Irish Times journalist wins award

Carl O’Brien, chief reporter with The Irish Times has been named consumer print journalist of the year at the GSK Irish Medical Media Awards.

Mr O’Brien won the award for 21st Century Baby, a series of three articles exploring assisted reproduction. He was commended by the judging panel - comprising healthcare professionals, journalists and representatives from patient groups - for “comprehensively covering the scientific, medical, ethical and legal dimensions of this complex subject”.

As Mr O'Brien is in the United States reporting on the presidential election, Irish Times features editor Conor Goodman tonight accepted the award on his behalf.

Ten other journalists were recognised for their contribution to health journalism, including Irish News journalist Seanin Graham who was named journalist of the year for her coverage of a historic child abuse scandal in two psychiatric hospitals in Northern Ireland.

The other winners in nine categories were Priscilla Lynch, Dr Paul Heslin and Dr Christine O’Malley of the Medical Independent; Tim Desmond and Conor McGinnity of RTE Radio 1’s Documentary on One; John Cooke of Clare FM; Jim Gray of the Sligo Champion; Tanya Sillem and Katie Hannon of RTÉ PrimeTime Special; and The Last Word on Today FM.

Speaking at the awards ceremony, Aidan Lynch, vice president and general manager of GlaxoSmithKline Pharmaceuticals Ireland, said the purpose of the awards was to recognise "the important contribution of Irish medical and consumer healthcare journalists".

“We are extremely fortunate to have a strong, independent media that can and does challenge pre=conceptions, ask the hard questions and push for answers.”