TMA Recognizes Health Reporting Excellence

Deborah Fuller, MD, presents to Lauren Silverman, KERA FM,
Dallas, Texas Health Journalist of the Year and In-Depth Radio winner.

The Texas Medical Association (TMA) announces the 2016 TMA Anson Jones, MD, Award winners for outstanding health and medical news reporting during 2015 (see winner list below). TMA member physicians presented TMA Anson Jones, MD, Awards to journalists at local ceremonies throughout the spring.

“Each year, we’re impressed by the quality of work from journalists across the state, and this year was no exception,” said TMA’s Council on Health Promotion Chair Benjamin Lee, MD, of Dallas. “Whether they’re reporting for a small weekly newspaper or a TV station in a major city, the journalists relay important health information to the public.”

The annual TMA awards recognize print, television, radio, and online media journalists in 10 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.

Since 1957, TMA has honored award-winning Texas journalists with the Anson Jones, MD, Awards, named for the pioneer physician and prolific writer who served as the last president of the Texas Republic. Members of TMA’s Council on Health Promotion judge the competition, along with respected former journalists from both news publishing and broadcast fields.

Are you a Texas health reporter or do you know one? 
TMA now is accepting entries for the 2017 awards competition. A new award category, Online Single Article/Blog, will recognize a single news article or blog that appears online only on a web-based news outlet.

“Already this year, we’ve had contributions on Zika, prescription drug abuse, and the heroin epidemic,” said Dr. Lee. “We know journalists are reporting on important topics, and we encourage them to enter the Anson Jones awards, whether for the first time or the 10th time. It’s a great way to showcase their work, and maybe come away a winner.”

Journalists have until Jan. 10, 2017, to submit an entry for any news story that is published or airs in 2016. Journalists can direct questions to ansonjones@texmed.org.

TMA 2016 Anson Jones, MD, Award Winners:

Large-Market Television	Name of Entry	Honoree(s)	Media Outlet
Winner	Texas Children Outweigh National Average	Sally Hernandez and Dani Guerrero	KXAN-TV, Austin
Honorable Mention	Austin Girl, 6, Needs Bone Marrow Match	Terri Gruca and Matt Olsen	KVUE-TV, Austin
Small-Market Television	Name of Entry	Honoree(s)	Media Outlet
No winner selected
In-Depth Television	Name of Entry	Honoree(s)	Media Outlet
Winner	Breast Cancer Lifers Inspire	Terri Gruca and Matt Olsen	KVUE-TV, Austin
Large-Circulation Print	Name of Entry	Honoree(s)	Media Outlet
No winner selected
Small-Circulation Print	Name of Entry	Honoree(s)	Media Outlet
Winner	Never Give Up	Kevin King	Vital Signs, Beaumont
In-Depth Print	Name of Entry	Honoree(s)	Media Outlet
Winner	Reckoning With Rosie	Alexa Garcia-Ditta	The Texas Observer
Honorable Mention	Friend in Need	Saul Elbein	The Texas Observer
Honorable Mention	Deadly Dentistry	Brooks Egerton	The Dallas Morning News
Radio	Name of Entry	Honoree(s)	Media Outlet
No winner selected
In-Depth Radio	Name of Entry	Honoree(s)	Media Outlet
Winner (Tie)	Understanding Autism: A Father's Search Beyond Genetics	Lauren Silverman	KERA, Dallas
Winner (Tie)	Texas Matters: Concussions and Repercussions	David Martin Davies	Texas Public Radio
Honorable Mention	THINK: The Power of Pills	Krys Boyd, Jeff Whittington, Stephen Becker, and Lyndsay Knecht	KERA, Dallas
Honorable Mention	In San Antonio, A Lifeline for the Hispanic Uninsured	Paul Flahive	Texas Public Radio
Online/Mixed Media	Name of Entry	Honoree(s)	Media Outlet
Winner	Hidden Threat: The Kissing Bug	Seema Yasmin, John Hancock, Eva Parks, and Scott Friedman	The Dallas Morning News, NBC 5-TV
Honorable Mention	Undrinkable	Alexa Ura, Neena Satija, and Becca Aaronson	The Texas Tribune
Honorable Mention	Kicking the Habit	Emily Trube	KRLD, Dallas
Texas Health Journalist of the Year	Name of Entry	Honoree(s)	Media Outlet
Winner		Lauren Silverman	KERA, Dallas
Honorable Mention		David Martin Davies	Texas Public Radio