Mind Journalist of the Year award announced

Mental health charity recognises positive reporting

Embargoed until 1.30pm Wednesday 17 May 2006

Mental health charity Mind today announced the winner of Mind's Journalist of the Year, as part of Mind week 2006: Emma Forrest, features reporter at Health Service Journal.

The judges, Simon Garfield (The Observer), Sophie Goodchild (Independent on Sunday) and Joanna Kowalski, (Nottingham Evening Post), all previous prizewinners, praised Emma's "analytical and considered" articles on various issues related to mental health, and applauded her thorough research.

The Mind Journalist of the Year Award, given for outstanding reporting of mental health issues in the local, national and consumer press, is in its twelfth year. The award was presented this afternoon at a ceremony hosted by Lord Bragg, Mind's President, at Glazier's Hall on London's South Bank.

Claire Ashby, Mind's Head of Media, said:
"Emma's work is impressive in its dedication to exploring issues relevant to people with mental health problems, and explaining them to health professionals. We know that many people with mental health problems feel that they experience significant discrimination in health services, and that there is a lack of training provision for health workers in this area, so informative articles of this kind are particularly valuable."

Mind Journalist of the Year shortlist 2006

Madeleine Bunting, The Guardian
Paul Groves and Nikki Aaron, The Birmingham Post
Emma Forrest, Health Service Journal
Nick Johnstone, The Guardian
Jo Stagg, Cambridge Evening News
Jane Murphy, Health and Fitness

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