And the 2014 NASW Media Award Winners are…
The National Association of Social Workers’ Media Awards recognize media professionals and outlets that help raise awareness about social work and social work issues.
This year more than 1,350 and others voted on more than 40 nominees.
Winners have been notified and will soon receive a formal congratulatory letter and trophy. NASW will also issue a press release on the awards.
Without further ado, the 2014 winners are:
Best Documentary/Feature Film:
The Powerbroker: Whitney Young’s Fight for Civil Rights: This documentary on PBS follows the career of Civil Rights leader and social work pioneer Whitney M. Young Jr., who was former president of the National Association of Social Workers and executive director of the National Urban League. The film, by his niece Bonnie Boswell, looks at the major contributions Young made to improving the rights of African Americans that are almost forgotten today.
Best Blog:
Daily KOS: “Social Workers Deserve More” by Madrigal Maniac. This post from an Ohio social worker discussed the high stress and low salaries of the profession and argues that social workers deserve better compensation. And the expected rising demand for social workers gives members of the profession an edge to demand higher salaries.
Best Radio Program:
WRKO AM Boston, Right Turn Radio: This talk show co-hosted by social worker Abby Dean, LICSW, MPH, attempts to put a more human face on addictions. In 2013 Right Turn Radio featured segments on how marijuana affects teenagers and on veterans and mental health and addiction.
Best News Article:
New York Times, “Overcoming Addiction, Professor Tackles Perils American Indians Face” by Alan Schwarz: Social work professor David Patterson is part Cherokee and faced many problems facing Native Americans such as alcoholism, addiction and depression. Schwarz reported on how, after reconnecting with his ancestry and getting counseling, Patterson recovered and devoted himself to social work and researching ways to address social and mental health issues affecting Native Americans.
Best TV News Program:
HBO, Real Time with Bill Maher, Episode 1108 (Transcript): Renowned social worker and economist Jared Bernstein told Maher that economists should work as social workers before proposing cuts in social support programs that could hurt the poor, children and the elderly.
Best Magazine Article:
Parade Magazine, “A Grief That Won’t Heal,” By Gretchen Reynolds. About one out of 10 people experience a form of grief so deep it does not go away and can even worsen. This is called complicated grief. Kathleen Shear, director of the Center for Complicated Grief at the Columbia School of Social Work, talked to reporter Reynolds about a therapy regime developed at the school that helps clients overcome such deep grief.
Best Column:
The New York Times, “The Untold Story of Military Sexual Assault,” by Michael Matthews: Matthews was raped when he was a young serviceman in the Air Force but never reported the incident. The trauma affected him, resulting in multiple suicide attempts. Matthews wrote about how a trained social worker helped him deal with the trauma and begin the journey to healing.
Best Website:
Social Justice Solutions: A social worker conceived and operated organization born out of the Stony Brook School of Social Welfare’s commitment to active participation in creating a socially just world.
Best TV Show:
The Fosters, ABC Family: Actor Geoffrey Rivas in 2013 portrayed “Bill,” a social worker who worked with a lesbian couple who adopted and foster kids.
Best Trade Publication:
Social Work Today Magazine: This magazine covers a variety of issues important to the social work profession, including articles in 2013 on the growing use of hospice care, adoption competency in clinical social work, and living with co-occurring disorders.
Don’t forget last year’s winners! And to learn more about the positive contributions social workers make in our society visit the National Association of Social Workers’ “Help Starts Here” website.
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