The Anglican Journal won a total of 17 awards at two separate national and international church press conventions this spring.

The Canadian Church Press (CCP) recognized the Journal with three first place awards at its convention and awards dinner held May 1 to 3 in Cambridge, Ont., while the Associated Church Press (ACP) honoured the newspaper with one Award of Excellence (first place) at its convention held April 20 to 23 in Dallas/Fort Worth.

The Journal also won second place for the General Excellence/national newspaper category, at the CCP awards, and an award of merit (second place) for the Best in Class category for national/international newspaper at the ACP awards.

The ACP judge wrote about the Journal: “Consistently clear writing with a clean, crisp design throughout that is easy to read. It’s obvious there are rules and styles in place and these work to make reading inviting. Throughout, illustrations and photos have a contemporary, attractive appeal; even head shots are made fresh and inviting.”

Two diocesan newspapers were also recognized with CCP awards: Art Babych, editor of Crosstalk, the newspaper of the diocese of Ottawa, won third place for the General Excellence/Regional newspaper category and third place for Colour photo (newspaper) for his photo, Grandmothers helping grandmothers. Sandy Cotton, columnist for Dialogue, the newspaper of the diocese of Ontario won second place for the Column (newspaper) category.

The CCP is an association of more than 80 Canadian religious publications with a combined circulation of more than 2.4 million readers. The ACP, founded in 1916 is the oldest religious press association in North America and has about 200 member publications, Web sites, news services, and individuals.

The Journal received the following honours:

First Place/ Award of Excellence

Canadian Church Press

·        Feature Layout and Design (Newspaper) – art director Saskia Rowley for Living the Christmas Story (December 2007): “It would be almost impossible for a reader to pass this without stopping.”

·        Media Review – Contributor Warren Kinsella for The punk and the professor and what they say about God; staff writer Solange De Santis for Little Mosque puts ‘fun’ in fundamentalism; contributor Hugh McCullum for Moving bio details ‘uniquely Tutu’ model of peace; contributor Jamie Howison for Complex rebel puts her faith in music; and contributor John Arkelian for God on the ballot: faith and politics in America.

·        Colour photo (Newspaper) – Contributor Jim Arnold for A prayerful pause, September 2007 front page photo submitted for the Journal’s monthly Picture Your Faith series: “Good balance image with creative angle that makes it fun and pleasant to see.”

Associated Church Press

·        Newspaper Design (Entire issue) – Saskia Rowley for the May, October and November issues: “Sophisticated design throughout. Use of dominant images and white space star in this well organized, easy to follow publication.”

Second Place/Award of Merit

Canadian Church Press

·        General Excellence/National newspaper: “Editorials are balanced and thoughtful, meant to enlighten, not divide; lively, diverse letters page, comprehensive coverage of same-sex controversy, clear separation of reporting and commentary.”

·        Editorial or Opinion Piece (newspaper): Editor Leanne Larmondin for Communications must be transparent, timely and accurate, December 2007: “The writing is clear, concise and to the point.”

·        Biographical Profile (Newspaper) – staff writer Marites Sison for ‘A lot’ to show for his three years, May 2007: “The lead catches the readers’ interest and the profile progresses nicely on quotes from folks who know (Archbishop Andrew) Hutchison and details of his unexpected accomplishments – a theme that was well-developed.”

·        Colour photo spread (newspaper) – Art director Saskia Rowley using photos by Paul Jeffrey of ACT/International for The Darfur Response, October 2007: “Powerful top photo – good selection of images.”

·        Letters to the editor – November and December 2007: “Allowing readers to debate the advisability of cutting off (or allowing to go on) the letters debate on same sex blessings is an amazingly good idea. You could have simply declared it over, but doing it this way emphasizes that Anglicans own the newspaper and control the letters page…”

Associated Church Press

·        Newspaper design (Spread or Story) – Art director Saskia Rowley for The Darfur Response: “Sophisticated design works with perfectly utilized white space. This design put me in Darfur!”

·        Best in Class category for national/international newspaper

 

Third Place/Honorable Mention

Canadian Church Press

·        Feature – staff writer Marites Sison for Churches turn over new leaf as they go green, July 2007: “Thoroughly researched. Ecumenical interfaith – concrete and clear in its examples … Important topics, useful information.”

·        Layout and Design of an edition (Newspaper) – Art director Saskia Rowley for the October 2007 issue: “You use different layouts and don’t stick to the same formula. It is a well-designed paper.”

Associated Church Press

·        Editorial or opinion piece (Newspaper): Editor Leanne Larmondin for Communications must be transparent, timely and accurate, December 2007.

·        News story: staff writer Marites Sison for National native bishop named, February 2007.

·        Letters to the editor: Editor Leanne Larmondin, December 2007.

·        Seasonal article: Living the Christmas Story, December 2007.