The Religion Communicators Council is a U.S. nonprofit organization

Nonprofit organization

Nonprofit organization is neither a legal nor technical definition but generally refers to an organization that uses surplus revenues to achieve its goals, rather than distributing them as profit or dividends...

 representing marketing, communications and public relations officers from 60 different faith-based institutions. Founded in 1929 as the Religious Publicity Council, it changed its name to the Religious Public Relations Council in 1949 and became the Religion Communicators Council in 1998. It was originally focused on communications needs for Christian organizations, but in 1970 it expanded its membership to all religious faiths.

The organization is headquartered in the Interchurch Center

Interchurch Center

The Interchurch Center is a 19-story granite-clad office building located at 475 Riverside Drive and West 120th Street in New York City. Besides renting to many secular non-profits, it is the headquarters for the National Council of Churches USA and its sister humanitarian organization Church...

 in New York City

New York City

New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...

 and has 13 branches across the U.S. It hosts an annual conference to discuss media strategies and issues. It also presents the Wilbur Awards, an annual tribute to mainstream media's coverage of faith-based issues.

Wilbur Awards

The council has presented Wilbur Awards annually since 1949. They honor excellence by individuals in secular media – print and online journalism, book publishing, broadcasting, and motion pictures – in communicating religious issues, values and themes. Winners receive a stained-glass trophy and $250. The award is named for the late Marvin C. Wilbur, a pioneer in religious public relations and longtime council leader.

2010

• Newspapers, feature story: "Young Muslims after 9/11," Peter Smith, The Courier Journal, Louisville, Ky.
• Newspapers, series: "Faith in Motion," Mindy Rubenstein, St. Petersburg (Fla.) Times.
• Newspapers, column: "Sunday Reflections," Tracey O’Shaughnessy, Republican-American, Waterbury, Conn.
• Newspapers, blogs: "Under God," David Waters, The Washington Post.
• Magazines, article: "The Rise of the Godless," Paul Starobin, National Journal.
• Magazines, columns: Lisa Miller, Newsweek.
• Editorial Cartoons: John Sherffius, Daily Camera, Boulder, Colo.
• Books: Have A Little Faith, Mitch Albom, Hyperion ISBN 978-0786868728.
• Television, local news: "Shepherd Me Oh God," Randy Biery, photography, and Fran Riley, reporter, KWQC-TV, Davenport, Iowa.
• Television, national news: CBS Evening News: Weekend Edition, "Peace on Earth," John Blackstone, correspondent; Erin Lyall George, producer; and Patricia Shevlin, executive producer.
• Television, national news magazine: Religion & Ethics Newsweekly, "Wintley Phipps," Kim Lawton, correspondent, Judy Reynolds, producer.
• Television, documentary: "Science of the Soul," Associated Producers, Toronto, Canada, Simcha Jacobovici, writer/director.
• Radio: "The Soundscapes of Faith," Laura Kwerel, writer/producer, Katie Davis, editor, Interfaith Voices, Brentwood, Md.
• Film: "Blood Done Sign My Name," Paladin and Real Folk Productions, written and directed by Jeb Stuart.
• Lifetime Achievement: Bob Abernethy
  Bob Abernethy
  Bob Abernethy is a former NBC News correspondent. Since 1997, Abernethy has served as the executive editor and host of Religion & Ethics Newsweekly, which airs on PBS....
  
  .

The 2010 Awards were presented on April 9 during Religion Communication Congress 2010 at the Chicago Marriott Downtown Magnificent Mile. Manya A. Brachear, religion reporter for the Chicago Tribune and a double Wilbur Awards winner in 2009, was master of ceremonies.

2009

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2008

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2007

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