Herald Democrat Reporter Wins Award
by Connie Harshman, the Herald Democrat
July, 2008
After more than 20 years in the news business, Herald Democrat reporter Kathy Williams has added the Texas Medical Association's Anson Jones Award to her long list of accolades. During her years as a journalist, Williams has developed a reputation for fair and accurate reporting locally and nationally, as well as high regards from many of her colleagues. The amount of respect garnered has earned her a plethora of awards that include; Donrey Media Group national contest Feature Story, first place; Texas Associated Press Managing Editors contest Spot News, first place; North and East Texas Press Association Spot News, first place; TAPME Editorial Writing, second place; TAPME General Column Writing, second place; TAPME Feature Page Design, second place, honorable mention; Texas Press Women, Speech Writing, first place, honorable mention; TPW Feature Writing, second place (2); TPW Spot News, second place (2), honorable mention.
On July 16 Williams received a plaque for first place in the category of print publications with a circulation of less than 100,000, as well as a check for $1,000, presented by Dr. Bohn Allen, former president of the TMA, for her article "Hope for the Uninsured."
Centered on the Grayson County Volunteer Health Clinic, in her article, Williams captured the essence of the struggle of providing affordable health care to 14,000 uninsured Grayson County residents, 4,573 of them children.
"I am just absolutely thrilled for her, she pours her heart into everything that she does," said Linda Bryant, the clinic's administrative director. "We were just so pleased with the story she did on the clinic last year, and had no idea that when we started this, how much of a large and impressive story it would be."
The judges for the award were a panel of physicians and former journalists from the TMA's Council on Health Promotion. Reviewing entries, the judges looked at five criteria areas, accuracy, significance, quality, public interest, and impact.
"TMA has presented these awards for more than 50 years. Doctors presented the first Anson Jones award to a Fort Worth Star-Telegram reporter for outstanding lay medical reporting in 1957," Allen said, during the award presentation. "TMA presents this award because we know the news media plays an important role in providing people with quality, timely news of medicine."
Some of the judges' comments include:
"There are great things happening in medicine in Texas. This article bears witness to that."
"A model of covering positive work in the community without engaging in puffery."
"Classic example of reporting on how one's own community is finding a positive solution to a problem of national dimension. Beautifully captures the mindset of the volunteers."
"I am thrilled to win this award, but not just because it's a personal honor to be recognized for my work -- and that the prize money will help my husband and me to visit our daughter in New Zealand," Williams said. "It's also a tribute to the many volunteers, doctors, nurses, office workers and others who donate their time through Grayson Volunteer Health Clinic to provide medical care for those who cannot afford health insurance."
Herald Democrat Editor Don Eldredge said he's worked with Williams for more than 20 years. "Kathy has been a strong anchor of our newsroom staff for more than 20 years, having served in a number of reporting and editing jobs," Eldredge said. "Her writing and editing skills are among the best I've seen in my 38 years in this business, and I've depended upon her more than I can possibly say in a short time. But I will say that she is most deserving of any awards given in this industry, and that has been backed up by the fact that she has won a number of awards. She is most deserving."
Bryant shares Eldredge's opinion. "I didn't know Kathy very well before that story, I had some interaction with her, but not a lot. But, after doing that story, I really felt like I had made a new friend, so that was a plus for me personally," she said. "Kathy has a big heart and cares about a lot of different people and issues. So, I think that no one is more deserving of that award more than Kathy."
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