1998 Rosalynn Carter Fellowship for Mental Health Journalism;[1] 2000 AMWA John P. McGovern Award;[2] 2005 Robert P Balles Prize in Critical Thinking[3]
In 1996, he was invited to China for a semester to teach western journalism at Shanghai International Studies University, where he also served as language adviser and script editor for Shanghai Television International Broadcasting Service.[citation needed]
In 1998, the Carter Center Mental Health Program awarded Skolnick with an inaugural Rosalynn Carter Fellowship for Mental Health Journalism to investigate the treatment of jail and prison inmates with mental illness,[1] an investigation which led to the publication of two news reports in JAMA[5] and to a special series in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch titled "Death, Neglect and the Bottom Line".[6][7][8][9]
For the Skeptical Inquirer series "Testing the Girl with the X-Ray Eyes" authors Ray Hyman, Joe Nickell, and Skolnick were co-recipients of CSI's 2005 Robert P. Balles Prize in Critical thinking.[3] Skolnick's award was for the article "Natasha Demkina: The Girl with the Normal Eyes".[11]
In 1992 the Committee for Skeptical Inquiry (CSICOP) presented Skolnick with the Responsibility in Journalism Award for his work as editor of Medical News & Perspectives for the Journal of the American Medical Association[12]
Since his retirement from journalism in 2006 Skolnick has focused on photography of dogs, and provides photography and web site design for dog clubs and breeders.[13]
Controversies
TM lawsuit
In 1992, Skolnick, JAMA's editor George Lundberg, and the AMA were sued for $194 million by Deepak Chopra and two Transcendental Meditation (TM) organizations over Skolnick's article titled, "Maharishi Ayur-Veda: Guru's Marketing Scheme Promises the World Eternal 'Perfect Health.'"[14] The suit alleged Skolnick's report on TM's health care products and services marketed under the trademarked name Maharishi Ayurveda was libelous and that it tortiously interfered with their business interests.[15]
In an August 1992 decision,[16] judge Charles Kocoras rejected the plaintiff's motion to enjoin JAMA and Skolnick from publishing statements about Chopra and Hari Sharma and Maharishi Ayurveda alleged to be defamatory, noting that the plaintiffs did not allege that the statements about them in the article were false or misleading. The decision held that "plaintiffs have little likelihood of prevailing on the merits of their disparagement claim", and that the allegedly defamatory statements were protected as "fair comment and criticism" on an issue of public concern.[17][18][19] Shortly thereafter, the case was dismissed without prejudice in March 1993.[citation needed]
CMS lawsuit
The AMA dismissed Skolnick when Correctional Medical Services, one of the for-profit health care companies criticized in the "Death, Neglect and the Bottom Line" article, threatened JAMA and the Post-Dispatch with litigation.[20][21][22]
Skolnick also sued CMS, claiming their responses to the articles were defamatory, but a summary judgement ruled in favor of CMS, the defendants.[23]
^"Sample Web Work". Archived from the original on March 4, 2011. Retrieved November 16, 2013.
^Skolnick, Andrew A. (1991). "Maharishi Ayur-Veda: Guru's Marketing Scheme Promises the World Eternal 'Perfect Health'". JAMA. 266 (13): 1741–1750. doi:10.1001/jama.1991.03470130017003. PMID1817475.
^The Lancaster Foundation, Inc., The American Association for Ayur-Vedic Medicine, Inc. vs. Andrew A. Skolnick, George D. Lundberg, M.D.; United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, Eastern Division, No. 82 C 4175; Judge Charles P. Kocoras
^Lancaster Foundation v Skolnick 21 Media Law Reporter, 1021 (ND Ill 1992)
^McLain, Deckle, "A New Kind of Gag Order; Fortunately the Appeals Courts Don't Like Them", Communications and the Law 18 Com &Law 43 (1996)
^Current Developments in Media Libel and Invasion of Privacy Law, Libel Defense Resource Center Vol 11 p 558 (1994)
^Communications Law, Vol 2 (1994), Practicing Law Institute p 497
