In which we capture two gongs at the national media awards

New Zealand Doctor Rata Aotearoa was a finalist in two categories at this year’s Voyager Media Awards; on Friday night we were winners in both.

Journalist Zahra Shahtahmasebi took away the nib junior health journalism scholarship, and the fantastic work of the entire crew was recognised when the newspaper won the Best Trade Professional Magazine award.

The judges said of the newspaper: ‘’New Zealand Doctor is a remarkable magazine, particularly when you consider it’s produced every two weeks. It has a strong connection to its audience, with its print publication and daily online news providing comprehensive coverage. The mix of news, academic and professional articles, as well as people stories and light-hearted content, offers a balanced diet, which we all know is the key to good health.”

The judges gave kudos for the use of email newsletters and for introducing podcasts – “all in a year where the health sector has faced such difficult challenges.”

Zahra plans to use the scholarship to investigate rural healthcare workforce solutions, hopefully spending some time in Australia looking at local solutions there.

The judges said: ““Zahra’s entries displayed a mature and insightful understanding of our health system and the urgent, far-reaching implications of chronic health under-funding and under-resourcing in rural New Zealand. Her scholarship topic of choice will shed welcome light on a critical health issue in dire need of deeper investigation and government attention. Well done!”

New Zealand Doctor editor Barbara Fountain says the recognition afforded by the awards is doubly welcome given how hard the last year has been for both media and the health sector.

“The entire team – editorial, production and sales – has worked extremely hard to continue providing comprehensive, quality news coverage to the sector.”

“It was fantastic to see that recognised and also to have Zahra win after being a finalist in the same category last year.”

“And it is great for our subscribers and friends to see that what we deliver is rated so highly within our own industry,” Barbara says.

The awards, at which television presenter Toni Street was MC, were hosted by the News Publishers Association at the Auckland Town Hall.