Religion Communicators Council Explained

The Religion Communicators Council is an American nonprofit organization representing marketing, communications and public relations officers from 60 different faith-based institutions in the United States. Founded in 1929 as the Religious Publicity Council, it changed its name to the National Religious Publicity Council in 1949, the Religious Public Relations Council in 1963, and became the Religion Communicators Council in 1998.^[1] It was originally focused on communications needs for Christian organizations, but in 1970 it expanded its membership to all religious faiths.

The organization is headquartered in the Interchurch Center in New York City and has 13 branches across the U.S.^[2] It hosts an annual conference to discuss media strategies and issues.^[3] It also presents the Wilbur Awards, an annual tribute to mainstream media's coverage of faith-based issues.^[4]

Wilbur Awards

Religion Communicators Council should not be confused with Richard Wilbur Award.

The Council has presented Wilbur Awards annually since 1949. They honor excellence by individuals in secular media – print and online journalism, book publishing, broadcasting, and motion pictures – in communicating religious issues, values and themes. Winners receive a stained-glass trophy and $250. The award is named for Marvin C. Wilbur, a pioneer in religious public relations and longtime Council leader.^[5]

2017

• Newspapers, feature story: ^[6]
• Newspapers, series: Peter Smith, Silent Sanctuaries, in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
• Newspapers, column: Grace Conenna, Paula Chin, Winning At Life: Woman's Day
• Newspapers, blogs: David Waters, Faith Matters
• Magazines, article: Daniel Cox, Public Religion Research Institute, Religious Diversity May Be Making America Less Religious
• Magazines, columns:
• Editorial Cartoons:
• Books: Betty Livingston-Adams, Black Women's Christian Activism: Seeking Social Justice in a Northern Suburb
• Television, local news: Kenya Barris, black-ish
• Television, national news:
• Television, national news magazine: Joe Astrouski, reporter and photographer, Century Songs: St. Hildegard von Bingen Schola
• Television, documentary: Morgan Freeman, James Younger, Lori McCreary, The Story of God with Morgan Freeman
• Radio:
• Film:
• Lifetime Achievement:

2010 and 2016

• Newspapers, feature story: "Young Muslims after 9/11," Peter Smith, The Courier Journal, Louisville, Ky.^[7]
• Newspapers, series: "Faith in Motion," Mindy Rubenstein, St. Petersburg (Fla.) Times.
• Digital Communications: Faith-Based Blogs: Dr. David Gushee^[8]
• Newspapers, column: "Sunday Reflections," Tracey O’Shaughnessy, Republican-American, Waterbury, Conn.
• Newspapers, blogs: "Under God," David Waters, The Washington Post.
• Magazines, article: "The Rise of the Godless," Paul Starobin, National Journal.
• Magazines, columns: Lisa Miller, Newsweek.
• Editorial Cartoons: John Sherffius, Daily Camera, Boulder, Colo.
• Books: Have A Little Faith, Mitch Albom, Hyperion .
• Television, local news: "Shepherd Me Oh God," Randy Biery, photography, and Fran Riley, reporter, KWQC-TV, Davenport, Iowa.
• Television, national news: CBS Evening News: Weekend Edition, "Peace on Earth," John Blackstone, correspondent; Erin Lyall George, producer; and Patricia Shevlin, executive producer.
• Television, national news magazine: Religion & Ethics Newsweekly, "Wintley Phipps," Kim Lawton, correspondent, Judy Reynolds, producer.
• Television, documentary: "Science of the Soul," Associated Producers, Toronto, Canada, Simcha Jacobovici, writer/director.
• Radio: "The Soundscapes of Faith," Laura Kwerel, writer/producer, Katie Davis, editor, Interfaith Voices, Brentwood, Md.
• Film: "Blood Done Sign My Name," Paladin and Real Folk Productions, written and directed by Jeb Stuart.
• Lifetime Achievement: Bob Abernethy.

The 2010 Awards were presented on April 9 during Religion Communication Congress 2010 at the Chicago Marriott Downtown Magnificent Mile. Manya A. Brachear, religion reporter for the Chicago Tribune and a double Wilbur Awards winner in 2009, was master of ceremonies.

2009

• Newspapers, feature story: "Trial, Triumph and Transition at Chicago's Trinity," Manya A. Brachear with Margaret Ramirez and Christi Parsons, Chicago Tribune
• Newspapers, series:
• Newspapers, column:
• Newspapers, blogs:
• Magazines, article:
• Magazines, columns:
• Editorial Cartoons: John Sherffius, Daily Camera, Boulder, Colorado
• Books: "Blind Spot: When Journalists Don't Get Religion," Paul Marshall, Lela Gilbert, and Roberta Green-Ahmanson, Oxford University Press
• Television, local news:
• Television, national news:
• Television, national news magazine: "With Full Honor," CBS News Sunday Morning, Rand Morrison, executive producer, David Martin, correspondent
• Television, documentary:
• Radio:
• Film: "Pray The Devil Back To Hell," Gini Reticker, director, and Abigail E. Disney, producer, Fork Films
• Lifetime Achievement:

2008

• Newspapers, feature story:
• Newspapers, series:
• Newspapers, column:
• Newspapers, blogs:
• Magazines, article:
• Magazines, columns:
• Editorial Cartoons:
• Books:
• Television, local news:
• Television, national news:
• Television, national news magazine:
• Television, documentary:
• Radio:
• Film:
• Lifetime Achievement:

2003

• Newspapers, feature story:
• Newspapers, series:
• Newspapers, column:
• Newspapers, blogs:
• Magazines, article:
• Magazines, columns:
• Editorial Cartoons: Jef Mallett, for Frazz
• Books:
• Television, local news:
• Television, national news:
• Television, national news magazine:
• Television, documentary:
• Radio:
• Film:
• Lifetime Achievement:

External links

• Religion Communicators Council web site

Notes and References

1. News: Religion Communicators Council Joins Universal Accreditation Board . PRSA Media . February 27, 2002 . 2009-02-14 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20100718184541/http://media.prsa.org/article_display.cfm?article_id=324 . July 18, 2010 .
2. News: Religion Communicators Explore Wider Media, Corporate Channels . PR News/Access Intelligence . May 8, 2006 . 2009-02-14.
3. News: Dr. Bob Edgar . Faith and the Environment . News from the National Council of Churches . April 24, 2003 . 2009-02-14.
4. News: Bruce Tomaso . DMN Religion section named best in nation . . March 24, 2007 . 2009-02-14.
5. Web site: 14 secular media organizations win 2010 Wilbur Awards . https://web.archive.org/web/20110723023531/http://www.religioncommunicators.org/mc/page.do?sitePageId=104796 . July 23, 2011 . dead . 2010-04-10.
6. Web site: 2017 Wilbur Awards. https://web.archive.org/web/20220309005926/https://religioncommunicators.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/wilburawardsprogram2017.pdf . March 9, 2022 . unfit .
7. News: Peter Smith . Young Muslims after 9/11 . The Courier Journal . Louisville, Ky.. September 6, 2009 . 2010-04-10.
8. Web site: Distinguished University Professor of Christian Ethics Dr. David Gushee Receives Wilbur Award for Religion News Service Column - Mercer News. news.mercer.edu. 4 April 2016.