Adventist Media has won three awards at the Australasian Religious Press Association (ARPA) Awards 2019.
Adventist Record was awarded silver in the “Best Theological Article” category for Dr Norman Young’s article “Was Paul a Misogynist?”. Signs of the Times magazine was also awarded silver for “Best Design”, closely followed by Mums At The Table magazine, which received bronze in the same category.
Nerise McQuillan and Theodora Pau’u, graphic designers for Signs of the Times and Mums At The Table magazines, were acknowledged for their work in designing the publications.
Mums At The Table magazine editor Melody Tan represented Adventist Media at ARPA’s awards ceremony in Christchurch, New Zealand. After not attending the event for 10 years, Ms Tan was impressed by the increasing quality of Christian media.
“It was interesting to see the calibre of Christian media improve so dramatically [over 10 years]. Mums At The Table winning bronze is encouraging and shows me that we are keeping up with industry standards.”
Signs of the Times editor Kent Kingston was also encouraged by the awards.
“It’s really encouraging to be recognised in this way. We are really proud of the work that Nerise and Theodora have put into making Signs of the Times look fresh, contemporary and engaging.”
All entries were judged meticulously, with final decisions being made on “critical design flaws and small differences between publications”.
“The important thing about design is to use it consciously,” said the judges. “On every page, ask yourself why the page looks like that.”
In other categories, content was also meticulously analysed, with judges commending Mr Young’s article as a “well expounded exposition” of Paul’s writings that contextualised the theology around male and female relationships.
“The author travels through the same paths as did Paul in his day when the prevailing culture saw women as inferior and subject to men,” wrote the judges.
“Once again it is humbling to be recognised by our peers at ARPA in this way,” said Adventist Record editor Jarrod Stackelroth. “We appreciate all our writers and the stories they provide us and we wouldn’t have a magazine without their contributions.”
Ms Tan described the awards ceremony as a very emotional event.
“With the earthquakes and recent mosque attacks, Christian media was presented as a profound way to give communities hope,” she said.
