Stuttering Foundation Announces 2009 Journalism Award Winners

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (May 11, 2009) — The Stuttering Foundation has announced its 2009 Awards for Excellence in news reporting. The winning entries successfully enhanced public understanding of this complex speech disorder during the past year. "Journalists in a variety of media have done an outstanding job of focusing on the causes and treatment of stuttering over the past year," said Jane Fraser, president of the 62-year-old nonprofit foundation. "We were particularly pleased this year to see an increased focus on young people." Three distinguished journalists are honored for their outstanding contributions. They are:

Category: Daily Newspapers

First Place: Martha Phifer, The Orlando Sentinel, Orlando, Florida. “Take control of stuttering.” The English and Spanish articles give readers the tools needed to identify stuttering and offers useful advice on how to help children overcome stuttering. These articles provide different points of view on the problem, offer lots of resources for help, and reach a large Hispanic audience.

Second Place: Kit Bradshaw, Jupiter Courier, Stuart, Florida. “Kids who stutter don’t want to be defined by their speech,” a multimedia presentation, provides readers with positive and accurate information about stuttering through the viewpoint of two teens. Speech-language pathologist Liz Blake shares accurate information with viewers.

Third Place: Jill Moon, The Telegraph, Alton, Illinois. “Don’t stifle stutterers.” Moon focused on help for classroom teachers with students who stutter including resources at the local library.

Category: Television

Honorary First Place: Producer Diana Montano and Telemundo TV for their timely segment on stuttering, targeting Spanish-speaking parents with help nationwide. This excellent segment featured speech-language pathologist Lisette Betancourt of Miami Children’s Hospital.

The awards are being announced today, the first day of National Stuttering Awareness Week, May 11-17. San Diego Charger Darren Sproles leads this year’s awareness campaign. Among other famous people who stutter are VP Joe Biden, actor James Earl Jones, 20/20’s John Stossel, and basketball star Kenyon Martin. A complete list of famous people who stutter can be found at/.

The Stuttering Foundation is a nonprofit organization based in Memphis, Tenn., that has worked toward the prevention and improved treatment of stuttering since 1947. For more information, call toll-free 800?992?9392 or visit www.stutteringhelp.org.

More than 3 million Americans stutter. For myths about stuttering, click here

CELEBRITY FOCUS

Marilyn Monroe

From Edward S. Herrington's letter to Southcoasttoday.com

I am writing in response to "The importance of voice" (May 29), which mentioned that famous actor James Earl Jones struggled with stuttering. Another famous voice that you cited was the trademark breathy voice of Marilyn Monroe; however, you did not make mention of the fact that Marilyn Monroe also struggled with stuttering at various points in her life, sometimes very painfully.

Byron Pitts

Byron Pitts has brought much attention to stuttering with his memoir, Step Out on Nothing: How Faith and Family Helped Me Conquer Life’s Challenges, released in September, 2009. The book not only details his speech difficulties, but also his illiteracy until age 12 and his unstable family life. Pitts overcame the odds to become the chief national correspondent with ABC News.

James Earl Jones

Actor James Earl Jones, a Broadway, television and movie star, is well-known for his voice as Darth Vader in Star Wars and his book Voices and Silences. Jones has spoken some of the most memorable lines in the history of American film, but the man known for his voice was once afflicted with a severe stutter.

Carly Simon

Carly Simon began stuttering severely when she was eight years old.

Mel Tillis

Mel Tillis, born Lonnie Melvin Tillis, was an influential figure in country music, both as a songwriter and a performer. His journey to fame was marked by overcoming personal challenges, including a stutter that he turned into a defining part of his public persona.