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Press Release

May 22, 2007

2007 Hogg Journalism Award Goes to Story of Children and Families
Living with Mental Illness

AUSTIN, Texas – The Hogg Foundation for Mental Health has announced the winners of the third annual James S. Hogg Award for Mental Health Reporting.

Marina Pisano, a reporter for the San Antonio Express News has won first place in the 2007 James S. Hogg Award for Mental Health Reporting for a three-part series of articles on youths confronting mental illness.

In her March 2006 "Children of Rage and Sorrow," Pisano gives readers a glimpse of the lives of children and their families as they deal with depression, bipolar disorder, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, and schizophrenia. Pisano’s pieces humanize these all-too-prevalent illnesses and cover a range of critical information about their symptoms and treatment.

This is the second time Pisano has placed in this award. Two years ago she took third place for her Express-News article “Mind-Body Connection.”

Second place was awarded to Jimmy Isaac of the Longview News Journal for his December 2006 article, "Where do mental illness, criminal justice intersect?" Incorporating both consumers’ first-hand accounts and state and local officials’ perspectives, Isaac looks at how barriers to effective treatment can result in people with mental illnesses becoming involved in the criminal justice system.

Jennifer Emily of The Dallas Morning News received third place for her October 2006 article, "We Talk About Our Memories," which looks at the friendship between two women at North Texas State Hospital in Vernon. The two women, Andrea Yates and Dena Schlosser, were found not guilty by reason of insanity in the death of their children and ended up as roommates at the hospital. The story looks back on their past mental health issues, where they are now, and their hopes for the future.

Named for former Texas governor and newspaper editor James Stephen Hogg, the award was created by the Hogg Foundation to recognize exemplary journalism that educates the public about mental health and counters negative beliefs about mental illness.

Most people report getting their information about mental illness from the news media. Despite improvements over the past 30 years, many news stories on mental illness are negative or inaccurate. As the public’s main source of mental health information, journalists have a unique opportunity to increase the public’s knowledge of mental illness and counter stigmatizing attitudes.

The first-place winner receives $1,000, the second-place winner receives $500, and the third-place winner receives $250. The winning stories are posted on the Hogg Foundation for Mental Health’s website: www.hogg.utexas.edu.