#RNA2015: Yes, Peter Smith wins again as Religion Newswriters Association honors best of the Godbeat
I found Jesus outside #rna2015 #phillyjesus pic.twitter.com/Qu7Tww4EFo
— Daniel Burke (@BurkeCNN) August 29, 2015
We don't play favorites here at GetReligion.
OK, sometimes we do — such as where Pittsburgh Post-Gazette religion writer Peter Smith is concerned.
.@PG_PeterSmith squeezing into a school bus for Philly papal site tour at #rna2015 pic.twitter.com/Tti4hA5RDY
— Leslie Miller (@lesmil1) August 30, 2015
When it comes to quality journalism on the religion beat, a Peter Smith byline generally is a slam dunk.
So we weren't surprised over the weekend when Smith won the Religion Newswriters Association's first-place award for religion reporting at metropolitan newspapers.
The Pittsburgh writer was just one of a number of Godbeat all-stars who received recognition at the RNA's annual awards banquet in Philadelphia (see the full list of winners):
Tonight @lauriegnyt was recognized by peers as the gold standard in religion journalism - congratulations! #RNA2015
https://t.co/N4vLYefLFq— Conrad Hackett (@conradhackett) August 30, 2015
Overjoyed about this honor #RNA2015!! Couldn't have done it without you @mbrownreport @deseretnational pic.twitter.com/euqxvO9rWr
— Kelsey Dallas (@kelsey_dallas) August 30, 2015
Pope Francis stopped by #RNA2015 to say congratulations for winning Cassels Religion Reporter of the Year. Yay!!... http://t.co/lgBoB64IUm
— Jennifer Lee Preyss (@JenniferPreyss) August 30, 2015
We're honored to receive this award from RNA, and a hearty congrats to all the other well-deserving winners pic.twitter.com/nTzJwpVslK
— CNN Religion (@CNNbelief) August 31, 2015
Congrats to @lauriegnyt @GibsonWrites @kelsey_dallas @PG_PeterSmith & more on @ReligionReport #RNA2015 awards. http://t.co/1xZy4QWYx5
— Rachel Zoll (@rzollAP) August 30, 2015
timtownsend and I after accepting awards @ #rna2015 @ Loews Philadelphia Hotel - Loews Hotels https://t.co/riMQb9TZex
— Lilly A. Fowler (@LillyAFowler) August 30, 2015
Thank you @ReligionReport for esteemed Chandler Award. It's an honor to be recognized by colleagues I admire #RNA2015 pic.twitter.com/BcSpcyAsuG
— Simran Jeet Singh (@SimranColumbia) August 30, 2015
.@KimLawtonRandE may be en route to Malaysia, but she's here in spirit! Congrats on your RNA award. #RNA2015 pic.twitter.com/5icrg3OPih
— Nick Liao (@nickliao) August 30, 2015
You can find links to all the winning stories on RNA's website.
Smith's first-place entry included his in-depth project on immigrant religion — the subject of a 5Q+1 interview last November:
Interview: @PG_PeterSmith discusses his in-depth project on immigrant #religion: http://t.co/lTJ54Coqlb http://t.co/4Y2zkxjf3R
— GetReligion (@GetReligion) November 19, 2014
So on Sunday morning, Smith woke up with another plaque to hang on his wall — and with an above-the-fold Page 1 story in the Post-Gazette:
Faith leaders are 'planting' churches in new fields http://t.co/yXrqDGIAUD via @pittsburghpg
— Peter Smith (@PG_PeterSmith) August 30, 2015
"Church-planting" is, of course, a buzzword in Christian circles these days.
Not too many journalists, though, could turn that esoteric subject into the lead story in the Sunday edition of a major metropolitan daily.
Smith is, obviously, one of them. No surprise here, but his story and sidebar are both worth your time. Check them out.
Finally, congrats to him and all the RNA winners!
