Freelance journalist Rachel Newcombe is celebrating after scooping a top writing prize – and a new job.

The Devon-based writer won the online journalism award at the 2004 Medical Journalism Awards, run by Norwich Union Healthcare and the Medical Journalists’ Association.

And as well as picking up £1,000 in prize money, the award has helped her win a new part-time job.

Rachel said: “I am thrilled to have won. I was really pleased to make it on to the shortlist and it was a great suprise to win.

“I’m also going to be editing a new women’s health website which is launching in March, which is partly due to the award as I was contacted while on the shortlist.”

Beating competition from journalists from the Guardian Unlimited and New Scientist Online, Rachel impressed judges with an article written as part of a series for the BUPA website which examined whether sunbeds should be banned.

Judges said of her work: “There was an excellent flow to this comprehensive, educational and informative article.

“Rachel went to great lengths when researching this and included plenty of medical details in a language everyone could understand.”

To read more about Rachel, visit our freelance directory.

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