2009 National Ethnic Media Awards Winners

Healthcare

Winner

"Diet, What Diet?"
Norma de la Vega, Enlace

Runner Up

"Postpartum Depression: South Asian Women Suffer in Silence"
Sunita Sohrabji, India West

Healthcare

Winner: Norma de la Vega, "Diet, What Diet?" Enlace (San Diego, California)

While on her beat at Enlace newspaper, Norma de la Vega always noticed widespread obesity in the Hispanic community. A chance encounter with a teacher one day gave her the idea of doing a story about obesity and diabetes among Hispanic farm workers. The teacher, Maria Chavez, told de la Vega that she was on her way to a workshop she was conducting to educate farm workers on the importance of diet and exercise, and the dangers of obesity. Chavez told de la Vega that her own brother had died of obesity-related diabetes when he was barely 40.

The three-part series, "Take Care of Your Family, Protect Their Health," ran in Enlace over a six-month period in 2008. It chronicles how Chavez recruited farm workers with no health insurance and little money, and set up discussions during which they devised their own strategies for overcoming cultural barriers to planned exercise and dieting.

"I followed them around for about four months and sat in on workshops," says de la Vega. "At first, they were uncomfortable in my presence, but when they realized I wanted to work with them, they opened up."

Norma de la Vega covers education and health affairs for Enlace, a Spanish-language weekly newspaper of the San Diego Union-Tribune and was a 2009 Health Care Fellow for The California Endowment.

She is originally from Mexico City, and has worked as a freelancer for print media, news wires and TV news. She previously worked for Channel 12 KBNT in Tijuana, and was a correspondent in San Diego for Proceso, a national political magazine in Mexico, and its APRO wire services. Her work has also appeared in La Opinion and Hispanos Unidos, a weekly Spanish newspaper in San Diego County.

This is de la Vega's fourth NAM award. "But this is the big one for me," she said.


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Testimonials

About NAM's First National Ethic Media Awards
Washington, D.C., 2006

Hillary Rodham Clinton

I want to congratulate the honorees who are receiving the equivalent of the “Pulitzer Prize.” Every generation brings so many voices to the debate. Ethnic media represent the way the new Washington needs to connect to the new America.

Len Downie, Executive Editor, Washington Post

I was very pleased that I could be at the awards ceremony. New America Media is a very significant journalistic organization and you are doing important work.

Michael Jack, VP of Diversity, NBC Network

Congratulations for pulling off such a successful event. It is not easy to do anything for the first time, but you managed to do just that. The well deserving recipients truly appreciated the acknowledgement.

Brant Houston, Executive Director, Investigative Reporters and Editors, Inc.

Thanks for including us in this great project.

Lorena Hernandez, Bay Area Director of Communications, Comcast

Congratulations on the successful National Ethnic Media Events in DC!

Juliet K. Choi, National Partnership Development Senior Associate, American Red Cross

Congratulations on a beautiful inaugural Ethnic Media Awards – and kudos for getting Senator Clinton to show!

Julie H. Sun, Corporate Relations and Housing Outreach Manager, Freddie Mac

We were very happy to be engaged.

Pat Lawson Muse, Anchor, NBC4

Congratulations for pulling off such a successful event. Many of the stories that generated awards were so moving. The well de- serving recipients truly appreciated the acknowledgement.

Anna Lefer, U.S. Programs Program Officer, Open Society Institute

Congratulations on a hugely successful awards ceremony. After scanning the crowd of journalists and executives from ethnic and mainstream media, elected officials, international dignitaries and diplomats, and DC insiders, it is quite clear that NAM is a part of the political fabric down in DC.

Pam Larson, Executive Vice President, National Academy of Social Insurance

Being part of NAM’s gathering and associated events was a true honor and thrill for us! . . . You’ve got a real eye for the future -- and for making a better “present” for many people, too!

Ellen Hume, Senior Research Fellow, UMASS Boston

Congratulations to everyone. Our delegation just met here at UMASS Boston to recount how inspiring the NAM awards and work- shops were. Everyone is glowing.

Jon Funabiki, former deputy director of the Media, Arts and Culture with Ford Foundation

New America Media truly has changed the nation by bringing the power of ethnic news media into focus and making people take notice. NAM has changed the course of history.