NYU’s Science, Health, and Environmental Reporting Program (SHERP) and Everyday Health, Inc. have teamed up to create the Marianne D. Mattera MedPage Today SHERP Scholarship Fund.
The fund honors the distinguished medical journalism of MedPage Today managing editor Marianne Mattera who died earlier this summer of metastatic melanoma. Everyday Health is a digital health and wellness company that owns MedPage Today.
The scholarship will be awarded to journalism students in NYU’s Science, Health, and Environmental Reporting Program—part of the Arthur L. Carter Journalism Institute—who show exceptional promise in medical journalism. In addition, recipients of the award will have access to Everyday Health and MedPage Today employees who will serve in mentorship roles.
The first scholarship will be awarded during the 2014-15 academic year.
“With this scholarship we honor Marianne’s memory and commitment to excellence in medical journalism,” said Ben Wolin, CEO and Co-Founder, Everyday Health. “As a trusted source and leader of high-quality medical and healthcare content to consumers and health care professionals, it is critical that we encourage, mentor, and contribute to the success of the next generation of journalists.”
"We're so grateful to Everyday Health for establishing this scholarship fund in memory of a great journalist," said SHERP Director Dan Fagin, an associate professor of journalism at NYU's Arthur L. Carter Journalism Institute. "Journalism is undergoing rapid technological change, but the values Marianne Mattera championed -- accuracy, clarity and fairness -- must never change. With support from Everyday Health and Marianne's many friends and admirers, this scholarship will help ensure her values live on in the next generation of medical journalists."
In her career as a medical journalist, which spanned more than 30 years, Mattera won a record 18 Jesse H. Neal Awards from the Association of Business Information and Media Companies, considered the highest honor in specialized journalism. Prior to MedPage Today, Mattera was editor in chief of Medical Economics magazine and editor of RN, a clinical journal for nurses. She also edited two books for nurses during her career.
“Marianne was a dedicated professional and a mentor to many young journalists entering the field of medical journalism,” said Peggy Peck, vice president and editor in chief of MedPage Today, who hired Ms. Mattera in 2007 shortly after the site’s launch. “I believe Marianne would be honored by having a scholarship in her name and that through this scholarship our media channels are carrying on a tradition of mentorship that she valued so very much.”
For more on the fund, go to www.journalism.nyu.edu/sherp and click “Scholarship Funds”.