2002 Awards

Companion Again Named One of Three Best Magazines

CHICAGO, IL (April 13, 2002) - The Covenant Companion has been named one of the three top denominational magazines in North America for the second consecutive year.

The magazine tied for third place with The Church Herald of the Reformed Church in America in competition sponsored by Associated Church Press. First and second places went to Alliance Life of the Christian and Missionary Alliance and US Catholic respectively.

Judges from the Journalism School at the University of Alabama praised the "excellent content" of the Companion, describing it as "provocative - things the reader will appreciate and be challenged by." Judges also noted the strong covers illustrating each issue's theme.

"The awards probably come as no surprise to our readers, who over the course of time have commented on the continued improvement in content and presentation," said Don Meyer, Companion editor and executive minister of the Department of Communication. "The magazine plays a crucial role in the life of the denomination," Meyer observed, "helping all of us better understand critical issues of the day and those distinctives that make us uniquely Covenant.

"I am especially proud of the work of our staff," Meyer continued. "Excellence reflects team effort, and we have a very strong team handling all of the communications needs of our church. It is heart-warming to see that excellence recognized and commended by others."

The Companion won four other awards for content published in 2001in the following categories:

• Theological Reflection: 1,500 words or fewer: an award of excellence (first place) for "Searching for God in the Ashes" (November 2001) by D. Brent Laytham, assistant professor of theology at North Park Theological Seminary. This reflection on the events of September 11 was called "one of the finest on this tragedy" by judges at the Beeson Divinity School in Birmingham, Ala bama.
• Feature Story, Denominational General Interest Magazine: an award of excellence for "Bylines and Biases" (October 2001) by Features Editor Bob Smietana. Judges said that this look at religion and media "is well developed, makes good points" and shows "different points of view."
• News Story, Denominational Magazine: an award of merit (second place) for "Have Bins, Will Travel" (May 2001) by Smietana. This story about a group of Covenanters from Pomeroy, Iowa, who built grain bins in Laos, used "simple, effective writing [that] made an unlikely topic worth reading about," said judges.
• Best Seasonal Article: an honorable mention (third place) for "No Peace for Bethlehem" by Don Wagner, professor of religion and director of the Center for Middle Eastern Studies at North Park University. This account of a visit to Bethlehem, said judges, "provided first-hand information about a part of the world readers are likely to be interested in."

The Companion also won praise for its November issue, which focused on the aftermath of September 11. "Great Topic," said judges, with "strong writing, good art and strong design elements."

Associated Church Press includes more than 175 religious publications with a combined circulation of more than 18 million. Eighty-seven publications submitted about 1,200 entries in the 2001 Awards Competition.