How We Can See Through You

It is not possible to imagine medicine without imaging procedures. Bettina Müller and Kirsten Milhan's explanation of medical imaging procedures for non-professionals has been awarded the journalist prize at MEDICA. 19/11/2009

The awardees Müller and Milhan;
© Trade Fair Dusseldorf

"How Machines X-Ray People" - that is the title of the prize winning article. With the help of a six-page photo-gallery in the Stern magazine the awardees explained the complex methods of modern imaging in a way that is even comprehensible to non-professionals in November 2008. Müller and Milhan intended to and managed to reduce the fear many people have of medical equipment.

"The journalists really deserve this prize", explained Gerd Fischer at the prize award ceremony at the CCD South on Wednesday. Fischer is board member of the German Medical Press Union which awarded the prize for the second time this year. An independendt jury which consists of medical scientists and journalists judged the articles.

The journalists chose to communicate their message using an infographic . This kind of journalistic presentation is rare in the German media . It is a visual representation of either information, data or knowledge. Infographics are used where complex information needs to be explained quickly and clearly. The authors are not able to explain the complex information unless they understand it

Bettina Müller is vice infographics editor of the Stern magazine. Kirsten Milhan is a freelance journalist of GEO and Stern Healthy Living. The awardees thanked the jury and were very pleased about the decision.

Simone Heimann
MEDICA.de