Sixth Annual Nancy Dickerson Whitehead Award for Excellence in Reporting on Drug and Alcohol Problems 3/15/2004
From: Gretchen Wright or Annette Rodenas, 202-371-1999, both for Drug Strategies WASHINGTON, March 15 -- Drug Strategies, a national nonprofit research institute, is now accepting submissions for the sixth annual Nancy Dickerson Whitehead Award for excellence in reporting on drug and alcohol abuse. The Award is given in two categories: print and broadcast (radio or television). Ten thousand dollars will be awarded in each category. Entries for the 2004 Award must consist of a single article or broadcast or a series of related articles or broadcasts published or aired between June 2, 2003 and June 1, 2004. Winners will be notified in October 2004 and will be honored at an awards luncheon in November of 2004. The Nancy Dickerson Whitehead Award jury seeks submissions that provide new insight into substance abuse issues. Submissions are judged based on whether they contribute to new solutions or other community initiatives, including better public understanding of the issue. Past winners have shed light on such timely and important topics as: teenagers abusing cold medications; our nation's drug policy; abuse of painkillers; the impact of emerging illegal drugs on communities; and alcohol abuse among college students. In 2003 the winners were: ABC 15 The Investigators in Phoenix, Arizona and The Sun in Bremerton, Washington. Honorable mentions went to the South Florida Sun Sentinel and BET.com. Previous years' winners were: National Public Radio's Justice Talking; Laurence Hammack of the Roanoke Times; Times Union; One Voice: Media United Against Drugs (KMTR-TV, KVAL-TV, KLSR-TV and KEVU- TV); Martin Smith and Lowell Bergman, Frontline; The McClatchy Company; The Spokane Spokesman-Review; Ted Koppel, ABC Nightline; Barbara Ferry and Abel Uribe, The Santa Fe New Mexican; Eric Newhouse, Great Falls Tribune; Timothy Egan, The New York Times; Matthew Schofield, Kansas City Star; Carol Marin, Don Moseley and Susan Evans, WBBM-TV; and Allison Zigich, Jefferson Public Radio. The Award honors Nancy Dickerson Whitehead's efforts to improve media coverage of drug issues. During her long and distinguished career as a broadcast journalist, she reported on many critical social concerns, including the nation's problems with drug and alcohol abuse. Whitehead was a distinguished broadcast journalist and an active member of the Board of Directors of Drug Strategies. Drug Strategies is a nonprofit research institute promoting more effective approaches to the nation's drug problems through treatment, prevention, education, law enforcement and community coalitions. It is supported by grants from major national foundations. NOTE: For information and applications, contact Gretchen Wright or Annette Rodenas at 202-371-1999, email prsolutions@prsolutionsdc.com or visit http://www.drugstrategies.org. |