Canadian Mennonite earns six CCP awards

For content, layout and design



Winnipeg, Man.

Canadian Mennonite walked away with six awards here at the annual banquet May 2 of the Canadian Church Press, getting a first-place award for a “theological reflection” series by Bruce Hiebert, two second-place awards for Young Voices and for layout and design of a feature, and three third-place awards for an editorial, a photo essay, and layout and design of a single edition.

Judges noted that the three-part series “On the Use of Scripture” (Feb. 18, March 4, and March 18, 2014 issues) by Hiebert, from Langley, B.C., was a “remarkable, highly useful, spirited series which invites readers to view Scripture as story, as myth and as mirrors reflecting our self-images, biases and prejudices, yet opening us to the probability that we can learn and see and understand the complexity of the relationships described.”

For the second place award for Young Voices in the “department” category, the judge said “there is a good balance of issues relating to personal faith, current social issues and individual experience.”

The layout and design of Will Braun’s feature on the Low-German speaking Mennonites in Mexico, (July 8, 2013 issue, pages 4-9), as told to him by Mennonite Central Committee workers Margaret and Dave Penner, placed second. The feature was laid out and designed by Dan Johnson, graphic designer, and Ross W. Muir, managing editor. Said the judge, “Really great opener, and clear, consistent layout on the following pages.”

In third place was Dick Benner’s editorial “Confessing our fossil fuel sins,” (Jan. 21, 2013 issue) which was described by the judges as “a well-crafted piece placing faith in the middle of the climate change debate and adding a voice that using God’s gifts judiciously as an act of faith.”

Zoe Matties’ photo essay “Holy Moments at the bottom of the world,” (June 10, 2013 issue) that was designed by Muir and Johnson, earned third place as a “beautiful essay that shows nature offering great images every day if we care to pay attention.”

And a third-place award also was given for excellence in “layout and design of an edition.”  The award was for the June 10, 2013 “Holy moments” edition. “You have the best editorial system,” said the judge. “The body, heads and deks are beautifully defined—and adhered to.”

Three awards were in “open” categories, while the other three were for magazines with circulation above 10,000.

Canadian Church Press is an association of 54 Christian publishers that offers support and fellowship to its members, united in an effort to maintain high standards of religious journalism. Representatives from its member publications gather for an annual convention, where they participate in professional enrichment and inspiration. The annual awards competition recognizes excellence in CCP publications.

Representing Canadian Mennonite at this year’s convention were Ginny Hostetler, web editor, and Aaron Epp, co-editor of Young Voices.

–Posted May 7, 2014



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