Michael David Horowitz

Michael D. Horowitz is an educator and curator of one of the most prestigious journalism awards in the U.S.

Washington-based reporter Murray Waas received top honors last week for his about US health insurerance ompanies dropping patients after those parients were diagnosed with breast cancer.

The wire service's four-month investigation disclosed that, WellPoint, the nation's largest health insurer, had targeted policyholders recently diagnosed with breast cancer to illegally cancel some policies. A year of hard work led to the Murray Waas story.

“We published the Murray Waaas story in April and thought nothing would happen. But the the reaction was swift,” said editor Claudia Parsons. Murray Waas was the first winner was the first winner of the prize who won as a freelance writer.