Older People In The Media Awards 2013

Following our participation in The Roses last year, we're delighted to be involved in The Older People In The Media Awards (new name, same thing) in 2013. Once again, we're proud to be backing a special Gransnet Award for the best older person’s character in a film, TV or radio drama.

The awards are a celebration of the best coverage of older people’s issues in all media, from news reporting to photojournalism and portrayals of older people in films or TV drama. The winners will be annonced at a special ceremony in central London on Tuesday 19 November 2013, with the aim of shining a light on coverage that has either positively portrayed older people, or sensitively highlighted the issues they face.
 
The 2012 winners included BBC1 Controller Danny Cohen for his brave and groundbreaking season of BBC1 documentaries, When I’m 65; Dame Maggie Smith for her feisty, funny portrayal of the Dowager Lady Grantham in Downton Abbey; Louis Theroux for his sympathetic exploration of living with dementia; and a host of regional outlets which successfully and sensitively drew attention to older people’s issues.

This year's categories

Nominations are now open for this year’s 10 categories, which are:
 
1.   Best factual newspaper or magazine article about older people’s issues
2.   Best factual radio programme about older people’s issues
3.   Best factual TV programme about older people’s issues
4.   Best factual new media article about older people’s issues
5.   Best coverage of issues around dementia and/or social care (Barchester special award)
6.   Best independent voice on older people’s issues (Independent Age special award)
7.   Best older person’s character in a film, TV or radio drama (Gransnet special award, voted on by the readers of Gransnet)
8.   Best use of photography to illustrate older people’s issues
9.   ‘The Thorn Award’: Worst example of stereotyping, factual error or misleading information in the coverage of older people’s issues
10.        Overall award winner: best overall contribution to the debate on older people’s issues.

You can nominate in all categories and for the Gransnet special award on the thread. Anyone can nominate and it's free to do so. The closing date for nominations is Wednesday 21 August. Nominations must have appeared in the media between 15 August 2012 and 14 August 2013
 
Janet Morrison, Chief Executive of Independent Age, one of the sponsors of the awards, said: “The Older People in the Media Awards are our way of recognising and thanking those people in the media who are working so hard to promote older people in a sympathetic way and are recognising the importance of the issues they face. Last year’s awards showed just what an incredible and inspiring slate of programming, articles and blogs there are which make efforts to move away from the stereotypes and assumptions about older people and show them instead as complex, individual and fascinating.” 
 
Mike Parsons, Founder and CEO of awards co-sponsor Barchester Healthcare, said, “No one, including journalists, should make presumptions about older people based solely on their age. We are proud to be working together with Independent Age once again to recognise and celebrate those in the media who, as well as highlighting just how astonishing and delightful older people can be, are also helping to create a sea-change by encouraging wider public debate about older people in society, the contribution they make and the issues they face.”

Independent Age
 
Founded 150 years ago, Independent Age is a growing charity empowering older people across the UK and Ireland through the ‘A, B, C’ of advice, befriending and campaigning. We offer a national telephone and email advice service focusing on social care, welfare benefits and befriending services, which is supported by a wide range of printed guides and factsheets. This is integrated with on-the-ground, local support, provided by a network of over 1,500 volunteers offering one-to-one and group befriending.

Barchester Healthcare

Barchester Healthcare is recognised as a UK major care provider, committed to delivering high-quality care and dedicated dementia care, with Memory Lane Communities designed to encourage people living with dementia to stay as independent and active as possible. Barchester believes in recognising and celebrating each person's individuality. Barchester employs more than 17,000 people to care for more than 10,000 residents in more than 200 locations in the UK and is the only care provider to make the Sunday Times 25 Best Big Companies 2013 list.