2011 AWARD: CELEBRATING THE MEDITERRANEAN DIET

Back in 1990, food enthusiast and advocate K. Dun Gifford started a nonprofit educational organization called Oldways to change the way people eat. He believed that positive and practical solutions, grounded in science, traditions and delicious foods and drinks, would help address the threatening tsunami of chronic diseases.

Gifford invited others intrigued by his vision – scientists, chefs, restaurateurs, cookbook authors, and journalists -- to join him at the Oldways Table to address this important challenge. By documenting and educating others about the healthy “old ways,” Oldways and its partners have made strides toward changing the way people eat.

As a tribute to our founder and visionary who died in May 2010, a year later Oldways announced the K. Dun Gifford Journalism Award, an annual prize to recognize and honor the important role of communications in changing the way people eat.

Each year the award will reflect a rotating subject focus, and the Grand Prize will be linked to the same theme. 2011's theme was the Mediterranean Diet.

While journalism has changed in the past two decades with media consolidations, entry into the digital age, the advent of blogs and more, its influence on educating people everywhere about the importance of seeking out the joys and pleasures of good food and drinks is stronger than ever.  

2011 WINNER IS DR. WENDY BAZILIAN

The 2011 Grand Prize Winner was Dr. Wendy Bazilian for her Good Morning America segment entitled "Boosting Brain Health with the Mediterranean Diet." Dr. Bazilian's winning entry was selected by a jury including journalists Mimi Sheraton, Judith Weinraub and David Rosengarten, plus Dun’s daughter, Apple Gifford, and Oldways president Sara Baer-Sinnott. As winner, she will receive a weeklong, all expense paid trip to the Mediterranean region, where she can explore the culture, food and atmosphere freely with no expectations or assignments.

To view the full press release announcing the 2011 winner, please click here. For more information about the 2012 award, please join our Facebook community or check back here periodically.

GENERAL RULES FOR THE ANNUAL K. DUN GIFFORD AWARD

Who is Eligible / How to Enter

• The competition is open to all reporters (print, online & broadcast), freelancers and bloggers.
• Each journalist may submit one (1) piece reflecting the designated subject (i.e., Mediterranean Diet in 2011). To be eligible for consideration, pieces must meet these criteria:
  • Must be well-written / well-produced.
  • Must have been published or aired during the period from October 1st of the previous year through September 30 of the current year (unless otherwise specified).
  • Must be related to this year's selected subject matter. The inaugural 2011 K. Dun Gifford Journalism Award celebrated the Mediterranean Diet. Each year our subject matter will rotate to cover a topic we feel passionately about: Mediterranean Diet, African Heritage, Asian Diet, Latino Foods, Whole Grains, Pasta, Cheese, etc.
  • Must reflect one or more of Oldways' founding principles: to be positive, practical, science-based, and tradition-based.
  • Must celebrate the pleasures of the table.

Submissions

• Entries shall be labeled with name of article/segment, journalist’s name, affiliation, phone, email address, and street address. Broadcast entires should be submitted via CD or email
• Send entries by mail or email to:
  • mail: K. Dun Gifford Journalism Award, c/o Oldways, 266 Beacon St, Boston, MA 02116
  • email: GiffordAward@oldwayspt.org
• All entries must be postmarked or emailed by October 1 each year (unless otherwise specified).

Judging and Prizes

• Winner will be announced in December of the same year.
• A judging jury including Mimi Sheraton, Judith Weinraub, Apple Gifford, David Rosengarten and Sara Baer-Sinnott, President, Oldways, will select the winning entry based on criteria above.  The judges’ decision is final.
• The Prize is a fully paid, week trip to a location reflected in that year’s subject and designated at the sole discretion of Oldways. (For our inaugural 2011 contest focused on the Mediterranean Diet, the winner will receive a trip (including coach airfare, accommodations, local transportation and a daily stipend to cover meals) to the Mediterranean region.)

Other Important Rules

• By submitting an entry, entrants affirm that they are the rightful author/creator of their piece and that they have not borrowed, stolen or otherwise used copyrighted or intellectual property from another.
• There is no transfer of prize.
• Prize must be redeemed within a one-year period, starting upon award notification.  Flight and accommodations to be arranged through Oldways.  Blackout dates may apply as designated by our partner airline/hotel.
• Prize is taxable to the recipient, and the recipient is responsible for all taxes.  Winner must provide his or her tax identification number to Oldways.  Oldways will be issuing a Form 1099-MISC.

These are the complete and official rules of the K. Dun Gifford Journalism Prize. Oldways reserves the right to modify these rules when announcing the competition for subsequent years.

For more information, please contact Rachel Greenstein, rachel@oldwayspt.org, 617-896-4888.