A number of radio programmes and journalists have been shortlisted in this year’s Media Awards run by mental health charity Mind.
The nominees for the event later this year include a prison radio interview with Stephen Fry, a Radio 5 Live special about the suicide of footballer Robert Enke and Radio 4 Today Programme’s behind the scenes look at Broadmoor psychiatric hospital.
The awards, which celebrate the best portrayals of mental distress and reporting of mental health issues in the media, will be held at the British Film Institute on Monday 28 November.
The event will be hosted by actrees, writer and comedian Rebecca Front – who starred in The Thick of It and Just William and earlier this year created a Twitter storm when she talked about her experience of mental health problems and started the successful hashtag #whatstigma.
Rebecca said: “The media is hugely influential in shaping people’s opinions of mental health, for both good and ill. It’s vital that we celebrate the good work that is done to challenge the stigma that sadly still exists around mental health, and I am delighted to be hosting the Mind Media Awards 2011 to do exactly this.”
Radio 4 is shortlisted six times, with 5 Live and Radio 1 up for two awards. The only non-BBC nominee is HMP Wandsworth’s Radio Wanno which is shortlisted for an interview with Stephen Fry.
Here are the radio nominees. See the full shortlist on the Mind Media Awards website:
News and current affairs award
BBC Radio 1 Newsbeat: Access to talking treatments
This investigation by Newsbest reveals that some people with a mental health problem are having to wait up to three years to talk to a counsellor, depending on where they live.
BBC Radio 4 The Today programme: Inside Broadmoor
Today’s science correspondent Tom Feilden is granted unprecedented access to Broadmoor Hospital in this three-part feature that explores life in a high-security psychiatric hospital.
BBC Radio 4 You & Yours: Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing
Radio 4’s flagship consumer programme investigates Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing, a new treatment approved for addressing Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome.
BBC Radio 5 Live Victoria Derbyshire: Alcoholic GP
Victoria Derbyshire interviews a GP with an alcohol problem in this compelling and moving feature. She speaks frankly about her addiction on the day she’s about to enter a rehabilitation centre.
Speech radio award
BBC Radio 1: Surgery with Aled
The Radio 1 Surgery answers questions on mental health in a frank, cutting edge discussion aimed at a youth audience.
BBC Radio 4 – Jon Ronson…voices in the head
Writer and documentary maker Jon Ronson speaks to Eleanor Longden, a high achieving academic who hears voices. She rejects the label schizophrenic and happily lives with the voices in her life.
BBC Radio 4: Mentally ill and refusing surgery
Joan Bakewell is joined by a panel of experts to discuss the real life case of John who needs a life-saving operation, but is refusing it. He is experiencing psychosis and believes the operation is a ploy to kill him. Inside the Ethics Committee looks at the complex issues arising from this case.
BBC Radio 5 Live: Robert Enke a life too short
Eleanor Olyroyd hosts a 5live Sport Special a year on from the tragic suicide of Germany goalkeeper Robert Enke. Eleanor visits Enke’s home town to speak to the people who knew him best and looks at a story that stunned Germany.
Radio Wanno: Interview with Stephen Fry
A prisoner at HMP Wandsworth interviews Stephen Fry for this unique community radio station. They discuss the shared experience of coping with mental health problems, prison and the power of reading.
Journalist of the year award
Carolyn Atkinson: BBC Radio 4 You & Yours
Dispassionate and sensitive reporting from the You & Yours reporter. Carolyn presents listeners with an insight into crisis mental healthcare and new and unusual treatments for PTSD.
Claudia Hammond: BBC Radio 4 All in the mind
Claudia covers a broad range of issues on her entertaining and enlightening programmes appealing to those with and without expertise or experiences in mental health. Her coverage is consistently good, compassionate, authoritative and informative.