Winners of the 8th Interamerican “Vital Air”Journalism Contest

The InterAmerican Heart Foundation and the Global Bridges Healthcare Alliance for Tobacco Dependence Treatment are pleased to announce the winners of the Eighth Interamerican “Vital Air” Journalism Contest focusing on Tobacco Dependence Treatment and supporting Article 14 of the World Health Organization’s Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC).”

Tobacco use causes hundreds of thousands of deaths every year in Latin America and the Caribbean. Hundreds of thousands more in this region are left with serious and debilitating health consequences.  Latin America and the Caribbean have taken important steps towards adopting tobacco control and prevention measures.  In particular, tobacco control policies following the requirements and guidelines of the FCTC, the first public health treaty in history, have had a strong impact in many countries.  This treaty is currently subscribed by over 90 percent of the world’s countries..

The international jury had a very difficult job in selecting the winners given the level of excellence of the journalistic works that were received.  The winners of the Eighth Interamerican “Vital Air” Journalism Contest are:

Overall Winner and First Place Print: was awarded to Ms. Tracy Moore, journalist with Better Health Magazine in St. James, Barbados, with her report “Smoking Out Tobacco”.  (http://www.interamericanadelcorazon.org/archived/docs/concurso/7324_11405105.pdf )

Honorable Mention Print:  Ms. RocĂ­o Rangel, journalist with ExcĂ©lsior in Mexico City, Mexico with her report “Apagan el Cigarro”.  (http://www.interamericanadelcorazon.org/archived/docs/concurso/6539_52610255.pdf )

First Place Internet: was awarded to Mr. Carlos Henze and Dr. Guadalupe Ponciano, journalists with Mundo de Hoy S.A. de C.V. in Mexico City, Mexico, with their report “Tabaquismo: el principal factor de riesgo para el desarrollo de CĂĄncer Pulmonar”.  (http://www.lasalud.mx/permalink/11147.html )

Honorable Mention Internet:  Mr. AndrĂ©s Vargas, journalist with SuMĂ©dico.com in Mexico City, Mexico, with his report “Urgen mĂĄs tratamientos para adicciĂłn al tabaco”.  (http://www.interamericanadelcorazon.org/archived/docs/concurso/1064_47643802.pdf )

First Place Radio: was awarded to Ms. Laura MarĂ­a Casteluche, journalist with Radio Autentica FM 107.5 in Maracay, Venezuela with her report “Deja de Fumar y Gana el Juego de tu Vida”.  Part 1 (http://youtu.be/3qv87agPj1g ), Part 2 (http://youtu.be/MUNcgoObV2A )

Honorable Mention Radio:  Ms. MarĂ­a Isabel Camiletti, journalist with AM 1400 Radio Cumbre in NeuquĂ©n, Argentina, with her report “Tabaco, adiccion y cesacion”.  (http://www.interamericanadelcorazon.org/archived/docs/concurso/adiccionycesacionfeb2013camiletti.mp3 )

First Place Television: was awarded to Ms. Mariana Carbajal, journalist with TV Magazine in Buenos Aires, Argentina with her report “Entrevista Control de Tabaco”.  (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lL8twsToSIU )

Honorable Mention Television:  Mr. RaĂșl Edgardo Londero, journalist with Cablevision – Argentina – ParanĂĄ, in ParanĂĄ, Argentina, with his report “Carra”.  (http://www.interamericanadelcorazon.org/archived/docs/concurso/CARRA.wmv )

A list of all the journalism works submitted can be found at:
http://www.interamericanheart.org/images/TOBACCO/8thjournalismrosterpublic.xls

Our sincerest appreciation to all those who participated in the contest.

Beatriz Champagne, PhD, Executive Director, InterAmerican Heart Foundation
Gustavo Zabert, MD, Regional Director, Global Bridges
Katherine Kemper, MBA, Executive Director, Global Bridges