The Sentinel forHealth Awards Awards Ceremony Writers Guild of America, west Los Angeles, California October 26, 2004 The Sentinel for Health Awards The Sentinel for Health Awards The Sentinel for Health Awards recognize exemplary achievements of television storylines that inform, educate and motivate view- Awards Ceremony ers to make choices for healthier and safer lives. For many loyal viewers, television dramas and comedies provide both entertain- Writers Guild of America, west ment and information about disease, injury and disability. A compelling storyline that demonstrates risky behavior and conse- Los Angeles, California quences, or shows how to avoid risk, can benefit millions of viewers and their loved ones. October 26, 2004 Each entry is screened by Hollywood, Health & Society staff for eligibility. Qualifying entries are then evaluated in two rounds of judging. In the first round of judging, each storyline is reviewed for accuracy by a panel of topic experts who take the following into consideration: Welcome Judith Light Martin * How the health problem can be prevented Daniel Petrie, Jr. Judith Light has Kaplan, PhD * How a character’s choices affect his/her health or safety President, Writers Guild of America, captivated audi- Martin Kaplan, * What causes the health problem and how it impacts the lives and relationships of characters west ences since her Associate Dean of * Common myths about the health issue soap star days as the USC Annenberg * Which characters are at greatest risk for the health problem Karen Wolek on School for Introductory Remarks * Professional standards and practices observed by health care providers One Life to Live Communication, Martin Kaplan, PhD and as Angela Bower on the ABC-TV is the Director of the Norman Lear Associate Dean, USC Annenberg Finalists from the first round of judging are reviewed by a panel of invited experts from public health, academic, advocacy and hit comedy series Who’s the Boss? In Center. A summa cum laude gradu- entertainment organizations. The entries are evaluated based on the following criteria: School for Communication 2000, Ms. Light starred as Dr. Vivian ate of Harvard in molecular biology, * Potential benefit to viewing audience Director, Norman Lear Center Bearing in the off-Broadway play WIT. a Marshall Scholar to Cambridge * Entertainment value In the 1989 landmark production, The University and a Stanford PhD, he has Elizabeth Majestic, MS, MPH Ryan White Story, Ms. Light played the been an Aspen Institute program offi- Previous Recipients Deputy Director, CDC Coordinating mother of teenage AIDS victim Ryan cer; a federal education staffer; Vice 2000 “Viki’s Breast Cancer,” One Life to Live (ABC) Center for Health Information and White. Ms. Light is currently a member President Walter F. Mondale’s chief 2001 “Raul’s Diabetes,” The Young and the Restless (CBS) Service of the Board of Directors and Advisory speechwriter and deputy presidential 2002 “Tony’s HIV,” The Bold and the Beautiful (CBS) Boards of the AIDS Grove Monument campaign manager; a vice president of 2002 “Bert’s Pap Smear,” Guiding Light (CBS) – Sentinel for Health Pioneer Award Edward Maibach, MPH, PhD Committee, Last Acts with Rosalyn motion picture production for Disney 2003 “Neil’s Alcoholism,” The Young and the Restless (CBS) Associate Director, National Cancer Carter, the Centers for Disease Control Studios; and a film and television writ- Institute and Prevention’s Business Responds er and producer (The Distinguished Gentleman, Noises Off, Max Q: to AIDS/Labor Responds to AIDS, the Emergency Landing). Research on Prime Time and Daytime Television Viewers Presentation of Awards Trevor Project and Hollywood, Health & Key findings from the Porter Novelli 2001 HealthStyles survey reveal that more than half (57%) of regular TV drama viewers Society at the USC Annenberg Norman Judith Light, Stage and Screen (those who watch at least twice a week) learned something about a disease or how to prevent it from a daytime or prime time Lear Center. Actress drama. Seven out of ten Hispanic women reported learning, and nearly two-thirds of Blacks reported learning. About one- Ms. Light also appears as a recurring third of regular viewers took one or more actions as a result of a TV health storyline, with women reporting action more often character on the highly rated NBC series than men (37% vs. 29%). Discussion is the most common response to TV storylines, but many viewers also report that they Panel Discussion Law and Order: SVU. did something or told someone else to do something to prevent a problem, called a toll-free hotline for more information or Dr. Kaplan and Awards Recipients visited a doctor or clinic. These findings are part of an ongoing study conducted by CDC and USC to evaluate the impact of TV health storylines on viewers through the Porter Novelli Styles surveys. Summaries are available at: www.cdc.gov/communication/ healthsoap.htm. The Sentinel for Health Awards The Sentinel for Health Awards Awards Finalists Prime Time Drama (cont’d.) Daytime Drama “Sick,” Everwood (WB) Writers/Producers: Michael Green, Joan Binder Weiss, Vanessa Taylor, Andrew A. Ackerman, Rina Mimoun, Greg Berlanti, Mickey Liddell “Kevin & Lily: Danger Within,” The Young and the Restless (CBS) Writers/Producers: John F. Smith, Kay Alden, Trent Jones, Jerry Birn, Natalie Minardi-Slater, Tim Houghton, Janice Ferri, Eric Freiwald, Judges’ Comments: Good description of HIV/AIDS, what it does, how it’s transmitted and not transmitted...Very good modeling of how to explain HIV to a young child as well as a teen...Exemplary review of medical legal issues related to practitioner disclosure...Nice Joshua McGoffrey, Edward J. Scott, Kathryn Foster portrayals of the realities of living with HIV, including drugs, disclosure difficulties, and discrimination. At the same time, (the char- Judges’ Comments: Good information on what (the character) should be tested for, how to test for HIV, emergency contraception, tak- acter) continues to be proud, independent, and have loving relationships. ing the full course of antibiotics, potential future outcomes of chlamydia infection…Teaches kids about choices, skills to recognize “lines” that partners, especially men, might use to try and persuade them and that love isn’t sex…Shows both parents and aunt/ “Shaken,” Law & Order: SVU (NBC) doctor as being accepting and non-judgmental, lessening the stigma of STDs. Writers/Producers: Amanda Green, Peter Leto, David DeClerque, Randy Roberts, Michele Fazekas, Tara Butters, Jonathan Greene, Roz Weinman, Lisa Marie Peterson, Dawn DeNoon, Robert Nathan, Arthur Forney, Patrick Harbinson, Peter Jankowski, Ted Kotcheff, Neal Baer, Dick Wolf Prime Time Comedy Judges’ Comments: Good portrayal of mother, showing how frustration and stress can lead to Shaken Baby Syndrome...Great use “Pressure Drop,” Grounded for Life (WB) of research, highlighting risk factors and showing the physical consequences of Shaken Baby Syndrome...Dispels myths that it is Writers/Producers: Eric Kentoff only poor, untrained, mean mothers who commit SBS...The male detective was a good voice for the experienced parent who under- Judges’ Comments: This show relayed accurate blood pressure numbers and included ways to help lower blood pressure...The show stands how stressful raising a child can be; how abuse happens in “good families.” brought a humorous aspect to how blood pressure can impact one’s life...Great job hitting major risk factors - exercise, diet, stress, weight, etc...Great wrap-up of the need to make lifestyle changes and diet modifications. Prime Time Minor Storyline “No More Wire Hangers,” One on One (UPN) “Christenings,” Judging Amy (CBS/FOX) Writers/Producers: Kenny Smith, Eric Lev Writers/Producers: Carol Barbee Judges’ Comments: This show effectively targets kids...Portrayal of the adolescent reaction to alcoholism was nicely done, and mom’s Judges’ Comments: Hits many common factors associated with anorexia - onset around puberty, social and family stressors, parental reactions when confronted were common and realistic...Provided great health information...The show demonstrated that it is okay to concerns about getting help, teens listening to people other than parents, control, desire for acceptance, lack of insight by (the char- stand by a friend and get help for that friend. acter) into gravity of her condition and the degree to which her thinking was distorted by the illness...Liked the way parallel story- lines reinforce messages...Good job showing the (negative) impact of the Pro-Ana (for anorexia) Web site. Prime Time Drama “The Elgin Storyline,” ER (NBC) Writers/Producers: Dee Johnson, John Wells, David Zabel, Richard Thorpe, R. Scott Gemmill, Jonathan Kaplan, Joe Sachs, Bruce Miller, Julie “Will’s Post-Polio Sequelae,” American Dreams (NBC) Hébert, Wendy Spence Rosato, Tommy Burns Writers/Producers: Josh Reims, Michael Foley, Becky Hartman-Edwards, John Romano, Oliver Goldstick, Rama Stagner, Emily Whitesell, Jonathan Prince, Jim Chory, David Semel, Dick Clark Judges’ Comments: Done in a very realistic fashion...The story managed to convey accurate and necessary information without seem- Judges’ Comments: How polio impacts the lives of patients and family is very nicely presented and demonstrated...Very believable for ing contrived...Very good about dispelling myths that children do not get high blood pressure...Nice overview of prevention methods, the time period it’s set in; great depicting that Will’s polio could have been prevented