CIHR Journalism Awards To Support In-Depth Health Research News Coverage by 17 Canadian Reporters

For immediate release -

2011-09

Ottawa (March 23, 2011) – The Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) announced today that 17 Canadian journalists will be producing in-depth reports on health research issues of interest to Canadians, thanks to more than $230,000 in funding from the CIHR Journalism Awards.

"Previous recipients of these awards have set a high standard with news stories and features published across this country and internationally in print, broadcast and on the web," said Dr. Ian Graham, CIHR's Vice-President of Knowledge Translation. "With such a strong contingent of print and broadcast journalists selected for awards this year, I expect to see and hear many more truly worthwhile stories that will help Canadians learn more about the impact of health research on their lives."

The recipients of this year's Awards are:

Tier 1 Awards (up to $20,000 each)

• Valerie Borde – freelance
• Tim Falconer – Dow Jones Newswire
• Dominique Forget – freelance
• Gordon Laird – freelance
• Diane Peters – freelance
• Beatrice Politi – Global News Toronto
• Aziza R. Sindhu – CBC
• Stephen Strauss – freelance
• Louisa Taylor – Ottawa Citizen

Tier 2 Awards (up to $10,000 each)

• Vivian Belik – freelance
• Catherine Dubé – Québec Science
• Joseph G. Hall – Toronto Star
• Angela L. Hill – Rawlco Radio - Prince Albert
• Tim Lougheed – freelance
• Marie-Odile Marcoux-Fortier – freelance
• Jodie M. Martinson – freelance
• Joanna Smith – Toronto Star

Now in its third 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.

"We are very pleased that this program, which started out as very much a pioneering venture three years ago, has matured and produced so much good journalism," said Karen Spierkel, CIHR's Director of Communications and Public Outreach. "This year, we plan to reach out to even more Canadian journalists with webinars for interested applicants and a longer competition period, to start this spring."

For the past 10 years, the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) has supported better health and health care for Canadians. As the Government of Canada's health research investment agency, CIHR enables the creation of evidence-based knowledge and its transformation into improved treatments, prevention and diagnoses, new products and services, and a stronger, patient-oriented health-care system. Composed of 13 internationally recognized Institutes, CIHR supports more than 13,600 health researchers and trainees across Canada.

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Further information:

Michael Dwyer
Public Affairs Officer
613-941-0688
michael.dwyer@cihr-irsc.gc.ca