Religion News Service (RNS) journalists received more than 20 awards from two of the most prestigious competitions honoring reporting on religion, as announced this spring by the Religion Communicators Council and the Associated Church Press (ACP). Among the awards was a top honor for national reporter Kathryn Post from the Religion Communicators Council.
The Religion Communicators Council has awarded the coveted Wilbur Awards annually since 1949, presenting these awards to recognize excellence in the communication of religious issues, values and themes in secular public media. The Council’s top award for the “most outstanding entries each year” is the Wilbur Award. RNS’s Kathryn Post received the Wilbur Award (in the category of Written Works—Newspapers—Faith & Values) for her story ‘Haitians are not eating pets’: Springfield faith leaders stand with embattled migrants.
RNS reporters Jack Jenkins, Kathryn Post, and Richa Ravindra Karmarkar, and Jonathan Woodward, RNS Podcast Producer, received the Council’s Award of Excellence, the next level of recognition provided for entries “deemed to be of excellent quality and unquestionably worthy of recognition” (also for Written Works—Newspapers—Faith & Values).
Jenkins received his award for a series of stories of spiritual and political leaders who figured in the 2024 presidential election: The strange world of Catholic ‘integralism’ — and Christian nationalism; The second coming of Doug Wilson; The Washington insiders helping Sean Feucht spread Christian nationalism in Congress; Vance, at Christian nationalist revival, says immigration stance is in keeping with faith; and How Elon Musk became ‘prophet-in-chief’ of tech’s Trump-leaning conservatism. Post received the Award of Excellence for two stories, Grace College professor ousted after online commentators flag ‘woke’ social media posts and Polyamorists look for their place in church as the practice loses its taboo. Karmarkar was recognized for a series of articles on “Hindu Americans are leaning more right than ever:” As Usha Vance dazzles, Hindu Americans leaning further right than ever, Why Harris and the Democrats may not be able to count on Hindu Americans in November, and For these Hindu Americans, a pivot from the Democratic Party was long overdue. Woodward received the Award of Excellence (Audience Productions-Extended Length), along with Park Piedmont Advisors, Tom Levinson, Amber Hacker, and Elizabeth Windom, for the podcast, Money, Meet Meaning.
The Council’s Award of Merit, its final level of recognition, honors work deemed meritorious and worthy of acknowledgment. The awards (for Written Works – Newspapers—Human Interest) went to Fiona Anne André for her story African spiritualities are attracting Black Americans as a source of pride and identity; and Aleja Hertzler-McCain for Why you might have heard Paul Simon’s ‘The Sound of Silence’ at Spanish Mass. Hertzler-McCain also received an Award of Merit (for Images—Photography) for Interfaith protest confronts Christians United for Israel summit. Hertzler-McCain and Jack Jenkins jointly received an Award of Merit (for Written Works – Newspapers—Hard News) for Threats to Catholic Charities staffers increase amid far-right anti-migrant campaign. Finally, Adelle M. Banks received an Award of Merit (for Written Works – Newspapers—Faith & Values) for Voting rights advocate Barbara Williams-Skinner thrives on prayer and policy changes.,
“The awards from the Religion Communicators Council and ACP mean a great deal to RNS,” said RNS Editor-in-Chief Paul O’Donnell. “We work hard every day to get the stories right. In an increasingly complex and polarized world, RNS provides readers across the religious and political spectrum with news coverage they can trust, with balance and nuance.”
The Associated Church Press annually honors faith communicators’ best work with the ACP “Best of the Church Press” awards. This year, ACP conferred two Awards of Excellence on RNS for Best in Class for the News Service and for Independent Website. ACP also recognized the work of RNS reporters and staff with other Awards of Excellence, as well as Awards of Merit and Honorable Mention. Awards of Excellence were given to:
- RNS’s podcast, Saved by The City, and staff Roxanne Stone, Katelyn Beaty, and producer Jonathan Woodward, for the episode Can We Love the Bible Again? + Kaitlyn Schiess;
- Claire Giangravé for her story Ex-Catholics in Rome reconnect with roots, spirituality in paganism in the Reporting and Writing: International Reporting – Short Format category;
- Jack Jenkins and Rosemary Westwood (for an RNS/NPR collaboration) for Catholic bishops are spending millions less to fight abortion this election in the Reporting and Writing: News Story-Long Format category; and
- Deborah Caldwell, David Matt, Paul O’Donnell, Roxanne Stone, and Kit Doyle for RNS Covering the World of Religion for 90 Years in the Marketing and Social Media—Annual Report category.
ACP conferred Awards of Merit to:
The following RNS reporters received Honorable Mention from the ACP:
- Jack Jenkins for the photo of Jews protesting for arms embargo against Israel for Visual Communications: Single Photo with Article or Cutline;
- RNS’s podcast, Saved by The City, and staff Roxanne Stone, Katelyn Beaty, and producer Jonathan Woodward, for the episode When Politics Comes for Friendship + Nancy French in the Visual Communications: Audio-News Story of Current Event category; and
- RNS’s podcast, Saved by The City, and staff Roxanne Stone, Katelyn Beaty, and producer Jonathan Woodward, for the episode Tell Katelyn What to Do with Her Life in the Visual Communications: Audio-News Story of Current Event category.
These awards recognize the dedication of our staff and reporters who work hard every day to fulfill our mission: improving understanding and fostering discussion about religion, faith, and beliefs in everyday life.
“It is an honor to be recognized by the Religion Communicators Council and ACP,” said RNS Publisher Deborah Caldwell. “Through our stories, RNS reporters seek to inform, educate and inspire people, convey why a story matters and why religion is important. Enhancing religious literacy is central to RNS’s mission, a mission that is especially important today because religion is a key factor in the major issues that shape our nation and world.”
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ABOUT RELIGION NEWS SERVICE (RNS)
RNS is an independent nonprofit news organization that provides objective, in-depth religion reporting and commentary by a team of professional journalists. Founded in 1934, RNS’s mission is to improve understanding and foster discussion about religion, faith, and beliefs in everyday life. Its journalism is available for free on its website and through its podcasts, newsletters, and social media. RNS also partners with mainstream media outlets to deliver news, features, and commentary to its readers and followers. RNS is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Religion News Foundation, a 501(c)(3) organization. To learn more, visit RNS.org.
