Christian journalism means truth-seeking
OKLAHOMA CITY — Jerry Mitchell is a Christian and a…
For the eighth time, Associated Church Press recognizes Christian Chronicle as best newspaper
In all, the international publication for Churches of Christ earned nine awards for work published in 2021.
For the eighth time since 2009, the Associated Church Press has recognized The Christian Chronicle with its first-place Best in Class award for newspapers.
The top prize in the annual “Best of the Church Press” contest was presented in an online ceremony Thursday night.
“Nice, professional-looking front pages with clear and powerful headlines,” a judge commented. “A clean, traditional newspaper-style layout with good and decent-quality photos. I appreciated that the publication claimed to be an international paper and did, in fact, have meaningful news from churches around the world.”
The ACP presented its inaugural “Best Emerging Journalist” honor — given to a journalist under age 25 — to Audrey Jackson, the Chronicle’s associate editor. Jackson joined the publication after her 2021 graduation from Harding University in Searcy, Ark.
“Audrey offers a strong combination of reporting, photography and editorial writing skills,” a judge said. “These pieces demonstrate her sensitivity in stark settings.”
Jackson’s portfolio included coverage from a COVID-19 ward in Honduras, the dedication of monuments to Harding’s first Black students and a feature on an Oklahoma church’s Thanksgiving dinner for Afghan refugees.
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Besides the emerging journalist award, Jackson earned first place for her image of a nurse’s reflective eyewear in Honduras and second place for her photo essay “Compassion at capacity” and an accompanying column, both from the Central America trip.
Robin Pawlikowski’s eyewear reflects surgery as she assists with an abdominal hysterectomy at the Good Samaritan Medical Center in Catacamas, Honduras.
In all, the Oklahoma City-based international publication for members of Churches of Christ received nine ACP awards for work produced in 2021. For the third straight year, the pandemic prompted the cancellation of ACP’s in-person convention.
Other first-place winners included Bobby Ross Jr. and Hamil R. Harris for their “Flags, faith and fury” news story (long format) on the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol riot and Erik Tryggestad for his “Lions, lies and hope” international feature (short format) on South Africa’s deadly waves of violence this past summer.
Related: Evangelical Press Association honors Christian Chronicle as top print newspaper
Ross and Deana Nall claimed second place for in-depth coverage of the first anniversary of George Floyd’s death in Minneapolis (stories here, here, here and here). Ross also earned second place for his international feature (long format) on the discovery of Indigenous children’s remains in Canada. Ross won third place for his news story (short format) on Christians offering physical and spiritual help after historic flooding in Tennessee.
Since 2007, the Chronicle has received 154 national ACP awards and been recognized in the Best in Class contest for 16 consecutive years. The Chronicle previously won first place in the newspaper category in 2009, 2013, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2020.
The Best in Class award certificate presented to The Christian Chronicle.
