Geez blushes from gush of awards

by Aiden Enns | Published 19th May 2009 | 1

After three nominations, Geez finally scooped top honours for best Spiritual Coverage at the 2009 Utne Independent Press Awards. See their (quite favourable) comments here, (scroll half way down).

They said Geez had “an inspiring year, when every issue was as playful as it was profound.”

The road between extreme believers and angry atheists gets pretty slim, but the Utne judges saw the path, “The editors have created a place where writing and reading about lives inspired but not overcome by religious doctrine can be accomplished in peace.”

“Unlike many magazines about spirituality and religion, this ad-free, nonprofit, volunteer-supported publication bypasses sentimentality for earnest exploration, and seems to have a hell of a time doing it.”

Socially conscious
At the Canadian Church Press awards banquet, Geez editor and journalist Will Braun received top honours for “socially conscious religious journalism.” He received the A.C. Forrest Memorial Award, a prize which comes with $1,000, for his analysis and questioning of the sermons preached in mega churches (printed in Geez issue no. 10, “Can I get an Amen? Mega-sermons in a hurting world”).

Also at the Canadian Church Press convention, Geez magazine received three first place awards: one for best layout and design of an issue, one for best opinion piece and one for best black and white photo.

Geez editors were delighted to receive second place for general excellence in the magazine category, behind the routinely excellent United Church Observer. Geez took home two third-place awards (front cover and feature article) and an honorable mention as well (for a first person account).

Associated Church Press

This U.S.-based religious awards ceremony was held this year in Indianapolis, Indiana, and featured 1,000 entries in 60 categories.

Geez magazine received second place for the first-person article by Dan Leonard, “Lessons from a white, Republican male,“ and second for Ryan Booth’s photo, “Boy not praying.”

Geez was third best in its class (special interest magazine) and third in the design of an entire issue.

Western Magazine Awards

Finally, Geez has been nominated for Magazine of the year, Manitoba, at the Western Magazine Awards. Watch for the results at the Vancouver banquet, June 19, 2009. - Aiden Enns, publisher, Geez magazine

Full results with names, categories and links:

Canadian Church Press (link here)

A.C. Forrest Memorial Award, first place (for socially conscious religious journalism)

“Can I get an Amen? Mega-sermons in a hurting world,”
by Will Braun

Layout and design of an edition (magazine), first place

“30 sermons you’d never hear in church”
by Darryl Brown, designer and Aiden Enns, Will Braun, editors

Opinion piece (magazine), first place

“Maybe the battle is over: Rethinking activist assumptions”
by Will Braun

Black and white photo, first place

“Boy not praying”
by Ryan Booth

General excellence (magazine), second place

Geez magazine, Summer, Fall, Winter 2008

Magazine front cover, third place

“30 sermons you’d never hear in church”
by Darryl Brown, photographer and designer

Features (magazine), third place

“Can I get an Amen? Mega-sermons in a hurting world,”
by Will Braun

Personal experience/First person account, honourable mention

“Lessons from a white Republican male”
by Dan Leonard

Associated Church Press (link here)

Photography with article or cutline (magazine) Award of merit (i.e. second place)

“Boy among people praying” by Ryan Booth,
“This is just one of many excellent photos in this particular spread. Supports the theme well.”

Personal experience, first-person account (short format)
Award of merit (i.e. second place)

“Lessons from a white, Republican male”
by Dan Leonard,

A remarkable piece of writing that combines youthful passion with profound humility, as an activist learns to honor the virtue of stability and the example of commitment right under his nose. An important new voice.”

Best in class: Special interest magazine
Honourable mention (i.e. third place)

This is a much-needed concept carried out very well. It has the potential to reach a group of people that will rarely if ever come to church.

Magazine design, entire Issue: 1- 2- or 3-color
Honorable mention (i.e. third place)

Geez, Summer 2008
by Darryl Brown, designer

Western magazine awards (link here)

Magazine of the year (Manitoba) nomination

Announcements take place Friday, June 19, 2009 at the Renaissance Vancouver Hotel Harbourside