Lutheran journalists win awards

Lutheran, The, Jun 1999

The Lutheran received 11 awards-including three Awards of Excellence-at the Associated Church Press' April 18-21 convention in Portland, Ore. The ACP encompasses 175 religious publications in the United States and Canada and annually presents awards in 39 categories.

The three top awards were given to Edgar R. Trexler for magazine opinion piece (May 1998); David L. Miller and Sally D. Ketchum for most personally useful article (February 1998); and to Mark A. Staples, Lois A. Rumfelt and Miller as a tie for the best seasonal piece (April 1998). The Lutheran also received four Awards of Merit for mission statement, magazine news story, photography with article or cutline and home page design as well as honorable mentions for magazine graphics-entire issue, magazine cover, professional resource and biblical interpretation.

"The 11 awards are the most ever received by The Lutheran during any year," Trexler said. "The award for mission statement was special. It said that The Lutheran `fulfills its mission admirably by providing accessible content on a broad range of subjects relevant, significant and important to the church and its people."'

Trexler, who is retiring as editor in October, was voted an ACP Honorary Lifetime Member. At the same time that honor was shared with convention-goers, it was announced that Lutheran Southern Seminary's Alumni Association (Columbia, S.C.) presented Trexler with its Alumni Award for Distinguished Leadership in the Church.

Roger Kahle, managing editor of The Lutheran and ACP president until his death Dec. 1, received The William B. Lipphard Award. Given only five times since it was established in 1966, the award was announced in Portland. Kahle's wife, Susan, accepted the award during a worship service April 27 at the ELCA churchwide offices in Chicago.

Other awards

Lutheran Partners received an Award of Merit for its November-December cover and an honorable mention for a September-October article by Michael Cobbler.

Lutheran Woman Today was presented an Award of Merit for its Bible study on Luke by Carol Schersten LaHurd. The ELCA resource, Seeds for the Parish, received an honorable mention for its mission statement. Its editor, Elizabeth Hunter, also was elected to the ACP board of governors.

Southern Seminary's Southern Bulletin earned an honorable mention in Newsletter Best in Class.

ELCA member Linda Post Bushkofsky accepted an Award of Merit in the Newsletter Best in Class category for Presbyterian Life and Times, which she edits.

DeRose-Hinkhouse

In addition, Lutherans were among the 61 winners of 1998 DeRose-- Hinkhouse Awards presented annually by the Religion Communicators Council:

Sue Edison-Swift, Kate S. Elliott and Nancy Stelling for a Lutheran Woman Today article, "Possessions" (Award of Excellence).

Julie Baska of the Southeastern Minnesota Synod for the Tributaries newspaper (Award of Excellence) and for its design (Award of Merit ).

ELCA member Linda Post Bushkovsky for a Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) Synod of Lakes and Prairies mission brochure (Award of Excellence) and for "Seeing with New Eyes of Justice" publication design (Award of Merit).

Susan Greeley of the ELCA Department for Communication for the Lutheran Vespers radio program holiday specials (Award of Merit).

The ELCA video magazine, MOSAIC, won a Best of Class award for its summer 1998 issue.