Best Feature Multiple Author
Gold
The Lutheran
The God of Second Chances
This feature begins with the cover, then the editor’s letter on page 2, although devotion on the topic and four individual stories with strong accompanying images: The prodigal father, Thanks God for my second chance, Shedding my old life and Taking the gospel beyond bars. The vulnerability of these features demonstrates the high degree of trust the subjects of each story have in The Lutheran.
These are stories of broken lives transformed by God’s love and their intersection with the community outreach services of the Lutheran Church. The stories engage and move the readers, reminding us of our own brokenness and the power of a church in action at the coal face. Congratulations to editor Lisa McIntosh who frames the feature in her wonderful opening letter.
This feature is honest, vulnerable, raw and invitational. God is alive today, intervening in individual lives, enabling people no matter what their past, to be reconciled and look to a new beginning.
Silver
Eternity
The Good Vote Podcast
This is the dilemma for a judge. How does one adequately compare the spoken word with the written? This seven part series was aired in the lead up to our last Federal Election, providing informed discussion on issues that were likely to be of importance to Australian Christians.
Its two hosts, Tim Costello and Mel Wade, speak to a different expert across each of the podcasts which, following an introductory podcast, look at some serious hot button issues:
Islamophobia, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, Women, the Environment, Religious Freedom and the Economy. The guests are not necessarily Christians, and what makes the conversations so engaging are the mutual admiration the guests each have with Tim Costello and vice versa, Mel Wade’s role in asking the every person question (what I refer to as ‘the dumb question everyone wants to ask') and the respectful way the conversations are conducted.
Each guest is a public figure which makes the conversations even more interesting as we learned about where a stylish Moslem woman might shop for her wardrobe to some stark facts about climate change. Insightful, entertaining and easy listening. Well done Eternity team for a first-class production
Bronze
The Melbourne Anglican
Summer reading special
Beautifully laid out, and definitely ticks the box for this category – multiple authors! 13 different writers contribute to this four page Christmas feature providing a range of book reviews to enable TMA readers a bounteous choice of books to occupy their summer holidays. The writers covered a variety of demographics – gender, age, lay/ordained with one Aboriginal voice.
The reviews covered both fiction and non-fiction, Australian authors and a children’s book. Perhaps a bit more ethnic diversity for your next Summer special could be good. What is intriguing is that TMA has a book review committee! The writing was engaging, personal and definitely had me writing down some more titles to my recommended reading list.
To read the Judges Comments - ARPA web site
https://www.arpa.news/awards2020
Dr Mark Tronson is a Baptist minister (retired) who served as the Australian cricket team chaplain for 17 years (2000 ret) and established Life After Cricket in 2001. He was recognised by the Olympic Ministry Medal in 2009 presented by Carl Lewis Olympian of the Century. He mentors young writers and has written 24 books, and enjoys writing. He is married to Delma, with four adult children and grand-children. Dr Tronson writes a daily article for Christian Today Australia (since 2008) and in November 2016 established Christian Today New Zealand. Dr Mark Tronson’s Press Service International in 2019 was awarded the Australasian Religious Press Association’s premier award, The Gutenberg. In September 2020 Summer Moore presented her commission portrait of Dr Mark Tronson holding the Gutenberg plaque. The above photo is the upper part from this portrait.
Mark Tronson's archive of articles can be viewed at: http://www.pressserviceinternational.org/mark-tronson.html
