Healthcare company Merck launches new media awards

Merck Healthcare has launched an award for health journalists. The company says Merck More than a Mother Media Recognition Awards will showcase and appreciate outstanding health journalism and recognize professional journalists and students who have produced accurate, informative, and compelling stories about infertile women or couples.

The Merck More than a Mother Media Recognition Awards is sponsored Merck, the world’s oldest pharmaceutical and chemical company; to raise awareness about the critical role the media can play in breaking the stigma around infertility.

Opening up infertility

It also aims to change the culture of discrimination and abuse of infertile women while educating the public about infertility prevention, management and male infertility. In addition, the campaign aims to encourage men to discuss their infertility condition openly, support their wives through the journey of testing and treatment under the rallying call, Fertility is a Shared Responsibility.

“Merck More than a Mother” Campaign aims to empower infertile women through access to information, health, change of mind set and economic empowerment.

Dr Rasha Kelej, Chief Social Officer of Merck Healthcare and President of “Merck More than a Mother” says the media awards will reward stories of infertile women sharing their suffering and abuse by their husbands, families or communities due to their condition.

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“It is very critical to share these stories with the public to build advocacy of the need to change such behavior and break the stigma around infertility in general,” said Dr Kelej. “It also will provide a platform for those who have sought treatment to advise others on the journey and support those undergoing infertility treatments.”

Inability to have a child or to conceive can result in being greatly ostracized, isolated, disinherited or assaulted. This may lead to denial of access to family traditions, divorce or physical and psychological abuse.

The social stigma of childlessness especially for infertile women still leads to isolation and stigmatization in many cultures. While it’s estimated that about 50% of infertility cases are caused by male factors, women are left to solely carry the burden of blame.

The awards will honor and reward outstanding journalistic coverage that enhances the public’s engagement and understanding of infertility stigma and the need to change the social perception of it in African communities.

The stories submitted should be in a form of articles with photos, or three to five minute videos recorded using smart devices. 

 Who can apply?
The Award is open to print, video broadcast, photo journalists and media students whose stories appear in newspapers, websites, blogs and television and that target the public.

Categories
Submission will be judged and recipients selected based on the following categories:

Print and Online
• Newspapers or magazines
• Online (blogs and/or social media)

Broadcast
• Television
• Online (blogs and /or social media)

Photos
• Newspaper or magazines
• Online(blogs and /or social media)

Judging Panel
The judging panel consists of experts from diverse professional backgrounds including journalists, communications experts and media managers.

Eligibility
• The story must have been published any time before 30th AUGUST 2017
• Links to the stories must be submitted before the dead line.
• Plagiarism of any kind will lead to automatic disqualification
• Photo entries will only be limited to 2 photographs per journalist/student.
• Applicants should be East African journalists and registered media students in East Africa.

Deadline for submission of the stories and photos is 31st August 2017.

Application Process:
Applicants Name, Sex, Age, Media House or Institution (for students), Country and Contacts must be provided with the submission.

Applications can be submitted to [email protected]

Visit its website (www.merckmorethanamother.com) to see example of the videos and different articles about infertile women, men and couples.

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