The editorial staff of The Alabama Baptist recently received six awards in national competitions of two religious press associations.
The awards given for work published in 2001 came from the Associated Christian Press (ACP) and Religion Communicators Council (RCC).
The Alabama Baptist received three awards from RCC during the national convention held in New York City in April. Associate Editor Johnie Sentell, who was named to the RCC board of directors, accepted the awards, along with outgoing intern for the paper, Malinda Hallman McGill.
The highest ranking honor, the award of excellence, was given to Managing Editor Jennifer Davis Rash for her extensive coverage of the earthquake in El Salvador.
In addition, Rash along with Assistant Editor Sue Ann Miller, received from RCC the award of merit for the paper’s quarterly “Spanning the Globe” section, which highlights specific countries around the world.
Miller also received the award of merit for her coverage of a Jefferson County court decision on video arcade gambling, “Lack of Lady Luck.”
At the national convention of ACP, which was hosted by The Alabama Baptist at Shocco Springs Conference Center in Talladega April 7–10, the state Baptist newspaper received three awards.
Editor Bob Terry received an award of merit for his Jan. 25, 2001, editorial about the coincidental timing of the death of his father and the birth of his granddaughter, “Experiencing a Call to Life.”
Judges’ comments included, “Well written, easy colloquial style, good explanation without too much detail. Overall, a thoughtful, deeply moving piece.”
Miller received an honorable mention for her feature story, “Angel Ashley.” The story detailed the chain of events resulting in the kidney transplant of Alabama Evangelist Bobby Britt and his kidney donor, Ashley Fisher. Judges comments were, “A compelling story that is well told. Good use of direct quotes and paraphrasing to tell the story. Very nice work.”
Miller and Rash also received honorable mention for their yearlong series of investigative reporting and legislative coverage of the video arcade gambling industry in Alabama. “Good sources and quotes” and “great coverage of a topic that is relevant to readers,” were some of the judges comments.
Samford University’s Beeson Divinity School and the Alabama Baptist State Board of Missions (SBOM) communications department also received national awards from other news organizations.
Doug Rogers, SBOM communications director, received three awards at the annual Baptist Communicators Association’s (BCA) Wilmer C. Fields Awards Competition, which was held in Louisville, Ky., in April.
In the “audio news report or program category” he received first place for the SBOM’s audiotape program, “One Mission,” which highlights Alabama Baptist ministries. Rogers also won second place in the same category for “Venezuela Missions Trip.” In the writing division he received a first place award for scriptwriting for his production of “Today’s Discipleship Forecast,” a videotape featuring the SBOM’s current Great Commission Ministries emphasis. Rogers was also elected president-elect of BCA and will serve his term during 2003–2004.
Mark Elliott, director of the Global Center at Beeson, won an award of merit for the center’s newsletter, “East-West Church & Ministry Report,” from the Evangelical Press Association competition that was held in April in Colorado Springs.
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