Covenant News
Covenant Companion Wins Four National Awards
CHICAGO (April 17, 2000) - The Covenant Companion received four awards for religious journalism during the recent Associate Church Press (ACP) convention in Chicago. Staff members on hand to accept awards are in the accompanying photograph.
The Companion received one award of excellence, two awards of merit, and one honorable mention. ACP represents 175 publications with a combined readership of 28 million. Competing magazines included a number of large, nationally known publications such as Sojourners, The Lutheran, The Church Herald, and US Catholic.
Awards included the following:
- Most personally useful category: "Does Your Church Pass the Copyright Test?" (September 1999) by John Throop won an award of excellence. "This tiny (two-page) article was packed with vital information," wrote judge Joyce Markle. "I saved a copy for myself."
- News category: "Here Comes Hope: the Story of the Covenant Church in Sudan" (November 1999) by Joel Johnson and Bob Smietana, associate editor, won an award of merit. Sandi Dolbee of the San Diego Union-Tribune described it as "as a well-reported, detailed story of the denomination's outreach to the Sudanese."
- Features category: "Justice Versus Grace" (October 1999) by Joel Anderle received an honorable mention. Dealing with the death penalty became real to Anderle, pastor of Community Covenant Church in West Peabody, Massachusetts, when he accompanied a parishioner to their brother's execution.
- Best cover category: Art Director Dave Westerfield and head designer Steve Luce won an award of merit for the October 1999 cover "Rediscovering the Great Commandment."
"These awards reflect the quality of people on our staff," said Don Meyer, executive director of the Department of Communication. "It speaks well of the Covenant to be recognized on a national level. To be recognized by a peer group of this standing is quite an honor."
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