Anglican Journal wins 11 awards at Canadian Church Press convention

WinnipegThe Anglican Journal won 11 awards at this year’s Canadian Church Press (CCP) convention held here from May 14 – 16.The Journal received five first place awards, including one for general excellence in the newspaper category in 2008. “The Anglican Journal takes readers to places they wouldn’t otherwise know about. It is a well-written, thought-provoking newspaper. Its letters pages indicate that readers are fully engaged and willing to speak out on important issues,” the judge commented.Former editor Leanne Larmondin’s articles written about her visit to Sudan Lasting peace can be elusive in battered Sudan; Corruption stunts growth of a new nation; Canadian church supports Sudan, which appeared in the May and June 2008 issues, won first place for a feature in the newspaper category. Her editorial, Learning lessons about the high cost of faith in Sudan, also won a first place award. The judged commented that this “firsthand report on the oppressive conditions under which Sudanese Christians practise their faith, helps give the urban bourgeois faith burdens of most Canadian Christians a proper and startling perspective.”Staff writer Marites Sison’s coverage of the 2008 Lambeth Conference, the decennial meeting of bishops in the Anglican Communion, also won a first place award for in-depth treatment of a news event and was praised by the judge for dealing with the “contentious and painful issues facing the Communion… in an objective, frank and fair manner.”  She also won a third place award in the interview category for Priest retires from ministry on the edge, published in February 2008. Journal art director Saskia Rowley won a second place award in the feature layout and design category for Lambeth through the years – a chronology, as well as a third place award for the front page design of the June 2008 issue.The second place award for editorial (newspaper category) went to Art Babych, editor of the Ottawa diocesan paper Crosstalk for his humorous Thanksgiving editorial, Thinking the Unthankable. Mr. Babych was also the photographer for a colour photo, Ottawa artist portrays those who serve, for which the Journal was also awarded a first place award.Contributor Jamie Howison’s piece A tale of God’s will – New Orleans, the first time took second place in the theological reflection (devotional/inspirational) category.The Journal also received a third place award for a black and white photo taken by Picture Your Faith contributor Roberta Wolfe (for the theme, Those who Serve), published in June 2008, and a second place award for original artwork for artist Jeff Szuc’s work, Favourite Christmas carol, published in December 2008.The CCP is an association of more than 80 Canadian religious publications.