Authors: Notebook/FPC Publishing Journalist: Josephine Brouard
Year: 2006
Event: 2006 TheMHS Awards
Subject:
Type of resource: TheMHS Awards
Award state: NSW
Award level: Winner
Award category: Print
Abstract: The profile and photographic portrait of bipolar disorder survivor, Wendy Curtis, is a vividly meaningful way of humanizing a harrowing health journey, presenting it as uplifting rather than mournful. Moreover, as part of a quartet of inspiring Australian women with different stories to tell, Wendy’s bipolar journey is rightfully integrated with the rest of the magazine’s rich tapestry of tales. By using the first-person mode to describe the life of a bipolar disorder sufferer, the article brings to life the reality of the illness. When a bipolar disorder sufferer recounts the symptoms and social impact endured, readers believe the integrity of the personal account. Wendy tells how she turned her life around with medical and familial support and because of her honesty, readers feel compassion rather than fear. The profile also notes how the illness can be managed and Wendy is clearly depicted, not as victim but as gutsy survivor. To ensure interviewee’s story was accurately portrayed, journalist Josephine Brouard gave Wendy sign-off powers so that only copy approved by Wendy was submitted for publication. Furthermore, the article included a box of factual data about the condition gleaned from the Victorian Government’s Better Health website and these statistics were corroborated by Notebook’s fact-checkers (or sub-editors). Notebook’s sub-editors subsequently included a SANE helpline contact number to offer Notebook readers somewhere to go if they felt they suffered mental ill health. Description of Facility/Organisation:
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