MEDIA RELEASE: Registered Nurses' Association of Ontario thrilled to present nine Media Awards to journalists

TORONTO, March 7, 2013 /CNW/ - The scores have been tallied, the results are in, and the Registered Nurses' Association of Ontario (RNAO) is now ready to congratulate journalists who are set to receive a 2012 RNAO Media Award. The organization's annual competition honours reporters working at newspapers, magazines, radio and television stations and online publications examining nursing, health and health-care issues.

This year, 10 judges pored over 42 thought-provoking entries that were submitted from media outlets across Ontario. Topics explored include the mental health of today's youth and hospice care. Nine top-scoring entries nabbed judges' praise. The winners will receive their trophies during the President's Banquet at RNAO's annual general meeting in Toronto on Friday, April 12.

Winners who will receive an RNAO Media Award:

• Matthew Pearson of the Ottawa Citizen picks up the daily newspaper, best in-depth feature award for his piece Jamie, Then and Now, a story that reflects on Ottawa teen Jamie Hubley's suicide, while examining the overall issue of youth mental health.
• Abigail Cukier wins in the community newspaper, best in-depth feature category for articles she wrote in the Stoney Creek News on hospice care in both Hamilton and the province.
• Kate Lunau and Martin Patriquin explore the importance of vaccinations in Maclean's magazine. Their piece wins the magazine, best story honour.
• Beatrice Politi, reporting for Global News, is the recipient of the television, best in-depth feature award for her comprehensive look into male infertility issues.
• CTV National News' Avis Favaro and Elizabeth St. Philip help to shed light on why a cluster of teens took their lives in Sarnia. They win the television, best news story award.
• The team at CBC Radio's White Coat, Black Art turn their microphones over to nurses and doctors, examining what a "do not resuscitate" order means for providers, patients and their families. They win in the exceptional reporting on an RN/nursing issue category.
• Victoria Mattan raises awareness around the issue of organ donation in her piece for 106.9 The X FM that wins the radio, best in-depth feature award.
• Julia Belluz and Ann Silversides tie for first place in the online, best story category. Belluz's story Is Canada discriminating against foreign-trained doctors? appeared on Maclean's.ca. Silversides' piece, which also wins in this category, looks at the pros and cons of mammography screening.

"On behalf of the association, I want to offer my sincere congratulations to this year's winners," says RNAO President Rhonda Seidman-Carlson, who adds "Reporters, editors and producers deserve acknowledgment for shining the spotlight on pressing nursing and health issues of the day, which is why RNAO is delighted to hand out these well-deserved honours."

"RNAO takes the time to recognize journalists through its Media Awards competition because nurses know the impact a powerfully written story can have on the public," says RNAO Chief Executive Officer Doris Grinspun. "The media has a critical role to play when it comes to drawing attention to important issues, creating dialogue, and ultimately shaping public opinion that can drive policy changes. The winners of this year's competition demonstrate a tremendous commitment to highlighting significant nursing, health and health-care matters."

The Registered Nurses' Association of Ontario is the professional association representing registered nurses in Ontario. Since 1925, RNAO has advocated for healthy public policy, promoted excellence in nursing practice, increased nurses' contribution to shaping the health-care system, and influenced decisions that affect nurses and the public they serve.

For more information about RNAO, visit our website at www.RNAO.ca. You can also check out our Facebook page at www.RNAO.ca/facebook and follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/RNAO.

SOURCE: Registered Nurses' Association of Ontario

Melissa Di Costanzo
Communications Officer/Writer, RNAO
Tel: [phone], ext. 250
[email protected]