NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Religion Newswriters Association on Saturday named Deseret News religion editor Carrie A. Moore the country's best religion reporter at a mid-sized paper and named the newspaper's Religion/Ethics section as the country's best in the same category.
The association gave its first-place Cornell Award to Moore, who has been the paper's religion editor since 1997. According to an association news release, judges praised her ability "to write on a range of issues . . . All the stories were 'good reads.' "
Her sampling of stories submitted to judges included pieces exploring the 2002 Winter Games' effect on Utah's various faiths and the successful effort of residents in a Salt Lake neighborhood to bridge their religious differences.
The Schachern Award, given to the Deseret News' Religion/Ethics section, recognizes excellence in religion sections in three circulation-size-based categories. The Deseret News won first place in the 50,000 to 150,000 category.
According to an association news release, judges praised the paper's "nice mix of stories." Judges said, "The depth-treatment of timely, issue-oriented events such as the conference on intolerance displays were particularly noteworthy."
In other awards given out by the association:
Allison Askins of The (Columbia, S.C.) State won second place in the Cornell Award and Salt Lake Tribune reporter Bob Mims won third.
The first-place Templeton Award, given to the religion reporter of the year, went to G. Jeffrey MacDonald, writing for Religion News Service.
The first-place Supple Award, which recognizes writing skill on the religion beat, was given to Gary Stern of The Journal News in White Plains, N.Y.
The first-place Cassels Award, given to the religion reporter of the year at newspapers with circulations below 50,000, went to Judy Totts of The Medina (Ohio) County Gazette.
In the Schachern Award, The Times-News of Twin Falls, Idaho, won in the under-50,000 category and The Atlanta Journal-Constitution won in the large newspaper category.
The RNA Radio Award was given to Adam Phillips for his work at Voice of America.
The RNA Television Award was given to Deryl Davis of Religion & Ethics Newsweekly in the national category and to Dan Howell of Fox 61 News in Chattanooga, Tenn., in the local category.
The Religion Newswriters Association has approximately 350 members nationwide. It announced this year's award recipients at its convention in Nashville, Tenn., before a crowd of some 200 people.
Deseret News reporter Lois Collins won the first-place Cornell Award in 1997. Previously the paper's Religion/Ethics section had been a finalist for the Schachern Award but had not won the award until this year.