National award for sexual health journalism – closing date for nominations approaching

Calling all writers – Friday 20 January is the closing date for entries to the national Rosemary Goodchild Award for excellence in sexual health journalism.

The £500 prize will be awarded as part of the first ever UK Sexual Health Awards run by the sexual health charities Brook and FPA. Full details, entry form and guidelines are published online at www.uksexualhealthawards.org.uk. All journalists are encouraged to enter.

The Rosemary Goodchild Award has been celebrating outstanding writing on sexual health since 1998. We are proud that it takes its place among the UK Sexual Health Awards celebrating innovative and outstanding work by dedicated professionals across the country.

Popular TV presenter and FPA patron Davina McCall, who has consistently supported sexual health charities, will host a glittering ceremony in March 2012 for the winners at Troxy, London E1.

Journalists and editors are invited to submit articles on sexual health issues published between 1 January and 31 December 2011 in national and regional press titles, consumer magazines and professional journals. Commissioned articles appearing as online content on UK websites are also eligible.

Previous winning articles have discussed themes as varied as vasectomies for men and the best sex toys for women. The Awards underline the important role journalists play in informing the public and promoting good sexual health.

Articles nominated for the Rosemary Goodchild Award for sexual health journalism should:

• Highlight sexual health issues such as access to contraception, abortion, sexually transmitted infection testing and other sexual health services; sexuality and gender; issues around relationships and sex education; or deal with sexual well-being and pleasure.
• Conform to factual and medical accuracy.
• Encourage positive changes in people’s behaviour.

Go to the entry form and guidelines at www.uksexualhealthawards.org.uk.

Follow the awards on twitter @SHUKAwards or search hashtag #uksexhealthawards

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For media enquiries about the Rosemary Goodchild Award for excellence in sexual health journalism, please contact: Rebecca Findlay, tel: 020 7608 5265 or email: rebeccaf@fpa.org.uk.

Notes to Editors

FPA

The sexual health charity FPA provides straightforward information, advice and support to all people across the UK on all aspects of sexual health, sex and relationships. FPA educates, informs and supports people through our work in the community, our helpline and information service, our counselling service, our training and publications and our public awareness campaigns.
www.fpa.org.uk
FPA helpline 0845 122 8690.

Brook

Brook is the UK’s leading provider of sexual health services and advice for young people under 25. The charity has over 45 years of experience working with young people and currently has services in England, Scotland, Northern Ireland and Jersey. Brook services provide free and confidential sexual health information, contraception, pregnancy testing, advice and counselling, testing and treatment for sexually transmitted infections and outreach and education work, reaching over 300,000 young people every year.
www.brook.org.uk
Ask Brook helpline 0808 802 1234.