Mental Health America
2009 Media Awards Recognize Excellence in Mental Health Journalism

Contact: Steve Vetzner, (703) 797-2588 or svetzner@mentalhealthamerica.net

ALEXANDRIA, Va. (June 12, 2009) - Mental Health America tomorrow will honor journalists, producers and writers for outstanding coverage of mental health issues at a Media Awards luncheon being held during its Centennial Conference in Washington, D.C.

In addition to awards in print and broadcast categories, Mental Health America will present a special award, The Bell Award for Significant Contributions to Mental Health Journalism, to Steve Lopez of the Los Angeles Times. Lopez is the author of "The Soloist," which inspired the film of the same name. He won a Mental Health America Media Award in 2006 for a series of columns that first chronicled the life and struggles of "The Soloist," Nathaniel Anthony Ayers.

"The Media Awards bring together the very best mental health stories in print and broadcast media during 2008," said David L. Shern, Ph.D., president and CEO of Mental Health America  "Informative and thought-provoking journalism is a powerful form of education and we applaud these journalists for helping shape public understanding of these critical issues." 

Mental Health America will present 2009 Media Awards in the following categories:

Advocacy

Jane Howard, Wisconsin United for Mental Health, "Open Doors, Open Minds: A Guide for Reporting"

Local Television

Robert L. Arnold and John Barone, KPRC (Houston, TX), ""Mental Health Crisis"

National Radio

Alix Spiegel, NPR, "Two Families Grapple with Sons' Gender Preferences"

Local Radio

Bryan Thompson, Kansas Public Radio, "Greensburg's Long Road to Recovery"

National Television

Larkin McPhee, PBS, "Depression: Out of the Shadows"

Documentary

Ben Selkow, Sundance Channel/Indie Pix Films, "A Summer in the Cage"

Series

Sharon Salyer and Alejandro Dominguez, The Herald (Everett, Washington), "Alone Among Us"

Newspapers with a Circulation Below 100,000

James Carlson, Topeka Capital-Journal, "The Bob Owen Story"

Newspapers with a Circulation Above 100,000

Elizabeth Bernstein and Nathan Koppel, The Wall Street Journal, "A Death in the Family"

Amy Upshaw, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, "The Long Way Home"

National Magazines

Mary Carmichael, Newsweek, Growing Up Bipolar"

Coverage of Mental Health Research

Yudhijit Bhattacharjee, Science, "Shell Shock Revisited"

Local/Regional Magazines

Ray Ring, High Country News, "My Crazy Brother"

Chandra R. Thomas, Atlanta, "Suicide Mission"

A volunteer judging panel of media professionals selected the winning entries for their educational value, outstanding quality, comprehensiveness and creativity in addressing timely issues in mental health.  Members of this year's panel included Sarah Baldauf of U.S. News & World Repor; David Brown, The Washington Post;  Kelly Kennedy, Times News Service; Anita Manning, Freelance; and Kim Sedmak, AARP TV.

Get Ready for the 2010 Media Awards!

The Mental Health America 2010 Media Awards competition will honor reporting and portrayals of mental health issues in news and features stories, on national, state local and student levels and in print, online and broadcast media.  Mental Health America will distribute nomination guides in early 2009.  To sign up for our mailing list, please email mediaawards@mentalhealthamerica.net.

Celebrating 100 years of mental health education and advocacy, Mental Health America is the country's leading nonprofit dedicated to helping all people live mentally healthier lives. With our more than 300 affiliates nationwide, we represent a growing movement of Americans who promote mental wellness for the health and well-being of the nation-every day and in times of crisis.  In 2009, we are marking a century of achievement with a year-long Centennial Observance: "Celebrating the Legacy. Forging the Future."