Events & Shows

NASHVILLE, TN -- The 2005 Wilbur Awards, recognizing outstanding secular media entries that feature religious issues, themes and values, will be presented in Nashville April 9 at the Country Music Hall of Fame's Ford Theatre. The awards are presented each year by the Religion Communicators Council (RCC) and are named for Marvin C. Wilbur, a pioneer in the field of religion public relations.

The awards conclude the annual RCC convention here, April 7 to 9. RCC, based in New York, is a 76-year-old organization of professional communicators of religion. It is the oldest and largest organization of its kind.

The awards to be presented are for work done in 2004:

* Newspapers, Top Markets: Boston Globe, Michael Paulson, writer.

* Newspaper, Other Markets: Louisville Courier-Journal, Peter Smith, writer.

* Newspaper Columns: Kansas City Star, Bill Tammeus, columnist.

* Newspaper Religion Sections: Dallas Morning News, Bruce Tamaso, religion editor.

* Photography: Des Moines Register, David Peterson, photographer.

* Editorial Cartoons/Comics: "Frazz," Jef (correct) Mallett, United Media, New York.

* Magazines, National: LIFE Magazine, New York. Frank McCourt, writer; Robert Sullivan, editor.

* Magazines, Specialized: Hispanic Magazine, Coral Gables, Fla., Tim A. Chavez, writer.

* Books: "To the Mountaintop," Stewart Burns, writer; HarperCollins Publishers, New York.


The Rev. Hilly G. Hicks will host the Wilbur Awards presentation. Hicks is a United Methodist Church pastor and director for media production, United Methodist Communications. He is also an actor and played "Lewis," Chicken George's youngest son in Alex Haley's acclaimed television series "Roots." Wilbur Award winners will receive a stained-glass trophy.

For more information and detail about the 2005 Wilbur Award winners, visit the RCC Web site at http://www.religioncommunicators.org on the Web.

Media Contact: The Rev. Eric C. Shafer, 773-380-2960