Mail On Sunday writer scoops HFMA journalism award

The HFMA’s Health Journalist of the Year Award for 2009 has been awarded to Sarah Hartley at Natural and Organic Products Europe.

Sarah Hartley has been editor of the Health section of the Mail on Sunday since it was introduced two years ago. She started out as an intern at The Times in their Washington bureau in 1992, and later worked as assistant features editor on the paper, before becoming a commissioning editor on the Daily Mail. She is also the author of Mrs P’s Journey, the true story of Phyllis Pearsall, the woman who walked the streets of London in 1936 to map the first A-Z.

In presenting the award, HFMA Chairman John Redman praised Sarah Hartley’s knowledge and dedication to the health arena:

“We are delighted to have the opportunity to recognise Sarah’s contribution to communicating important health messages across a variety of national media and therefore reaching a wide audience.  As one member commented, Sarah is ‘open and responsive’ and as such is hugely supportive of the industry. To the public she offers reassuring advice that is backed by sound research, and is current and precise.”

Commenting on her award, Sarah said: “I’m really thrilled – and especially pleased as past winners are all writers I admire”.