NIDA Notes Awarded NIH Plain Language Award

MasiMax Resources, Inc., was acknowledged on April 17, 2007 at the Seventh Annual "Celebrating Plain Language at the National Institutes of Health" Recognition Ceremony for its excellence in writing clear and reader-focused articles for NIDA Notes, the National Institute on Drug Abuse's (NIDA's) research newsletter. Entries, which included pamphlets on preventing diabetes complications and informational Web sites highlighting medical research, were judged based on organization, readability, and how well they were targeted to their audience.

NIDA Notes covers drug abuse research in the areas of treatment and prevention, epidemiology, neuroscience, behavioral science, health services, and HIV/AIDS. The publication reports on research, and promotes communication among clinicians, researchers, administrators, policymakers, and the public. David Anderson, Public Health Advisor for NIDA's Public Information and Liaison Branch, Office of Science Policy and Communications, is the NIDA Notes Editor. MasiMax writers and editors for NIDA Notes include Managing Editor Simon Weavers, Staff Writer Lori Whitten, and Copy Editor and Writer Debra Davis. Editorial Board members include representatives from various NIDA branches, divisions, programs and centers.

NIH Director Dr. Elias Zerhouni hosted the event, which was held in the Lipsett Auditorium at the Clinical Center on NIH's Bethesda campus. Rita Rubin, USA Today columnist and award-winning health journalist, delivered the keynote address.

The NIH Plain Language Initiative, which originated in 2000, is an attempt to improve communications by "waging a war on jargon." Plain language is defined on the NIH Executive Secretariat Web site as "clear writing that tells the reader exactly what the reader needs to know without unnecessary words or expressions." It is not "a method of 'dumbing down' or 'talking down' to the reader." Government employees are encouraged to simplify documents by answering readers' questions, using audience-appropriate language, including only necessary details; using an active voice and personal pronouns; and employing short sentences and paragraphs along with tables, lists, and other informational graphics.

NIH and many other agencies are members of the Plain Language Action and Information Network, a group of volunteers who strive to help the government communicate more effectively with citizens. A Government-wide directive required Federal agencies to use plain language by January 1, 2002, in all documents written for the public.