Professor Geoff Farrell Award
The Professor Geoff Farrell Award encourages responsible, accurate and timely reporting on hepatitis C. Approximately 200,000 Australians live with chronic hepatitis C, a virus that has no vaccine. Greater recognition of the extent and impact of hepatitis C is required and the media plays a critical role in sharing knowledge and highlighting the need for prevention, treatment and patient support.
2008 Award Details
Prizes will be awarded to two journalists who excel in investigating topics relating to hepatitis C, either from a patient or a medical perspective. Journalists may enter themselves or be nominated by a colleague or an organisation.
Entry forms with detailed criteria are now available for download.
Winners in both categories will have the option to participate in one of the following international opportunities:
Attend the major international scientific meeting, the 44th Annual Meeting of the European Association for the Study of the Liver (EASL), in Copenhagen, Denmark, 22-26 April 2009; or
Meet with representative(s) of the World Hepatitis Alliance, in Europe, March-May 2009, to investigate their ground-breaking patient initiatives.
2007 Award
Last year’s winners of the inaugural Professor Geoff Farrell Award were:
Adam Cresswell, Health Editor for The Australian newspaper, for two stories focused on the prevalence of the hepatitis C virus and the challenges faced by people living with hepatitis C; and
Paul Smith, Chief Political Correspondent for GP publication Australian Doctor, for his feature article on prison health and the rising incidence of hepatitis C in Australian gaols
Danielle Cronin from the Canberra Times and Rada Rouse from the Medical Observer received highly commended mentions for their entries.