Religion Newswriters Association: 2003 contest winners

SEPT. 6, 2003

Religion Newswriters Association
2003 Contest Winners

Below are the winners of RNA's 2003 contests (listed in alphabetical order). All winners were selected from entries published or airing in 2002. All print contests required at least five entries and the broadcast contests required a maximum half-hour tape. A total of 242 entries were received.

Awards were presented at a banquet Saturday, Sept. 6, 2003, in Seattle.

Congratulations to all the winners for your fine work.

Cassels Award for Excellence in Religion Reporting
(Newspapers 50,000 circulation and less)
First place: Gloria LaBounty, (Attleboro MA) Sun Chronicle

• Sun Chronicle (samples not available)

Second place: Rhonda Parks Manville, Santa Barbara (Calif.) News-Press

• Santa Barbara News-Press (samples not available)

Third place: Robin Galiano, Longview (Texas) News-Journal

• "Ron Shamburger's upbringing was no forecast for how his life will end"
• "Two families feel the consequences of one terrible act"
• "Ramadan tradition challenge for Longview chef"
• "Churches breeding grounds for catching germs"
• "Jews for Jesus believes feast directly linked to the messiah"

Chandler Award for Student Reporter of the Year in Religion News
First place: Manya Brachear, Columbia University, for work done at The Dallas Morning News

• The Dallas Morning News (samples not available)

Second place: Jamie Lusk, Indiana Daily Student, Indiana University

• Indiana Daily Student (samples not available)

Third place: Lacy Elwood, Baylor Lariat, Baylor University

• "When Manhattan lost its soul"
• "Baylor grads pick up 7 Dove nominations"
• "Woman finds growth as pastor of Calvary Baptist Church"
• "Female seminary students told of possibilities, warned of resistance"
• "Christians differ on how scripture views women in leadership"

Cornell Award for Excellence in Religion Reporting
(Newspapers 50,001-150,000)
First place: Eric Gorski, for work done at The Gazette (Colorado Springs)

•(samples not available)

Second place: Tom Kisken, Ventura County Star

• Ventura County Star (samples not available)

Third place: Beth McMurtrie, The Chronicle of Higher Education

• "Silence, Not Confrontation, Over the 'Mandatum'"
• "Do Professors Lose Academic Freedom by Signing Statements of Faith?"
• "Notes from Academe: Pacifism in a Time of War"
• "Finding Their Voice: Conservative newspapers at Catholic colleges aim to be heard"
• "A Sociologist Possessed by Pop Culture Explores Links to Exorcism"

Radio Excellence in Religion Reporting
(Local and National combined)
Hillary Wicai, KWMU-FM, St. Louis, Mo.

• KWMU-FM Audio samples available on the site's awards page

Schachern for Excellence in Religion Pages and Sections
One winner in each category. Religion editor is next to paper name.

Small Papers (50,000 and below)
Altoona (Pa.) Mirror, Linda Gracey

Medium (50,001-150,000)
The Grand Rapids Press, Charles Honey

Large (150,001 and over)
The Dallas Morning News, Bruce Tomaso

Supple Award for Religion Writer of the Year
First place: Frank Brown, Religion News Service

• (samples not available)

Second place: Yonat Shimron, The (Raleigh, N.C.) News & Observer

• "The gospel according to Stanley Hauerwas"
• "Pullen Memorial congregation breaks new ground"

Third place: David Briggs, The Plain Dealer

• The Plain Dealer Links are posted within the Religion section

Television Excellence in Religion Reporting
National: Deryl Davis, formerly of Religion and Ethics NewsWeekly

• "Sacred Space"
• "Emergence of Sufism in America"
• "Mattie and Jeni Stepanek"
• "The Role of Women in Islam"

Local: Amy George, WHNT-TV, Huntsville, Ala.

• WHNT-TV (samples not available)

Templeton
First place: Gayle White, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

• "Delusions and Demons"
• 'Heal, Kathryn'
• "The Good Book brothers"
• "U. S. Bishops Conference: Bishops hear pain of victims"
• "'Wall of separation' wasn't only thing on president's plate"

Second place: William Lobdell, Los Angeles Times

• Los Angeles Times samples page

Third place: Cathleen Falsani, Chicago Sun-Times

• Chicago Sun-Times Links are posted on a special page