ONE magazine won two awards from the Religion News Association (R.N.A.) last month for work published in 2025. The awards were conferred at the annual R.N.A. Conference in Atlanta, 23-25 April.
Deborah Caldwell, C.E.O. of Religion News Foundation and publisher of Religion News Service, opened the awards ceremony by addressing the more than 125 religion journalists gathered 25 April.
“It’s everywhere, it touches everything. Religion is always in the room,” she said. “Most reporters cover a subject and we cover a question, the question of what people hold sacred and what people are willing to do because of it, for better and for worse.”
“The stories that win these awards are almost never the stories that go viral; they’re the stories that go deep. … And that work doesn’t always get noticed, tonight it does.”
CNEWA’s ONE magazine won second place for Excellence in Religion Reporting: Niche and Religious Audiences. The articles submitted for judging were:
- “Landscape of Loss,” by Fatima AbdulKarim, with photographs by Samar Hazboun and wire services.
- “The Fallout,” by Lorenzo Milne, with photographs by Petterik Wiggers.
- “Holding Their Own,” by Laure Delacloche, with photographs by Raghida Skaff, Maroun Bassil and wire services.
“Journalism at its best!” the judges’ comments began.
“These reporters for ONE magazine take readers to where the news we all hear about is happening and offers affecting make-me-see stories,” they continued. “We meet Third World hospital workers reeling from USAID cuts, Palestinian Christians ready to abandon a prison-like West Bank, and African refugees hoping to beat the dangerous odds as they seek a better life in Europe. Heartbreaking stories, powerful writing.”
First place was awarded to Tom Gjelten at Moment magazine, and third place went to Brian Roewe at National Catholic Reporter.
ONE magazine was also awarded third place for Excellence in Photography. The photos submitted for judging were:
- “Srebrenica Genocide Memorial,” by Anna Klochko, in “No Alternative to Dialogue.”
- “Facing Famine in Gaza,” by Diaa Ostaz, in “It is Famine.”
- “Syrians Celebrate,” by Ahmad Fallaha, in “In Need of a Lifeline.”
“This is a strong and thoughtful documentation of global stories shaped by religious and cultural conflict,” the judges said in their comments. “The images don’t just report on events; they show how belief systems and identity influence real-world outcomes.”
“The quieter moments are especially powerful,” they continued. “An intimate scene of a mother and child living through the effects of war carries deep emotional weight, while the image of a man honoring those lost in a massacre offers a solemn pause for reflection. These restrained, human moments are balanced by the energy and release captured in the celebration of sanctions being lifted. Together, the contrast between grief and relief creates a fuller picture of the situation. The range of emotion gives the work depth and makes the larger political and cultural issues feel personal and immediate.”
First place was awarded to Ashlee Rezin of the Chicago Sun-Times, and second place went to Andrew Nelles of The Tennessean.
In receiving the awards, Laura Ieraci, ONE editor, spoke about how the magazine, in her five years with the publication, “has gone from, not just covering Christians in the East, but … religion on the front lines.”
“I have to give all credit to our journalists, who I am privileged to work with, who go out in the field on assignment for us, day after day — despite the fact that some of their colleagues might have been killed the day before — with a helmet and a bulletproof vest, if they’re lucky, and they bring back stories for us that matter,” said Ms. Ieraci, an R.N.A. member.
“I would say my team out in the field asks two other important questions,” said Ms. Ieraci, referring to Ms. Caldwell’s earlier remarks about the questions religion journalists ask, “What does it mean to be human in times of war? And where can we find hope and meaning in times of conflict?”
“I am privileged to work with these excellent journalists, and I am so proud to receive this award on their behalf,” she concluded.
According to its website, Religion News Association, founded in 1949, is a professional association with the mission to equip journalists with the tools and resources they need to cover religion with balance, accuracy and insight.