Older People Speak Out (OPSO) People’s Choice Media Awards - 2006

Older people in general just do their bit and get on with life. However, negative media reports can encourage negative feelings about ageing and older people in the community.

OPSO People’s Choice Media Awards are a new media awards program, aimed at breaking this cycle, and encouraging the media to portray older people as they really are - active and contributing.

The OPSO People’s Choice Media Awards call on all Australians, young and old, to become media watch-dogs and nominate examples of positive media coverage of older people.

People’s Choice Media Awards Winners

People’s Choice – Photography: The Australian Women’s Weekly – various photographs in beauty and fashion

People’s Choice – Advertising: CHE Australian Pensioners Insurance Agency television ad

People’s Choice – Print: Susan Hudson, for an obituary, ‘Sister Aileen – defender of less fortunate and ‘hopeless cases’ ’, The Age

People’s Choice – Electronic: Peter Cundall, ‘Gardening Australia’, ABC TV

Media Monitors prize: Anne Ring, for her contribution of hundreds of entries – representing hours looking articles, photos and television for images of positive ageing.

Student People’s Choice Awards: Erik Hausoul – Richmond High School (NSW), Alicia Callisto – Marryatville High School and Theadora Tomlian – St John’s Grammar (SA), Emily Webb-Smith – Geralton Grammar and Nadia Martinez – Balcatta Senior High School (WA), Camille Savoid – Our Lady of Sion College (Vic) & Callum Rix – Cavendish Road State High (QLD)

The OPSO Choice Media Awards are run by Older People Speak Out, a voluntary non-profit organisation which provides lobbying services on behalf of older people, and are supported by the Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing, through the Office for an Ageing Australia.

Visit the Older People Speak Out (OPSO) website for more information about the 2006 People’s Choice Media Awards.