AHCJ – Association of Health Care Journalists

27/08/2024 | News release | Distributed by Public on 27/08/2024 23:32

AHCJ thanks our volunteer contest judges, sign ups open for 2024 contest

The 2023 Awards for Excellence in Health Care Journalism reception at HJ24 in New York City. Photo by Zachary Linhares

Now in its 20th year, the Association of Health Care Journalists' annual Awards for Excellence in Health Care Journalism is a professional and public affirmation of the importance of health care as a beat. To select the most powerful, poignant and effective stories for the contest from all the submissions requires significant time, dedication and care. For that, we thank the dozens of volunteer judges who make it all possible.

The 2023 contest drew more than 400 entries in 14 categories and winners were announced at the annual conference in New York City in early June. Judges work in teams of two, over two rounds, to select the winners, and judges say the work is gratifying and inspiring. Many have donated their time to AHCJ's contest for several years while others volunteered this year for the first time.

Each volunteer judge - all of whom are current or retired journalists or journalism instructors - plays a crucial role in maintaining the integrity and independence of the annual awards. Those who agreed to be publicly recognized are named below. Our most sincere thanks to everyone for volunteering!

Interested in volunteering as a judge for the 2024 contest? Sign up here.

The contest needs new judges each year, and serving as a judge does not bar you from entering the contest. Our committee works to avoid conflicts of interest for judges as well as reporters/entries from their outlet. For questions about judging or if you are an AHCJ member interested in serving on the contest committee, please contact AHCJ Membership Manager Tina England at [email protected].

Oversight and support for the Awards for Excellence in Health Care Journalism come from the AHCJ Contest Committee, co-chaired by AHCJ board members Christine Herman and Jonathan Rockoff. The committee also includes board members Randy Dotinga, Carrie Feibel, and Joyce Frieden, and member volunteers Sabriya Rice, Lauren Bavis, Pauline Arrillaga, Mia De Graaf, and Jason Kane.