RNA contest winners for 2007

READ THE 2007 CONTEST WINNER PRESS RELEASE

Templeton Story of the Year

FIRST
David O’Reilly, Philadelphia Inquirer
• Faith in Flux
• Educated Guesswork
• When Faithful Flee
• Ex-Catholics Move Toward Secular Life
• Fight of its Life
• The Latino Faithful
• A Tenuous Grasp

SECOND
Eric Gorski, for work he did at The Denver Post
"The Prosperity Gospel"
• The Gospel of Prosperity
• Bank on God
• Sold on the Spirit

THIRD
Neil Munro, National Journal
• "Debating Design"

Templeton Religion Reporter of the Year Award

FIRST
Sandi Dolbee, The San Diego Union-Tribune.
• Trials of the trail
• Factions over fiction
• A baptism of fire
• The joy of dying
• Parental notification bankrolled by weekly's owner

SECOND
Cathleen Falsani, The Chicago Sun-Times
• West Side priest charged in sexual abuse
• Maverick minister taps new generation
• One faith, many bibles
• 'The Doctor Told Me to Say My Goodbyes'
• The Rev. of Rock 'N' Roll

THIRD
Eric Gorski, for work he did at The Denver Post
• The Gospel of Prosperity
• Sold on the Spirit
• "I am a deceiver" Haggard describes a battle against his dark side in his apology
• Church looks to find its next life
• Body show elicits awe

Supple Religion Writer of the Year

FIRST
Eric Gorski, for work he did at The Denver Post
• The Gospel of Prosperity
• Bank on God
• Sold on the Spirit
• "I am a deceiver" Haggard describes a battle against his dark side in his apology
• Church looks to find its next life
• Body show elicits awe
• O come, all ye faithful
• Broncos Believers
• Colorado Episcopalians clearing path toward unity on gays

SECOND
John Chadwick, The Bergen County Record (N.J.)
• Putting Guys in the Pews
• Giving Islam a Human Face
• Sins of the Father
• The Spirit Moves Them
• Divine Advice for Passover Chefs
• A Ministry on the March
• Rabbi, Counselor, TV Star

THIRD
Jeff Weiss, Dallas Morning News
• Southern Comforting
• Sight Unseen
• Kumbaya
• Image Control
• Splintered Branches
• Going the Distance

Cassels Award: Religion Reporter of the Year—Small Newspapers

FIRST
Larissa Theodore-Dudkiewicz, Beaver County (Pa.) Times
• A church filled only with faith
• Religion Gluttony can't be healthy
• Many just don't want to become pastors
• Hold your cards...and cigarettes too
• Chippewa synagogue to close at end of March

SECOND
Terri Jo Ryan, Waco (Texas) Tribune-Herald
• Can bigots change their stripes?
• Are we living in the final days?
• Sex, lies and political shenanigans
• Rebirth after tragedy
• Central Texans show their beliefs through spiritual tattoos

THIRD
Terry Rombeck, Lawrence (Ks.) Journal-World
• Shrouded in Mystery
• Professing their faith
• Preaching Peace

Cornell Award: Religion Reporter of the Year—Mid-sized Newspapers

FIRST
G. Jeffrey MacDonald, The Christian Science Monitor
• A gospel's rocky path from Egypt's desert to print
• The power of a nun:taking a lead roll in shareholder activism
• Rise of sunshine Samaritans: on a mission or a holiday?
• The moral burden of bankruptcy
• Greenhouse masses

SECOND
Bill Sherman, Tulsa World
• Decoding Da Vinci
• Baptists struggle with restoration
• Pastor served during service
• Kirk Pastor: In the front lines
• Ramadan: Tradition Eclipsed

THIRD
John Chadwick, The Bergen County Record (N.J.)
• Putting Guys in the Pews
• Giving Islam a Human Face
• Sins of the Father
• The Spirit Moves Them
• Divine Advice for Passover Chefs

Schachern Awards: Best Religion Section or Pages

LARGE NEWSPAPER

FIRST
The Salt Lake Tribune
Michael A. Anastasi & Lisa Carricaburu
(links not available)

SECOND
Star Tribune
Colleen Stoxen
(links not available)

THIRD
The Grand Rapids Press
Charles Honey
(links not available)

SMALL NEWSPAPER

FIRST
The Mobile Press Register
(links not available)

SECOND
Deseret Morning News
Mary Finch
(links not available)

THIRD
The Huntsville Times
Kay Campbell
(links not available)

Chandler Award: Best Student Religion Reporter

FIRST
Tina Shah, Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism
• Celebrating Mass Without the Masses
• Practicing Faith Without Hate
• Non-Traditional Methods of Cremation

SECOND
Shari Rabin, The Daily Free Press (Boston University)
• Higher Education
• Religions offer alternative ASB trips
• Muslims find common ground on campus

THIRD
Mrinalini N. Reddy, Northwestern University
• Wives fast for husband's health
• New cell-phone company focuses on faith-based services
• Conference highlights the roles of Muslim women

Best Television Reporting

SHORT FORM
FIRST
Maria Arita, CBS II (Dallas/Fort Worth)
• Orbs of Light

SECOND
Maria Arita, CBS II (Dallas/Fort Worth)
• Godpodding
(links not available)

THIRD
Jamey Tucker, WKRN (Nashville)
• What do different faiths teach about hell?
(links not available)

LONG FORM
FIRST
Janet Vincent, NewsHour with Jim Lehrer (PBS)
• Reflections
(links not available)

SECOND
Lucky Severson, Religion & Ethics NewsWeekly
• Religions of New Mexico
(links not available)

THIRD
Kim Lawton, Religion & Ethics NewsWeekly
• B.K.S. Lyengar
(links not available)

Best Radio Religion Reporting

FIRST
Rachael Martin (NPR)
• Latinas choosing Islam over Catholicism

SECOND
Jason DeRose, Chicago Public Radio
• Chicago Prayer Wheel

THIRD
Philip Graitcer, Georgia Public Radio
• The Itinerant Rabbi