Inaugural Respiratory Health Media Awards

The Asthma Foundation

Media Release

24 March 2015

Asthma Foundation announces inaugural Respiratory Health Media Awards

To acknowledge and support the close partnership the Asthma Foundation enjoys with New Zealand’s media, chief executive Angela Francis is proud to announce the establishment of the Respiratory Health Media Awards.

The Awards recognise the important role the media play in respiratory education. Quality reporting helps to keep respiratory issues top of mind in the community and reinforces the fact that we need to continue to take respiratory health seriously.

Judges will be looking for winning stories that provide a balanced and accurate report of respiratory issues, portray a realistic account of what it is like to live with a respiratory condition and highlight successful treatment and management. Such stories play a key role in increasing awareness and support of respiratory management, treatment and education.

There will be a $1,000 prize for each of the winners in five categories:

1. Health sector media
2. Print and online media
3. Radio
4. Television
5. Social media (all formats e.g. blogging)

“2015 is the year to launch these awards as there is so much happening in respiratory health,” said Angela. The Asthma Foundation will be releasing the newly developed National Respiratory Strategy and eagerly awaited findings from the Maori Health Literacy and Asthma project. Events including World Asthma Day, the New Zealand Respiratory Conference and Asthma Awareness Week will all provide opportunities for media to write on respiratory health. As well the Asthma Foundation will update the outdated Asthma Guidelines.

Winners will be announced and presented with the prestigious Awards at a gala dinner in Wellington in February 2016.
Journalists, videographers, bloggers and health professionals are invited to submit respiratory-related stories published or broadcast during 2015. Entries close on Monday December 22, 2015 at 5:00pm.

Criteria, a list of events and further information about the awards can be found on our website or contact Cindy Borrie, communications consultant on 0274 433 905 or cindy@asthmafoundation.org.nz .

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