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epilepsyUSA Reporter Wins Excellence in Epilepsy Journalism Award

IBE and UCB announce winners of award to improve understanding of epilepsy around the world.

"A well-written, easy to read article highlighting the challenges that are often faced by the African-American community when trying to gain access to appropriate epilepsy care — a topic that rarely gets the coverage it deserves," said award judge Dr. Mark Porter, GP, Broadcaster and Medical Correspondent for The Times, U.K.


EpilepsyUSA senior editor, Lisa Boylan, said, “Aliyah Baruchin brings a conscientious and measured eye to her investigative reporting, never forgetting the human aspect of the topics she covers. She has also covered Hispanic Americans, Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders with epilepsy and has an article forthcoming for epilepsyUSA on Native Americans and epilepsy.”

October 20, 2009—The International Bureau of Epilepsy and UCB announced the winners of the Excellence in Epilepsy Journalism Award 2009 today.

Aliyah Baruchin

The winner of the print/online category is Aliyah Baruchin for her article Epilepsy in the African-American Community: Access Education and Advocacy, published in epilepsyUSA,the magazine of the Epilepsy Foundation, Issue 4, 2008.



The award, an initiative of the International Bureau for Epilepsy (IBE) and biopharmaceutical company UCB, aims to increase awareness, improve understanding, and encourage accurate reporting of epilepsy by inviting journalists to submit stimulating, informed and compelling stories about knowledge, data and real life experiences of people with epilepsy around the world.

Award judge Susanne Lund, Immediate Past President of the IBE, commented, "We received high caliber entries from 17 countries around the world covering a range of topics including facts about epilepsy, new developments in research, practical advice on travel as well as the stigma and challenges people living with epilepsy face at home, in the workplace and in the community."

"These entries truly demonstrate how journalists can help to combat the fear and ignorance about epilepsy and improve the lives for those living with the condition."


An independent seven-member judging panel, consisting of media experts and people with experience of epilepsy, was tasked with identifying responsible, informed, original and stimulating stories on epilepsy. The judges selected winners and a highly commended entrant in two categories — print/online and broadcast.


Television journalist and producer Miguel Ángel Tobíaswas judged winner in the broadcast category for his program, Hora de Salud: Epilepsia(Health Hour: Epilepsy), broadcast on Spain's Canal 9 TV. Member of the judging panel, Joachim Mueller-Jung, writer and journalist for Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitungin Germany said, "The judges felt this program had everything. It takes epilepsy to a broader audience in a clear and comprehensive way with educational insights into epilepsy. If programs like this were broadcast around the world, it would make a meaningful impact."

Highly Commended
Australian journalist Julia Medew received a highly commended award for her article Art Helps Lift the Veil on Epilepsy, published in The Agenewspaper. Her article, which reached more than one million readers, told the story of a young woman's participation in a study examining the influence of epilepsy on artistic expression. In the broadcast category, the judges highly commended Floriane Closuit for her thought-provoking film — Par Surprise(s)(By Surprise) and its powerful ability to humanize epilepsy.

Special Mention
A special mention was awarded to Majlinda Aliu for her compelling broadcast entry The Treatment of Epilepsy in Kosovo. According to award judge Roger Sergel, Managing Editor, Health Coverage, ABC News, USA, the film "is a gritty piece of journalism that gives us a window into a world we seldom see while providing a stark illustration of the challenges facing people with epilepsy in Kosovo."

For more information on the award or to download a 2010 entry form please visit: www.ibe-epilepsy.org/activities/excellence-in-journalism-award