RCC Wilburs
Winners of 2018 Wilbur Awards for public media works on religion gather at the Religion Communicators Council meeting in April 2019. (Photo by Cherilyn Crowe).
CHICAGO – Wilbur Award winners represent a diverse, but exclusive group of communicators who have thoughtfully brought religious issues and spiritual themes into the public discourse.
The Religion Communicators Council (RCC) announced 22 Wilbur Award winners April 12 at the annual convention celebrating the professional association's 90th anniversary. The awards honor excellence by individuals in secular media - print and online journalism, book publishing, broadcasting, and motion pictures - for communicating religious issues, values and themes during 2018.
Fr. Jim Gardiner, an experienced communicator from the Catholic Church who understands both ancient liturgy and the demands of the digital age, was host for the awards presentation.
Judges comments on "Deconstructing My Religion," a television documentary from CBS Religion and Culture, noted "this powerful story needs to be told." This interfaith special examines what happens when people have doubts about the faith tradition in which they grew up and how sharing personal stories can be a way to heal spiritual trauma.
Images and headlines help tell the story of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette newspaper's compassionate coverage of the Tree of Life synagogue shootings. The Post-Gazette reported the first moments as traumatized survivors emerged from the synagogue through the following days and weeks as the story continued to show the enormity of the crime.
The story of an Indiana tattoo artist, drug addict, PTSD sufferer and unlikely pastor is told in "Making His Mark," a profile by WTWO TV in Terre Haute for a local news Wilbur. It is the story of an effective religious leader who owns his struggles and doesn't fit the mold.
A 12-episode series podcast, "Can These Bones: A Faith & Leadership Podcast," takes its name from the vision of the valley of dry bones found in Ezekiel 37. It has the goal to provide information and hope to Christian leaders who struggle in their own valley of dry bones.
Other Wilbur winners include Vanity Fair, Texas Observer, Religion in Life, Mitch Albom, Jonathan Merritt of the New York Times and others. See complete list below.
The Religion Communicators Council has presented Wilbur Awards annually since 1949, making 2019 the 70th presentation. Secular communicators enter work in seven categories. Juries of media professionals, coordinated by council members across the country, evaluate submissions on content, creativity, impact and excellence in communicating religious values.
The award is named for the late Marvin C. Wilbur, a pioneer in religious public relations, longtime religion council leader and former Presbyterian Church executive.
2019 Wilbur Award winners (for work produced during 2018)
NEWSPAPER ARTICLES print and online
National or Top 15 metro markets (single article, series of articles, special section, religion page)
"China Clamps Down," (series: "China's Mass Indoctrination Camps Evoke Cultural Revolution," "China treats Uighur kids as 'orphans' after parents seized," "Christian Heartland opens window into fight for China's soul") Yanan Wang, AP reporter; Dake Kang, AP video reporter; The Associated Press, New York, New York
All other markets (single article, series of articles, special section, religion page)
"Tree of Life synagogue attack," Andrew Goldstein, Alexandra Wimley, Stephanie Strasburg, Stephanie Chambers, David Shribman, Peter Smith, staff at Pittsburgh Post-Gazette; Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Blog/Column
"Billy Graham, the Last Nonpartisan Evangelical?" Jonathan Merritt, writer; The New York Times, New York, New York
MAGAZINE ARTICLES print and online
National or Top 15 metro markets (single article, series of articles, religion page)
"Pope Versus Pope," John Cornwell, writer; Vanity Fair, New York, New York
Commentary/Blog/Column
"When Islamophobia Backfires," David Brockman, writer; Texas Observer, Austin, Texas
And many more!
Read the full list of winners and see photos on the RCC website.