For the third year in a row, a San Antonio Express-News journalist took home the Texas Health Journalist of the Year title in the Texas Medical Association’s Anson Jones, MD, Awards news media competition.
Lauren Caruba took top honors in 2020 for stories from last year on topics such as closing gaps in HIV care, changes in heart surgery procedures at University Hospital because of poor ratings, and medical care for a toddler who fell into a septic tank.
With the award, Ms. Caruba followed in the footsteps of Melissa Fletcher Stoeltje, another San Antonio Express-News reporter who claimed the award the previous two years.
“Each story is engaging, unique, and relays health/medical information important to the community,” one judge said of Ms. Caruba’s stories.
Jess Huff, a reporter at The Lufkin Daily News; Sophie Novack, a Texas Observer reporter; and Bonnie Petrie, a San Antonio Texas Public Radio reporter, each earned honorable mention in the Texas Health Journalist of the Year category.
See the full list of winners in this year’s competition – and whether a journalist in your hometown took home an award in one of the contest’s categories.
“COVID-19 dominated the news this year, and we want to recognize those reporters who did the best job reporting on this ever-changing and complex issue, keeping their communities well-informed and sharing stories with local angles,” said Eman Attaya, MD, of Lubbock, chair of TMA’s Council on Health Promotion, which oversees the awards. “And, of course, we want to see stories on other health issues that stood out this year.”
The 64th-annual Anson Jones awards entry process is under way, and TMA invites you to nominate stories from 2020 that stood out in your local media.
Each year, members of TMA’s Council on Health Promotion and former journalists have the tough job of selecting the best of the best in health reporting, and the 2021 competition will be no exception.
The 2021 Anson Jones contest features 11 award categories to recognize Texas journalists in print, television, radio, and online news outlets.
If you recall a standout story worthy of recognition, please submit your nominations by Dec. 31 for judging in early 2021. Include the reporter’s name, date of broadcast/publication, media outlet, story name, and URL if you have it. TMA will send a postcard to the reporter with a note alerting him or her of your nomination.
Journalists can self-submit entries until Jan. 10, 2021, though TMA also welcomes nominations from the family of medicine.
For more information, contact Tammy Wishard, Anson Jones awards coordinator, at (800) 880-1300 ext. 1470, or (512) 370-1470, or via email.
Tammy Wishard
Account Manager, Division of Communications and Marketing
(512) 370-1470