Writer and broadcaster Dr Phil Hammond presented the MJA Awards at a ceremony at the Royal College of General Practitioners on July 7th. Top awards were presented to:

• Jeremy Laurance, Health Editor of The Independent who was named Health Journalist of the Year – for journalists writing or broadcasting to patients
• Clare Bellingham, Senior News and Feature Writer of the Pharmaceutical Journal who was named Medical Journalist of the Year – for journalists writing for healthcare professionals
• Barbara Myers, who currently presents Check-Up, a live medical phone-in on BBC Radio Four, was named Freelance Journalist of the Year
• The Lancet was named Medical Publication of the Year
• The Alzheimer's Society was named Medical Charity of the Year

The following entrants were commended and received an inscribed certificate:

• Medical Publication : British Medical Journal, Nursing Times, Scrip World Pharmaceutical News
• Health Journalist : Jenny Hope, Daily Mail, Sarah Boseley, The Guardian
• Medical Journalist: Monika Polak, GP Newspaper, Ian Schofield, Scrip World Pharmaceutical News
• Freelance Journalist: Fred Kavalier, Jenny Sims, Dr Mike Smith
• Medical Charity: Action on Pre-Eclampsia, BLISS, Cancer Research UK, Macmillan Cancer Relief, Motor Neurone Disease Association

(L to R) Jeremy Laurance, The Independent; Jenny Hope, Daily Mail; Sarah Boseley, The Guardian; Gill Markham, Corporate Affairs Director, Wyeth; Dr Phil Hammond.

(L to R) Ian Schofield, Scrip World Pharmaceutical News; Clare Bellingham, Pharmaceutical Journal; Sarah Mathieson, Head of Product Communications, Pfizer UK, Dr Phil Hammond.

(L to R) Dr Mike Smith; Fred Kavalier; Jenny Sims; Uwe Weiler, Managing Director, Boehringer Ingelheim; Dr Phil Hammond.

(L to R) Dr Phil Hammond; Dr Richard Horton, editor The Lancet; Kate Lloyd, Medical Director, Pfizer UK

(L to R) Dr Phil Hammond; Julia Cream, Head of Public Affairs, Alzheimer's Society; Uwe Weiler, Managing Director, Boehringer Ingelheim.

The Medical Journalists' Association was launched in 1967 and has more than 365 members, including those who edit or contribute to national, provincial and specialist publications, radio and television.

Membership is open to journalists who spend the majority of their working time in writing or broadcasting on medical or health subjects.

This year, for the first time, the entire membership of the Medical Journalists' Association was invited to nominate contenders for the five categories and to vote for those who reached the shortlist.

Pharmaceutical company Boehringer Ingelheim sponsored this year's presentation ceremony and the Freelance Journalist of the Year and the Medical Charity categories. The Medical Journalist of the Year and Medical Publication awards were sponsored by Pfizer UK. The Health Journalist of the Year was sponsored by Wyeth.