JOURNALIST RESOURCES

The Michael E. DeBakey Journalism Awards recognizes outstanding investigative or interpretive reporting about scientific discovery involving animal models.

Since 1981, the Foundation for Biomedical Research (FBR) has brought scientists and journalists together to encourage exceptional and outstanding news reporting. The Michael E. DeBakey Journalism Awards, named in honor of FBR's chairman, recognizes and honors journalistic excellence in this field.

Eligibility, Rules & Requirements for Entry

The annual Michael E. DeBakey Journalism Awards seeks to encourage, recognize and reward works that enhance public understanding, respect, and support for the humane and responsible use of animals in medical and scientific research. The competition is open to all professional journalists.

The 2007-2008 Michael E. DeBakey Journalism Awards will be presented in Washington, DC in June 2008. Travel expenses will be paid for the winners and in the event of multiple bylines or producers, expenses will be paid for up to two winners. Entrants agree to make every possible effort to attend the awards ceremony.

• Print – Large market
  Reporting, analysis, commentary, feature, or series
• Print – Medium to Small market
  Reporting, analysis, commentary, feature, or series
• Television – Any market
  Reporting, analysis, commentary, feature, or series
• Radio – Any market
  Reporting, analysis, commentary, feature, or series
• Internet – Any market
  Reporting, analysis, commentary, feature, or series
• International – Any market
  Reporting, analysis, commentary, feature, or series

Announcement of Finalists

Each winner will receive a check for $2,000. In the event of multiple bylines or producers, the prize will be divided equally. The judges may also designate “honorable mention” awards, which confer an award of $1,000. Judges are not required to select winners if the quality of the entries does not meet the criterion. The judges’ decision is final and cannot be appealed.

Entries must have been published, broadcast or posted on-line between March 31, 2007, and March 31, 2008. They must be postmarked or received by April 30, 2008. Five hard copies of each entry are required. TV entries must be submitted on VHS cassette tape, radio entries on audio cassette tape.

Entries may be submitted by journalists or their employers. Entries submitted by employers must have the consent of the journalist. Entries may be accompanied by letters of support, but this is not required. A journalist may enter more than one work but not more than one category. Entries must be accompanied by a letter describing where and when the work was broadcast or published, the nature of the entry, the resources used to create it and its impact, if this is known. Entries cannot be returned.

The judges will give weight to entries that demonstrate thorough research, accurate reporting, originality, insight, and fairness. The work’s contribution to public understanding, respect, and appreciation for the humane and responsible use of animals in medical and scientific advancement will be carefully considered.

Entry Checklist

• Covering letter from journalist or employer
• Letter(s) of support (optional)
• Letter of consent from journalist
• Five copies of each entry and category entered, for print categories original tear-sheets are preferred
• Brief Biographical Sketch of the Journalist
• URL Site (for on-line entries only)

Foundation for Biomedical Research
818 Connecticut Avenue, N.W., Suite 900
Washington, D.C. 20006
Attention: The Michael E. DeBakey Journalism Awards

Please direct any questions to FBR’s Director of Media & Marketing Communications at
(202) 457-0654.

Previous DeBakey Journalism Award Recipients

Print – Large market

• Carrie Peyton Dahlberg, The Sacramento Bee
  "UCD Hopes to Help Build Better Mouse-Gene Model" (2007)
• Bijal Trivedi, New Scientist
  "Life on Hold; There's a Strange State Between Being Dead
  and Being Alive that Could Save Your Life" (2006)
• Carolyn Poirot, Fort Worth Star-Telegram
  "Primal Patients" (2003)
• Bryan Denson, The Oregonian
  “Monkeys and Medicine Men” (2002)

• Sara Burnett, Rocky Mountain News
  “Cures and Controversy: Animal Experiments Advance Medicine, But Secrecy, Violations Keep Some Activists Skeptical” (2007)
• Mara Bovsun, AKC Gazette
  “Starve a Tumor, Save a Dog” (2006)
• Cindy Tumiel, San Antonio Express News
  “Learning From Primates” (2005)
• Stephanie Davis, DVM Newsmagazine
  "Brilliant Scientist Exits" (2003)
• Jennifer Fisher Wilson, The Scientist
  “Research and the Senses” (2002)

• Arlene Weintraub, BusinessWeek.com
  “Side of Valves, Hold the Bacon” (2006)
• Dan Oko, MotherJones.com
  “Eco-terrorists Under Fire” (2002)
• Tom Clarke, Nature.com
  "Mice Make Medical History" (2003)

• Robert Bazell & Jane Derenowski, NBC News
  "Treatment for Canines with Cancer Raises Hopes; Researchers Encouraged by Melanoma Vaccine's Success on Dogs" (2007)
• John Stossel, Krisina Kendall, & Diane Petzke, ABC NEWS 20/20
  "PeTA - Give Me A Break" (2003)
• Ann Kellan, Marsha Walton, and Peter Dykstra, CNN
  “Of Mighty Mice and Super Athletes” (2002)

• Rosemary Pennington, WBHM FM
  "Babec's Pacemaker" (2006)
• Jim Handman (Senior Producer), Susanne Truelsen (Writer/Researcher), Bob McDonald (Host), CBC Radio Canada
  "Quirks & Quarks" (2004)
• Lynn Thomas, American Pet Journal Show
  "Animal Research Benefits Animals" (2003)

Special Feature Series

• David Cyranoski, Nature
  "Primates in the Frame" (2007)