NEW YORK — CBS-TV has won four Wilbur Awards for 2013.

The Religion Communicators Council announced 25 Wilbur Awards March 5. The awards honor excellence by individuals in secular media – print and online journalism, book publishing, broadcasting, and motion pictures – in communicating religious issues, positive values and themes during 2013.

The Religion News Service earned three stained-glass Wilbur Awards. Other winners include the Canadian Broadcasting Corp., The History Channel, The Christian Science Monitor Weekly and The Huffington Post.

The 2013 awards are to be presented April 5 in Nashville, Tenn., during the council’s 85th annual national convention.

CBS earned awards for a March 17, 2013, report titled “The American Nuns” on “60 Minutes”; a March 31, 2013, report titled “Keeping the Faith” on “CBS Sunday Morning”; a June 30, 2013, program titled “What’s So Funny About Religion?” by the CBS Religion & Culture unit; and a Nov. 13, 2013, report titled “The Francis Effect” on “CBS This Morning.”

The Religion Communicators Council has presented Wilbur Awards annually since 1949. Secular communicators enter work in eight categories. Juries of media professionals, coordinated by council members across the country, evaluate submissions on content, creativity, impact and excellence in communicating religious values.

The award is named for the late Marvin C. Wilbur, a pioneer in religious public relations, longtime council leader and former Presbyterian Church executive.

2014 Wilbur Award winners (for work produced during 2013):

Audiobooks, fiction

The Fall of the Kings by Ellen Kushner and Delia Sherman, Sue Zizza, producer, SueMedia Productions.

Books, fiction

The First Phone Call from Heaven by Mitch Albom, HarperCollins Publishers.

Books, nonfiction

Happier Endings, A Meditation on Life and Death by Erica Brown, Simon & Schuster.

Books, youth nonfiction

Out in Front: Malala Yousafzai and the Girls of Pakistan by David Aretha, Morgan Reynolds Publishing.

Digital communications, faith-based blogs

“Jonathan Merritt on Faith & Culture” by Jonathan Merritt, Religion News Service, “The Church in the Land of Climate Change,” May 29, 2013; “What Southern Baptists Must Do to Slow Their Decline,” June 11, 2013; “Transgender Issues Are More Complicated than Some Christians Portray,” Aug. 19, 2013.

Digital communications, online news stories

“One Woman’s Journey Out of Faith, Family and Fear” by Kimberly Winston, Religion News Service.

Digital communications, multimedia

“The March” by Adelle M. Banks and team, Religion News Service.

Feature films, drama

“The Christmas Candle,” Impact Productions.

Magazines, national or top-15 markets

The American Prospect, “The Homeschool Apostates” by Kathryn Joyce, November/December 2013.

Magazines, other markets

Princeton Alumni Weekly, “Journey of Humility: Discourses on Faith” by Jeff Chu, June 5, 2013.

Magazine articles, online

KidSpirit, “Interfaith Connections Column,” Elizabeth Dabney Hochman, founding editor.

Newspapers, national markets

The Christian Science Monitor Weekly, “Healing Newtown,” by G. Jeffrey MacDonald, March 11, 2013.

Newspapers, other markets (columns, commentary)

The Oregonian, columns by Steve Duin: “A Revolution in the City’s Foster Care,” Jan. 10, 2013; “And Our Giving is the Thunder,” April 28, 2013; “For Kelly Clark, redemption,” Dec. 22, 2013.

Newspapers, other markets (articles)

Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, “Coptic Christians Under Attack” by Betsy Hiel, Aug. 15-Dec. 25, 2013.

Newspapers, online content

The Huffington Post, “Boston Muslims Respond to Marathon Attacks” (three-story package) by Jaweed Kaleem, April 20, April 25 and June 6, 2013.

Radio, single program

Canadian Broadcasting Corp. Radio, “Tapestry,” Mary Hynes, host, “The Tattooed Pastor/The Rabbi Who Swore at God,” Carma Jolly, Diane Eros, producers, Nov. 22, 2013.

Radio, series

 Interfaith Voices. “God and Government: Egypt in Crisis”, Maureen Fiedler, host,  Laura Kwerel, senior producer.

Television and cable, drama

“The Bible,” Roma Downey and Mark Burnett, executive producers, The History Channel and LightWorkers Media.

Television and cable, TV news

“CBS Sunday Morning,” “Keeping The Faith,” Michelle Miller, correspondent, Sari Aviv and Lauren Barnello, producers, March 31, 2013.

Television and cable, TV news, network

CBS News, “60 Minutes,” “The American Nuns,” Bob Simon, correspondent, Andrew Metz, Tanya Simon, producers, March 17, 2013.

Television and cable, news, national syndication

“Religion & Ethics NewsWeekly,” “The Life of Dorothy Day,” Deborah Potter, correspondent, Phil O’Connor, producer, Feb. 8, 2013.

Television and cable, news, local

KSPR-TV, Springfield, Mo., “KSPR’s Journey To Jerusalem,” Jonah Kaplan, reporter/photographer, Bridget Lovelle, producer, Feb. 24-28, 2013.

Television and cable, documentary

CBS Religion & Culture, “What’s So Funny About Religion?” John P. Blessington, executive producer, Elizabeth ( Liz) Kinecke, producer, June 30, 2013.

Television and cable, made-for-TV movie

“Twist of Faith,” Daniel H. Blatt, Craig Baumgarten and Andrew Howard, executive producers, Lifetime Television.

Television and cable, news, network or national syndication

“CBS This Morning,” “The Francis Effect,” Charlie Rose and Norah O’Donnell, hosts, Barbara Simon and Katy Conrad, producers, Nov. 13, 2013.

About the Religion Communicators Council

Founded in 1929, the Religion Communicators Council is the oldest public relations professional association in the United States. The council has more than 400 members and five regional chapters. Members represent Bahá’í, Buddhist, Christian, Hindu, Islamic and Jewish organizations and work in advertising, print and electronic communication, and public relations.

SOURCE: Religion Communicators Council

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Tags: Awards, Book Publishing, Broadcasting, Digital Communication, Media, Motion Pictures, News, Public Relations, Radio, Religion, Television