New England religious journal receives national honors

One of New England's oldest religious publications receives top national awards. Zion's Herald has a long history, 180 years, during which it has been at the forefront of speaking out on controversial social and religious issues.

Zions Herald, one of New Englands oldest religious journals, received top national honors at the recent annual convention of The Associated Church Press. The ACPs judges recognized the bi-monthly magazine, published since 1833 by the Boston Wesleyan Association, for outstanding editorial content and graphics, including the highest writing awards in two categories.

The publication, whose editorial offices are located in North Berwick, Maine, received the 2002 "Award of Excellence" for best magazine editorial/opinion piece titled, "Flying Naked," written by editor Stephen Swecker (January/February, 2002).

It also received an "Award of Excellence" for best seasonal article titled, "Christmas at Shady Rest Retirement Center," by Charles Schuster (November/December, 2002). Receiving "Honorable Mention" were the May/June, 2002 issue for its in-depth coverage of the Middle East conflict, "Tragedy in the Holy Land," edited by Mr. Swecker, and graphics work by Brenda Riddell for a special spread, "A Sustaining Community," in the September/October, 2002 issue.

Zions Herald was founded in Boston in 1823 by a group of Methodist lay people as a journal "devoted to religion and moral subjects." It was acquired ten years later by the Boston Wesleyan Association, which has published it ever since as an independent journal whose editors are encouraged to speak with "boldness and outspokenness on questions which agitate the public mind." After a two-year hiatus, it was revived in 2000 as a four-color magazine and has a national circulation of 5,000. The United Methodist Association of Communicators honored the publication as "best magazine for 2002."

During its colorful 180-year history, Zions Herald often has been at the forefront of controversial social issues. It was an early opponent of slavery and one of the first religious publications to speak out for womens suffrage in the 19th century.

Commenting on Mr. Sweckers winning editorial, an ACP judge said, "A well-written piece with a new metaphor that calls on all religions to shed old barriers, taboos, and cloaks. Organized religion would then be 'scandalous and perhaps more meaningful to people of all faiths."

The awards were presented at The Associated Church Presss April 27-30 annual meeting in Indianapolis, Indiana. The ACP, with some 200-member publications in the U.S. and Canada, was founded in 1916 and is believed to be the oldest religious press association in North America.

High-resolution digital color photos available on request by e-mail or disk.