Guild of Health Writers news

Freelance health writer and former Guild secretary Judy Hobson has won the Excellence in Cancer Reporting award 2009. Judy was presented with her award during a ceremony recognising excellence in oncology in Birmingham at the conclusion of the National Cancer Research Institute conference.

The judges said: “Judy’s articles enabled those suffering from cancer or whose loved one has cancer to keep informed about research and treatment breakthroughs. Her stories arm them with facts and give hope.”

They were impressed by her carefully researched articles covering a range of different cancers throughout the year. “Her style is engaging, with excellent use of case studies and interview with leading specialists and patient groups. Judy explains technical issues very clearly and carefully sets the context for new developments, comparing them to existing options and outlining the hurdles they have to overcome before they are used in practice.”

Judy writes every month in Choices magazine and contributes to health sections of national newspapers and magazines.

Guild member Barbara Lantin was also highly commended for article on mesothelioma for The Times online. The judges said it was a dramatic article tackling a controversial area of cancer and balanced the need to be factual with sensitivity.

The awards were organised and funded by Pfizer in association with the British Oncological Association.

Simon Crompton, Guild member and ex-Guild chair has won first prize in a prestigious cancer journalism award. Simon, who writes for The Times, has been awarded the European School of Oncology’s Best Cancer Reporter Award (BCRA) for 2008. The Award was established by the European School of Oncology (ESO) in 2006 to encourage better quality media coverage of cancer and to recognise the many examples of outstanding cancer journalism.

Read Simon Crompton’s award-winning articles in The Times:
Robotic surgery: the machine that cuts out cancer
The fast-track cancer cures

Read more about the European School of Oncology.