Roche Award 2023

“We want  to continue expanding the universe of stories  that can be entered into the Roche Award. Health and science issues are vital on the media agenda due to their connection with different areas and perspectives of journalism, such as economics, politics, social issues, innovation, among others,” said Miguel Montes, director of Programs at the Gabo Foundation. “What we expect and look for are jobs with  quality, rigor, ethics, and excellence  in their coverage and dissemination,” he added. 

After this first decade with the Roche Award, the  set of works  that are part of the contest has been  enriched and diversified , thanks to the applications of those who are dedicated to exclusive coverage of health and science, and the contribution of those who come to these issues through other journalistic approaches.

“At Roche, we have always been convinced that  we have to put health at the forefront  and, today more than ever, important health and science issues on the public agenda. It is the only way in which we can generate the necessary debates to promote the health agenda of our countries. It is everyone’s responsibility to work so that health is a priority , also to work to strengthen health systems and so that there are health policies that guarantee that all the inhabitants of our countries have equitable access,” said Fernando Giannoni, leader of Affairs Public and Communications at Roche Latin America.

The best exponents of Latin American health journalism will be recognized at the end of the eleventh edition in the  award ceremony  to be held on  November 9  , 2023 in  Panama City  (Panama), within the framework of Roche Press Day, a forum that promotes the interdisciplinary exchange between journalists, health professionals, academia, representatives of civil or non-governmental organizations, and decision makers. 

These are the categories 

This year, you can apply for the Roche Award if your journalistic work falls into one of these three categories: Written Journalism, Audiovisual Journalism and Daily Coverage. 

• In  Written Journalism,  the best journalistic text published in a print or digital medium in Latin America will be awarded
• In  Audiovisual Journalism,  the best journalistic work produced and broadcast in Latin America by open or closed television or digital media will be recognized. 
• In  Daily Coverage,  the work that best meets the benchmark for in-depth journalistic coverage, explanation, and follow-up of issues that arise from the daily situation will be chosen. 

different approaches

When applying to the contest, you must take this list of topics into account, since  your journalistic work must be focused on at least one of these  to be accepted: 

1. Challenges facing health care.
2. Non-communicable and low prevalence diseases.
3. Innovations for health care. 
4. Political reforms to improve health care.
5. Women and health.
6. Community actions for health.

Check this before signing up 

• Journalistic works must have been originally issued in Spanish or Portuguese and must have been issued or published for the first time between January 1, 2021, and December 31, 2022. 
• There is only one way to apply for the 2023 Roche Award and it is through the website, entering the application platform and filling out all the fields in the registration form that you will find there.
• It is possible to apply for more than one work to the eleventh edition since you can register an individual work and a collective one to the contest, but we recommend that you first review the Roche Award Bases to be clear about the procedure. 
• The evaluation process will begin the day after the closing of the call, scheduled for  July 12, 2023, following three stages: a technical round, an initial selection made by the team of prejurors, and a final selection by the juries. of each category and the adviser for the special honorable mention. 

The incentive for the best 

Attention to these news! We have renewed the incentive for the winners of the Roche Award . Those who are recognized with the award in each of the categories of the eleventh edition will participate in a  training program on health journalism . 

This  new award  includes attendance at a three-day face-to-face workshop organized by the Gabo Foundation, as an opportunity to  strengthen the knowledge  of Latin American journalists on health and science issues. The winning person will have immediate access to this benefit but, if the best work was done by a  journalistic team , its members must  choose a representative  to participate. 

This training program will not only provide the space to transmit and share experiences in the context of a workshop, but will also allow immersion  in other  learning scenarios, through visits to universities, scientific study centers, etc.; the  approach to practical  and successful experiences in the health and science sector, with visits to hospitals, health centers or specialists, with scientific or health advances, as well as a  tour of the  host city. 

The winners will also receive a commemorative trophy and a diploma, while the  finalists  in each category of the eleventh edition will obtain a medal and a diploma during the award ceremony. 

honorable mentions

The work that best develops the  solutions journalism  approach will be highlighted in the eleventh edition with an  honorable mention. This seeks to promote the production of journalistic stories that investigate, narrate, and explain in depth the responses that institutions, communities, and individuals are developing to the challenges, problems, and health gaps in the region. 

In addition, in each category this year, an honorable mention will be awarded   to the work with the best development of the theme  Challenges facing health care . 

Journalists who receive these honorable mentions will be awarded a  diploma in recognition  of their work in these specific focuses. 

About Roche

Roche is a global company, pioneering the research and development of medicines and diagnostics to advance science and improve people’s lives. The combined power of pharmaceutical-diagnostic integration under one roof has made Roche the leader in personalized healthcare, a strategy geared towards providing each patient with the best possible treatment.

It is the world’s largest biotechnology company with truly differentiated medicines in the areas of oncology, immunology, infectious diseases, ophthalmology and neurosciences. Roche is also the world leader in in vitro diagnostics and histological diagnosis of cancer, and is at the forefront of diabetes management.

Founded in 1896, Roche seeks better ways to prevent, diagnose and treat disease, and to contribute to the sustainable development of society. The company also aims to improve patient access to medical innovations by working with all relevant stakeholders. The World Health Organization’s List of Essential Medicines contains 30 medicines developed by Roche, including life-saving antibiotics, antimalarials and cancer medicines. For the twelfth consecutive year, Roche has been recognized in the Dow Jones Sustainability Indices (DJSI) as one of the most sustainable companies in the Pharmaceutical, Biotechnology and Life Sciences group.

The Roche Group is headquartered in Basel, Switzerland, and is operationally present in more than 100 countries. In 2019, it employed around 98,000 people, invested CHF 11.7 billion in R&D (research and development) and had sales of CHF 61.5 billion. Genentech (United States) is a wholly owned member of the Roche Group. Roche is the majority shareholder of Chugai Pharmaceutical (Japan). For more information, see www.roche.com .