2024 Journalism Awards
The American Academy of Religion, the world’s largest association of academics who research or teach topics related to religion, announces the winners of its 2024 awards for the best in-depth reporting on religion. Awards are given in two categories: Best In-Depth Newswriting and Best In-Depth Multimedia Journalism.
2024 Journalism Awards Jury
The 2024 AAR Journalism Awards jury for Best In-Depth Multimedia Journalism included Mary F. Foskett, Wake Forest Kahle Professor of Religious Studies and Albritton Fellow at Wake Forest University, and Reza Aslan, Professor of Creative Writing at the University of California, Riverside.
The 2024 AAR Journalism Awards jury for Best In-Depth Newswriting included Deborah Jian Lee, senior editor at the Economic Hardship Reporting Project, fellow at Harvard Divinity School, author of Rescuing Jesus (Beacon Press), with bylines in Foreign Policy, Fast Company, ELLE, Playboy, Slate, WBEZ, and WNYC; and Nicola Menzie, founding editor of Faithfully Magazine, with bylines in The Christian Post, Christianity Today, and Religion News Service.
Jury chair David Newheiser is a Senior Research Fellow at the Institute for Religion and Critical Inquiry, Australian Catholic University, and a member of the AAR's Committee on the Public Understanding of Religion.
Best In-Depth Newswriting
This year’s recipients submitted up to three news articles, columns, editorials, and other reporting in any published medium of any audience or market size published in the calendar year 2023.
First Place
Aparna Gopalan
Example of Award-Winning Work: The Hindu Nationalists Using the Pro-Israel Playbook
Aparna Gopalan - the news editor of Jewish Currents - won the first place award. Gopalan's submission examines the way Hindu nationalist groups have adopted techniques developed by pro-Israel activists to portray criticism as a form of bigotry. The jury was struck by the depth of Gopalan's reporting, which offers an extraordinary window into the role of religious groups in public debate.
Follow Aparna Gopalan on Bluesky: @aparna.bsky.social
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Second Place
Leah Sottile
Example of Award-Winning Work: The 90-foot sentinel of Butte, Montana
Leah Sottile - whose work appears in The Washington Post, The New York Times Magazine, Playboy, and elsewhere - won the second place award. Sottile's submission explores the significance of Our Lady of the Rockies, a statue in Butte, Montana, that uses religious imagery to symbolize women's power. The jury appreciated the way Sottile unpacks her central example to consider broader questions about religion and public life - in connection with sex work, the labor movement, and Indigenous spirituality.
Follow Leah Sottile on Bluesky: @leahsottile.bsky.social
Third Place
Sarah Stankorb
Example of Award-Winning Work: The Southern Baptist Church Ignored Its Abuse Crisis. She Exposed It.
Sarah Stankorb - whose work appears in The Washington Post Magazine, The New York Times, Vogue, and elsewhere - won the third place award. Stankorb's submission included an extended article about the history of sexual abuse within the Southern Baptist Church, focusing on the work of one survivor, Christa Brown. In the jury's view, Stankorb provides a sensitive account of advocates who demand that religious leaders live up to the values they profess.
Follow Sarah Stankorb on Bluesky: @sarahstankorb.bsky.social
Best In-Depth Multimedia Journalism
This year’s recipients submitted up to three pieces of broadcast, radio, podcast, interactives, or other multimedia news media distributed for any audience or market size and published in the calendar year 2023.
First Place
Andrew Gill
Example of Award-Winning Work: Punk Rock Prophets (Episode 2 of Rock That Doesn't Roll: The Story of Christian Music)
Andrew Gill - a producer who has worked for WBEZ, PRX, and Love+Radio - won the first place award. Gill's submission was taken from the podcast series he co-hosted with Dr. Leah Payne about the influence of Christian music on American public life. The jury was struck by the way the submission crafts a compelling story, centered on vivid experiences, that connects economics, politics, and religion.
Follow Andrew Gill on Bluesky: @andrewgill.bsky.social
Second Place
Jenna Barnett
Example of Award-Winning Work: Origin Stories (Episode 2 of Lead Us Not)
Jenna Barnett - senior associate culture editor at Sojourners - won the second place award. Barnett submitted episodes of a podcast series that she produced, wrote, and edited about sexual abuse perpetrated by the spiritual leader Jean Vanier. The jury commended Barnett’s use of interviews and clips from multiple sources to reflect on religion as a source of comfort, pain, and empowerment.
Follow Jenna Barnett on Bluesky:@jbarnett.bsky.social
Third Place
David Washburn
Example of Award-Winning Work: Three Chaplains
David Washburn - director/producer of Three Chaplains - won the third place award. Washburn submitted a documentary film that follows the work of three Muslim chaplains in the US military. The jury particularly appreciated the submission’s sophisticated use of personal moments to consider larger questions about prejudice, patriotism, and religious diversity.
David Washburn is not active on Bluesky or X.