In the inaugural awards ceremony of the new Canadian Christian Communicators Association (CCCA), Canadian Mennonite received 12 awards for writing, photography, design and original art for work published in 2019.
First-place entry
- Service Journalism, open. Elise Epp, the coordinator of the Manitoba Fashion Revolution, author (“Clothes to match your values,” Sept. 16, page 17).
Judge’s comment: “I love the way the piece is organized by social concern. It felt like the story was conceptualized as service journalism right from the beginning.”
Second-place entries
- News Story and News Photo, magazine. John Longhurst, author and photographer (“More than restoring a building” [story] and “Franke served time here” [photo],” Sept. 16, pages 20-23.)
Judges’ comments: (story) “What makes this interesting and valuable is the information about those who helped restore the [residential] school—and the very fact that the Indigenous community wanted it restored.” (photo) “I was awe struck with your . . . photograph, so powerful and emotional.”
- Editorial, magazine. Virginia A. Hostetler, author (“Moving beyond ‘climate grief,’” March 4, page 2).
Judge’s comment: “Good use of personal anecdote to introduce larger theme. Warm and inviting reader to join her. Well integrated editorial.”
- In-Depth Treatment of a News Story, magazine. Virginia A. Hostetler, Tobi Thiessen, Amy Rinner Waddell, Aaron Epp, Lisa Williams, Rachel Bergen, Hilda Bergen, authors; Ross W. Muir, editor (“Gathering 2019 coverage,” July 22, pages 4-6, 12-18, 40).
Judge’s comment: “The main story is an excellent synthesis of all the news and events arising from the Gathering. . . . The editor made intelligent decisions to break out separate stories on budget and finances, denominational evangelism and growth, and how to bring hope to a world of pain.”
- Media Review, open. David Driedger, author (“Help for reading the Old Testament,” Sept. 16, page 16).
Judge’s comment: “. . . a well-written and insightful review of Melissa Florer-Bixler’s Fire by Night. There is a particularly good balance of summarizing the book’s content and providing interpretive and evaluative reflection. The result is a helpful and invitational review of an invitational book.”
- Biblical Interpretation, open. Peter Haresnape, author (“How long until the fulness of time?” Feb. 4, page 4).
Judge’s comment: “A vivid vignette from the gospels illustrates a broad biblical theme with immediate contemporary application. Engagingly written.”
- Personal Experience/First Person Account, circulation over 10,000. Diane Sims, author (“Poppies for Dad,” Oct. 28, page 15).
Judge’s comment: “I’m drawn to the duality contained within: the peaceful with and against the violent. . . . It’s too brief, and I wanted to know more about the dad and his loving but scared daughter. . . . As a veteran and a Christian, I know how hard it can be to carry the tension between Christian nonviolence and the need for some swords to remain after the ploughshares have been made.”
- Feature photo, magazine. Ross W. Muir, photographer (“Shopping is good,” Nov. 11, page 4.)
Judge’s comment: “This entry is a wonderful example of how using photography in the abstract works. . . . The sense of speed and people rushing around is done so well. . . . [Y]ou should be proud.”
Third-place entries
- Original Artwork, magazine. Ross W. Muir, artist (“Face Painting Phantasm,” Oct. 28, page 5.)
Judge’s comment: “Effective composition and a dynamic colour palette make for an engaging piece that strikes a balance between photorealism and abstract art. This pairing [of text and art] works well because the illustration is nothing like a ‘paint-by-numbers’ image.”
- Photo Essay, magazine. Michael Veith, photographer; Betty Avery, designer (“Expiring City: A Macau Photo Exhibit,” Nov. 25, page 28-31).
Judge’s comment: “The hardest thing when preparing an exhibition or photo essay is to choose your introductory photograph. It must command the viewers’ attention and introduce your exhibit. You have done this well. The colours [are] amazing. I also like the variety of your work, using abstract photographs to introduce both speed and movement.”
- Column, magazine. Ed Olfert, author (In the Image: “No ‘happy clappy Christians’ for Blake,” June 10, page 10; “Parable of the ‘phone incident,’” Sept. 16, page 15; “‘Tell God I say yes,’” Dec. 9, page 11.)
Judge’s comment: “The author tells stories that easily extend from the personal and particular to the universal because they are highly relatable. . . . The column contributes richly to readers’ understanding of how a daily walk of faith can look.”
CCCA is the name of the expanded organization formerly known as the Canadian Church Press.
Related stories:
CM brings home 10 CCP awards
CM honoured by national church press association
CM honoured by national church press association
Survivors of the former Mohawk Institute Residential School in Brantford, Ont., have returned to scratch messages into the bricks. There are hundreds at the back of the building where former students have left their marks, like this one from Franke, who served time at the school—‘11 years too many.’ (Photo by John Longhurst)
Feature photo
Original Artwork
Photo Essay
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