What: A celebration of the best coverage, across all media, concerning older people‟s issues, from news reporting, through to photojournalism and the best portrayals of older people in films or TV drama.
When: Tuesday 19 November 2013
Independent Age and Barchester Healthcare are thrilled to announce that the Older People in the Media Awards 2013 are now open for nominations.
At a special awards ceremony to be held in central London on Tuesday 19 November 2013, we will once again be celebrating older people in all aspects of the media and shining a light on coverage which has either positively portrayed older people, or sensitively highlighted the issues they face.
The Older People in the Media Awards 2013 follows the success of the 2012 awards, whose winners included, amongst others, BBC1 Controller, Danny Cohen for his brave and groundbreaking season of BBC1 documentaries, When I’m 65, Dame Maggie Smith for her feisty, funny portrayal of the Dowager Lady Grantham in Downton Abbey, Louis Theroux for his sympathetic exploration of living with dementia, as well as a host of regional outlets which successfully and sensitively drew attention to older people‟s issues.
We are now taking nominations for this year‟s 10 categories, which are:
1. Best factual newspaper or magazine article about older people‟s issues
2. Best factual radio programme about older people‟s issues
3. Best factual TV programme about older people‟s issues
4. Best factual new media article about older people‟s issues
5. Best coverage of issues around dementia and/or social care (Barchester special award)
6. Best independent voice on older people‟s issues (Independent Age special award)
7. Best older person‟s character in a film, TV or radio drama (Gransnet special award, voted on by the readers of Gransnet)
8. Best use of photography to illustrate older people‟s issues
9. „The Thorn Award‟: Worst example of stereotyping, factual error or misleading information in the coverage of older people‟s issues
10.Overall award winner: best overall contribution to the debate on older people‟s issues
Speaking of the awards, Janet Morrison, Chief Executive of Independent Age said: “The Older People in the Media Awards are our way of recognising and thanking those people in the media who are working so hard to promote older people in a sympathetic way and are recognising the importance of the issues they face. Last year‟s awards showed just what an incredible and inspiring slate of programming, articles and blogs there are which make efforts to move away from the stereotypes and assumptions about older people and show them instead as complex, individual and fascinating.”
Mike Parsons, Founder and CEO of Barchester Healthcare said, “No one, including journalists, should make presumptions about older people based solely on their age. We are proud to be working together with Independent Age once again to recognise and celebrate those in the media who, as well as highlighting just how astonishing and delightful older people can be, are also helping to create a seachange by encouraging wider public debate about older people in society, the contribution they make and the issues they face.”
Nominate now! The Older People in the Media Awards are now open for nominations. Anyone can nominate and it is free to do so.
Nominations must have first appeared in the media between 15 August 2012 and 14 August 2013. If you, or your readers, would like to submit any entries, let us know by completing our online form, which can be found on our website, www.independentage.org (where you can also find the full criteria for each of the categories) or by emailing us directly with your nominations at comms@independentage.org . The closing date for nominations is Wednesday 21 August 2013.
For media enquiries, contact Rebecca Law on 020 7605 4291 or email rebecca.law@independentage.org
Notes to editor
About Independent Age
Founded 150 years ago, Independent Age is a growing charity empowering older people across the UK and Ireland through the „A, B, C‟ of advice, befriending and campaigning. We offer a national telephone and email advice service focusing on social care, welfare benefits and befriending services, which is supported by a wide range of printed guides and factsheets. This is integrated with on-the-ground, local support, provided by a network of over 1,500 volunteers offering one-to-one and group befriending.
For more information, visit our website www.independentage.org Speak to one of our advisers for free and confidential advice and information. Lines are open Monday to Friday between 10am - 4pm. Call 0845 262 1863 or email advice@independentage.org
About Barchester Healthcare:
Barchester Healthcare is recognised as a UK major care provider, committed to delivering high-quality care.
At Barchester Healthcare we pride ourselves on our dedicated dementia care. Our Memory Lane Communities are designed to encourage people living with dementia to stay as independent and active as possible. We understand that no two people are the same and take a person-centred care approach, recognising and celebrating each person's individuality.
Barchester Healthcare has adapted and grown, expanding from a focus on older people needing nursing care in high quality environments to providing personalised support for adults with a range of disabilities, and of all ages. Barchester employs more than 17,000 people to care for more than 10,000 residents in more than 200 locations in the UK. The care provider is also proud to be the only care provider to make the Sunday Times 25 Best Big Companies 2013 list.
For more information, please visit www.barchester.com