Wilbur winners appreciate RCC's 'encouragement'

Seven winners of 2010 Wilbur Awards praised RCC's continuing efforts April 9 to promote excellence in religion news coverage.

"It's just an amazing thing that you would find the work we do worth recognizing," said Bob Abernethy, executive editor and host of Religion and Ethics Newsweekly. "Thank you above all for letting us know by this award that you think what we do has value. That is enormously encouraging."

Abernethy received a special Wilbur Award for contributions he and his PBS program have made to public discussions of faith topics for the past 13 years.

Since 1949, the council has presented annual Wilbur Awards. They honor excellence in communicating religious issues, values and themes by individuals in secular media – print and online journalism, book publishing, broadcasting, and motion pictures. Besides Abernethy, 14 secular media organizations earned Wilbur Awards for 2010. Winners receive a stained-glass trophy and $250.

The awards were presented during a special ceremony as part of Religion Communicators Congress 2010 in Chicago.

"I thank you for this award and your continued encouragement in my work," said Tracey O'Shaughnessy of the Republican-American in Waterbury, Conn. She took home a Wilbur Award for her weekly newspaper column, "Sunday Reflections."

Author Mitch Albom, who won a Wilbur Award for his nonfiction book, Have a Little Faith, said he hadn't thought about recognition when he started writing. Nevertheless, the 2010 award was evidence to him "that people could read a book about faith – actually about several faiths – and not look at it as 'Does it agree with mine?' or "Does it say what I want to say about religion?'" The Wilbur Award showed that his message about commonalities in religious beliefs was received.

Peter Smith of The Courier-Journal in Louisville, Ky., said, "Thank you for all you do in supporting good communication about religion. We need to understand each other." He won a Wilbur Award for his newspaper feature story, "Young Muslims after 9/11."

Editorial cartoonist John Sherffius of the Daily Camera in Boulder, Colo., praised RCC's dedication to interfaith dialogue and promoting faith perspectives in public discourse.

"Through its mission to promote peace and coexistence, the RCC provides the foundation for a brighter future," Sherffius said. "I am proud to be honored with the Wilbur Award for editorial cartooning. I am even more proud of the work RCC does."

David Waters of The Washington Post called RCC "an important and admired organization" that promoted accurate and complete coverage of religious issues.

"Communicating religion accurately, fairly and respectfully... is not only valuable work," Waters said. "It's vital work, and I appreciate your focus on that work."

Waters received a Wilbur Award for his blog, "Under God."

Correspondent Kim Lawton of Religion and Ethics Newsweekly expressed gratitude to RCC "for recognizing the work we do" – especially as many organizations abandon religion coverage as a cost cutting step.

Originally called the "Award of Merit," the annual RCC honors were named in 1981 for Marvin C. Wilbur, a pioneer in religious public relations and longtime council leader.

The annual Wilbur competition is judged in a jury process under the supervision of local RCC chapters across the country. Basic judging criteria include content, creativity, execution, results and excellence in communicating religious values.