News Archives

United Methodist Communications wins international awards

A UMNS photo by Mike DuBose The Interpreter magazine cover, "Faith in the Workplace," created by Suzanne Story and photographed by Mike DuBose, received an Honorable Mention.

United Methodist News Service won five awards and Interpreter magazine won two awards at the “Best of the Christian Press” banquet held during the annual conference of the Associated Church Press April 23-26 in Orlando. The awards were given for photography, writing and design published in 2005.

Here are details of the awards for United Methodist News Service, followed by judges’ comments:

• Honorable Mention, Best in Class: News Service. “Excellent use of new technology to serve subscribers. Various series and features showcase some major writing talent.”
• Award of Excellence (top award) for Photography with Article or Cutline for “Mozambique” by Mike DuBose, March and April 2005. “This photographer chose to find the bright side of life amidst this village’s difficult circumstances, with engaging pictures of hope. He found wonderful light and waited for the right moments. Refreshing.”
• Award of Merit, In-depth Coverage: Newspaper, Newsletter or News Service for “Mozambique: A Land of Contrasts,” by Kathy L. Gilbert, March 16-April 20, 2005. “Strong, clear and concise writing and photos. An excellent series of articles illuminating needs, while showing how United Methodist churches are providing hope to those who need a dose of hope.”
• Award of Merit, Feature Article in News Service, Newsletter or Web site for “Church agencies battle spread of HIV from mothers to babies” by Kathy L. Gilbert, Dec. 1, 2005. “Powerful lead, told with emotion and clarity.”
• Honorable Mention, News Story in News Service, Newsletter or Web site for “Returning to Banda Aceh, pastor sees unbelievable destruction” by Linda Bloom, Jan. 14, 2005. “Solid reporting.”
• Award of Merit, Theme Issue: Newspaper, Newsletter, News Service or Web site for “Unlocking the Future: Remembering the Central Jurisdiction” by Jan Snider and Linda Green, February 2005. “This is a terrific package of stories looking at the history of a painful but important time in church history.”

Here are details of awards for Interpreter magazine:

• Honorable Mention, Magazine Cover for “Faith in the Workplace,” September 2005, created by Suzanne Story and photographed by Mike DuBose. “Cover ideas show creativity. Nice concept and composition.”
• Honorable Mention, Theme Section: Magazine for “Forgiveness,” February/March 2005, edited by Kathy Noble, Joey Butler and Deborah White. “A most interesting section that will surely uplift and instruct readers.”

A UMNS photo by Mike DuBose Fishermen haul their nets from the Indian Ocean onto the beach at Chicuque, Mozambique. Photographer Mike DuBose won an award for a series of photos on life in Mozambique.

Interpreter is the official ministry magazine of the United Methodist Church, and United Methodist News Service is the denomination’s news agency.

Two other United Methodist-related publications won awards also.

United Methodist Reporter picked up an Award of Excellence for Column: Newspaper, Newsletter, News Service or Web site, and three Awards of Merit for Best In Class: National or International Newspaper, for Ancillary Product and for Newspaper or Newsletter Design: Entire Issue. The Reporter also received two Honorable Mentions for Feature Article: Newspaper and for Newspaper or Newsletter Design: Spread Story.

Zion’s Herald won an Award of Excellence for Advertisement. It also received two Honorable Mentions, one for Best in Class: Ecumenical Magazine and the other for Feature Article: Ecumenical Magazine.

The Associated Church Press includes nearly 200 Christian newspapers, newsletters, news services, magazines, journals, Web sites and individual communicators from the United States, Canada and English-speaking communities abroad. They represent a combined circulation of several million.

*White, associate editor of Interpreter magazine, represented United Methodist Communications at the Associated Church Press annual conference.

News media contact: Tim Tanton, Nashville, Tenn., (615) 742-5470 or newsdesk@umcom.org.