The new size categories will provide more opportunity for entrants,” said Julie Appleby, AHCJ’s contest chair and a senior correspondent at Kaiser Health News, a nonprofit news service based in Washington, D.C.

The online contest entry system, which debuted two years ago, will be used again this year.

The final deadline for 2012 work was Jan. 4. Please check back in the fall for details on next year's contest.

Winners

First-place winners earn $500, a framed certificate and complimentary lodging for two nights and registration for the annual conference, March 14-17, 2013, in Boston. First-place winners will be recognized at the conference and will be encouraged to appear on panels to discuss their winning work.

Twelve award categories

Beat Reporting (all sizes)
An individual award for outstanding beat coverage. Entrants should explain the beat on the questionnaire and may submit up to four stories, carrying a single byline. The same stories may also be submitted in other categories.
Health Policy (large and small division)
Stories that explore access to health care, medical quality and costs, as well as decisions about health care made by government, employers and other stakeholders
Public Health (large and small division)
Stories that deal with health – often of a large population – rather than specific medical research or a specific individual.
Trade (all sizes)
Articles from publications catering exclusively or primarily to specific groups, such as healthcare professionals, advocacy groups or organizations. Trade stories can also be entered in other categories, following rules on circulation size in those categories divided by size.
Business (large division and small division)
Stories that explore where money and medicine intersect.
Investigative (large division and small division)
Stories that shed light on things the public should know, but government, private industry or others would rather remain secret
Consumer/Feature (large division and small division)
Stories that delve into difficult issues regarding illnesses, diseases, procedures or tests, as well as stories with a strong news-you-can- use focus.

Sizes

Categories applying to "all sizes" will seek the best work in that topic category regardless of size.

Categories denoting "large division and small division" will judge work in that topic category against work from similar-sized newsrooms. Those size divisions are:

Large:

Newspapers above 100,000 circulation and their affiliated websites
Network or syndicated TV and radio
Local TV and radio in top 50 markets
National and regional online outlets, including blogs
Magazines above 500,000 circulation
Trade newsletters above 35,000 circulation

Small:

Newspapers below 100,000 and their affiliated websites
Local TV and radio in below-top-50 markets
Locally focused online outlets, including blogs
Magazines below 500,000 circulation
Trade newsletters below 35,000 circulation