2024-25 SATW Foundation Lowell Thomas Travel Journalism Competition
106 Robert Haru Fisher Award for Travel Health/Safety Coverage ( All)Back
Place Name: First Place Contestant Name: Yankee Entry Title: Swept Away Entry Credit: Michael Wejchert Judge Comment: This well-constructed story is framed by a dramatic, chilling tragedy on a New England beach that grabs attention for a threat far more dangerous and common than sharks. As the narrative progresses, the point is boldly underlined. Rip currents are dangerous, but the decisions made by people caught in rip currents – or learning to avoid them – make a difference. Lives can be saved.
Place Name: Second Place Contestant Name: Benjamin Kemper Entry Title: Is Travel Actually Bad for Your Gut? Entry Credit: Betsy Andrews Judge Comment: Approached with candor and backed up by medical professionals, this valuable story is about an often-overlooked aspect of travel – gut health. It includes tips about what to pack, what to avoid and what to do if sickness strikes, plus a discussion of the pitfalls that invariably come with the diet disruptions that traveling brings.
Place Name: Third Place Contestant Name: Kinsey Gidick Entry Title: What Happens When a Doctor Responds to a Medical Emergency on a Plane? Entry Credit: Kinsey Gidick Judge Comment: We’ve all wondered. You’re traveling and the flight crew calls for a doctor to assist a sick passenger. Someone steps up. What happens next? Writer Kinsey Gidick addresses that question with data and plenty of anecdotal experiences. For readers wondering about the ethical obligations, Good Samaritan law or whether doctors are paid for their service, this story has the answers.
Place Name: Honorable Mention Contestant Name: Jennifer Murphy Entry Title: Is It Safe to Travel to Mexico? I Think: Yes. Here’s What to Know. Entry Credit: Jennifer Murphy Judge Comment: This story lives up to the promise in its headline and documents the safety precautions of the seven most popular tourist destinations in Mexico and what to do and where to stay if you travel there. The writer gets into specifics, including how to interpret U.S. State Department risk levels and street-specific information about accommodations. The wealth and depth of local knowledge assuages fears.
