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AACR Announces Recipients of the 2024 AACR June L. Biedler Prize for Cancer Journalism

March 21, 2024

PHILADELPHIA – The American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) is pleased to announce the recipients of the 2024 AACR June L. Biedler Prize for Cancer Journalism in the following categories:

Magazine

Newspaper

Online/Multimedia

Television/Radio/Podcast

The prize recipients will be recognized on Sunday, April 7, during the Opening Ceremony at the AACR Annual Meeting 2024 in San Diego, California. The AACR Annual Meeting brings together thousands of researchers, clinicians, survivors, patients, and advocates to share the latest advances in cancer science and medicine.

The AACR June L. Biedler Prize for Cancer Journalism was established to raise awareness of the critical role that the media play in educating the public about cancer and cancer research. The prize showcases outstanding examples of cancer journalism and recognizes individual professional journalists who have produced accurate, informative, and compelling stories that enhance the public’s understanding of cancer, cancer research, cancer advocacy, or cancer policy. The prize is named in honor of June L. Biedler, PhD, and is supported by a generous bequest she made to the AACR.

“The AACR is thrilled to award the AACR June L. Biedler Prize for Cancer Journalism to these extraordinary journalists,” said Margaret Foti, PhD, MD (hc), chief executive officer of the AACR. “The winning submissions cover a wide range of important and impactful topics, ask difficult but necessary questions, and represent the very best in cancer journalism. We are grateful that Dr. Biedler’s gift allows us to formally recognize the crucial role that the media play in increasing both the public understanding of cancer and the value of cancer research, and we look forward to celebrating the recipients of this prize next month at the AACR Annual Meeting.” 

“The entries for this year’s Biedler Prize, once again, demonstrate the remarkable power of great journalism to illuminate the challenges that millions of cancer patients around the world face and to shed light on research and treatments that are bringing genuine hope,” said Clifton Leaf, adjunct professor of journalism at Columbia University, Global Fellow of the Ellison Institute of Technology, former editor-in-chief of FORTUNE, and author of the acclaimed book, The Truth in Small Doses: Why We’re Losing the War on Cancer—and How to Win It. “But just as remarkable is the universality of this journalistic mission,” continued Leaf, who has served as chair of the judging panel for the AACR June L. Biedler Prize for Cancer Journalism since its founding. “This year, reporters from no fewer than 19 countries submitted stories—many of which were so powerful and insightful that the Biedler judges had to wrestle long and hard to choose our winners.”

COMMENTARIES FROM THE JUDGING PANEL

Magazine

  • Commentary on “Why Is Cervical Cancer Still Killing Thousands of Women a Year?” by Beth Howard, Prevention
    Data show not only that the downward trend in cervical cancer incidence in the United States stalled about a decade ago, but also that, since then, cervical cancer incidence has begun to rise in certain populations. In this thoroughly reported piece, Beth Howard explores a plethora of possible culprits for this concerning trend, from low health literacy, racism, and the rise of vaccine hesitation to general breakdowns of care systems and communication. Howard’s article highlights the fact that cervical cancer remains a threat, despite the availability of tools to eliminate the disease, and that we all have a part to play in improving the situation.

Newspaper

  • Commentary on “New Drug Promises Better Treatment for Cancer Patients” by Hellen Shikanda, Daily Nation
    In this article, Hellen Shikanda narrates the cancer journey of a patient named Alex, who was diagnosed with stage IV colon cancer that had metastasized to his liver and who benefited from a phase Ib trial of an experimental molecularly targeted therapeutic. After several difficult rounds of chemotherapy, genetic testing of Alex’s tumor revealed that his cancer had an alteration in the KRAS protein called KRASG12C. Fortunately, Alex was able to participate in a phase Ib clinical trial that was evaluating a KRASG12C-targeted therapeutic at Aga Khan University Hospital in Nairobi, Kenya. Shikanda’s story masterfully highlights the ongoing promise of molecularly targeted treatments such as these, which have been transformational for many patients and which continue to improve.

Online/Multimedia

  • Commentary on “The Drug was Meant to Save Children’s Lives. Instead, They’re Dying.” by Rosa Furneaux and Laura Margottini, The Bureau of Investigative Journalism
    In this investigative piece, Rosa Furneaux and Laura Margottini report on the global spread of substandard doses of the chemotherapy drug asparaginase, which is used to treat acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), one of the most common pediatric cancers. Since asparaginase was introduced in the 1960s, the five-year survival rate for children with ALL has risen to 90% in wealthy countries. As Furneaux and Margottini report, however, at least a dozen brands of asparaginase sold for use in poorer countries in recent years have been found to be contaminated or do not meet minimum manufacturing quality standards. This has affected an estimated 70,000 children with ALL worldwide. This story led to a number of potentially lifesaving actions on behalf of cancer patients, including the development of a low-cost asparaginase contamination test and investigations by the World Health Organization’s substandard and falsified medical products team.

Television/Radio/Podcast

  • Commentary on “A new kind of blood test can screen for many cancers — as some pregnant people learn” and “Testing your genes for cancer risk is way cheaper now — and it could save your life” by Nell Greenfieldboyce, National Public Radio
    Nell Greenfieldboyce is being honored for two outstanding stories on testing for cancer and cancer risk. The first piece, titled “A new kind of blood test can screen for many cancers — as some pregnant people learn,” reports on pregnant women who receive prenatal blood tests to screen for chromosomal abnormalities in their fetuses, only to learn that they themselves might have cancer. The story details new research seeking to understand the results these women receive and how effective they are at detecting cancer. In her second piece, titled “Testing your genes for cancer risk is way cheaper now — and it could save your life,” Greenfieldboyce follows the story of a young Black man with early-onset colorectal cancer who finds out through genetic testing that he has Lynch syndrome, a genetic disorder that increases the risk of developing several types of cancer. This story explores how, even though the cost of genetic testing for Lynch syndrome and other genetic disorders has decreased, the use of these tests is still underutilized, especially by racial and ethnic minorities who are at higher risk of having Lynch syndrome.
  • Commentary on “New Policy May Limit Breast Cancer Coverage” by Anna Werner and Leigh Ann Winick, CBS Mornings/CBS News
    In this investigation, Anna Werner and Leigh Ann Winick explore the challenges patients with breast cancer face regarding insurance coverage of deep inferior epigastric perforator (DIEP) flap surgery following mastectomy. DIEP flap surgery is an alternative breast reconstruction method where skin, fat, and blood vessels from a woman’s abdomen are used to rebuild the breast instead of using breast implants. DIEP reconstruction is a preferred option for many patients who feel it offers a more natural and safer option to saline implants. However, as Werner and Winick highlight, implants are still often considered the standard for breast reconstruction, meaning women have to advocate for DIEP flap surgery as an option. Moreover, few surgeons who perform DIEP flap surgery take insurance. Finally, a change to health insurance reimbursement codes has resulted in low coverage by insurance companies for this surgery. This investigation helped bring attention to the effect this change in policy had on patients and the importance of access to healthcare through insurance among cancer survivors who need it the most.