AddThis SmartLayers

Journalist whose mother had dementia honoured for reporting on condition

A regional daily journalist whose mother suffered from dementia has been honoured for her reporting on the condition.

Emma Clayton, leisure and lifestyle editor at the Bradford Telegraph & Argus, has won the Dementia Journalism of the Year accolade for regional print journalists at the Dementia Friendly Awards.

The awards, held by the Alzheimer’s Society, recognise individuals and organisations who have championed the rights of people affected by dementia.

Emma was praised for writing right from the heart and judges were particularly moved by the way she reported the living bereavement that families so often go through and the under-recognised issue of young people coping with dementia.

From left: Awards host Angela Rippon, Emma Clayton, Alzheimer's Society trustee Jenny Owen and the charity's chief executive Jeremy Hughes

From left: Awards host Angela Rippon, Emma Clayton, Alzheimer’s Society trustee Jenny Owen and the charity’s chief executive Jeremy Hughes

She told HTFP: “It meant a lot to me to win this award, especially as it was the first year there has been a journalism category in the Alzheimer’s Society awards. It is particularly close to my heart, as my mother had dementia and the Alzheimer’s Society was very supportive to her and my family.

“Dementia is an important issue of our time, and will become increasingly relevant to people. I am very keen to promote the good work that’s being done by various organisations across Bradford to raise awareness of dementia and create a ‘dementia friendly’ society, recognising the needs of people with the condition.”

The awards ceremony was hosted by Alzheimer’s Society ambassador Angela Rippon  in London on Wednesday.

Angela, who worked at the Western Morning News before going on to a career in broadcast journalism, said: “Emma’s five articles were all written in a personal way, from the heart. Particularly moving was the way in which she reported the living bereavement that families so often go through.

“She not only shone a light on the under-recognised issue of young people coping with dementia, but wrote in an engaging way about those taking part in the Memory Walk.

“The appeal of the paper’s campaign to ‘join our fight’ won an immediate response from readers. Emma can justifiably be described as a ‘friend of dementia’.”