As the 2020 ARPA – Australasian Religious Press Association – conference was cancelled due to Covid 19 travel restrictions which was to be held in Perth, the annual Awards still went ahead.
For example, in Press Service International young writer ministry’s case, we again properly entered our nominees in certain categories and with the assistance of Major Christian Tyson in Wellington NZ, sent them in.
Each ARPA member received the nomination forms listing the categories and by what date they were to be received – a process that happens each and every year.
This year however, there will be no presentation gala evening which concludes each year’s conference – yes, it is a dress up occasion, flags are flying high (as it were) and people, like the Logies, are keen to hear the various award winners.
Last year the annual ARPA premier award ‘The Gutenberg’ went to out the young writers – Press Service International – for 10 years of providing young people 18-30 an opportunity to be published internationally with the aid of an editor.
This is in conjunction with Christian Today Australia - and - Christian Today New Zealand - who in turn part two of 101 mastheads of CMCI in Washington US, (Christian Media Corporation International). The cross over of articles is remarkable and these young people get published all over the world.
Array of acknowledgements
These annual awards are designed to acknowledge the role of Christian print media and they cover a wide range of accomplishments.
There are individual awards of writing, and double authorship of articles, there are hard copy publication and online awards, front covers, design and photographs and the like.
These winners stand tall in receipt of such peer acknowledgement and it is no small endeavour to be seeded by the Judges who give their time, experience and energy to bring to us all their winning lists.
Unlike the Logies where for several days there is media fanfare, the ARPA awards are a little quiet but get heralded loud in their own publications for their specific audience.
These annual Awards are special for Christian media and we look forward to their announcements.