Advocate named first-place newspaper by UMAC

CHICAGO—The Advocate has been named the best newspaper in the annual conferences division by the United Methodist Association of Communicators.

Editor Jessica Connor accepted that award and three others for the newspaper when UMAC gathered Oct. 24-27 in Chicago to honor communicators across the country for their work to tell the denomination's story.

In addition to the first-place win in the newspaper category, the Advocate claimed a second-place newswriting win for Connor s article Going Solar and first- and second-place photography wins for Assistant Editor Allison Trussell s Africa photography ( Chiseling Cement and Securing Scaffolds, respectively).

The recent honors bring the total to 45 awards the Advocate has earned in the last three years, both from UMAC and the S.C. Press Association.

We are so blessed to be honored for work we are passionate about and truly love, which is lifting up the work of the Lord to readers across South Carolina and beyond, said Connor, who accepted the awards on behalf of the Advocate. It feels wonderful to be recognized by our peers for excellence, because all of it points back to God.

It is hard to find anything in this publication that can be improved upon, reads a judge s comment about the newspaper. Excellent design, writing, design, layout. Many are no doubt well versed in Methodism after reading the Advocate.

The Rev. Angela Ford Nelson, chair of the Advocate s Board of Trustees, said she is exceedingly proud of the newspaper s staff.

"The Advocate Board of Trustees continues to celebrate the outstanding accomplishments of our editor, Jessica Connor, and assistant editor, Allison Trussell, Nelson said. Their dedication to excellence has not only garnered additional Advocate readers, but has also given the newspaper national exposure. Through the award-winning Advocate, we are spreading the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and making disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world!"

Also at the meeting, UMAC named the Rev. Arthur McClanahan as Communicator of the Year and inducted the Rev. Boyce A. Bowdon into its Hall of Fame.

Rounding out the event were nine communications workshops (including one on writing taught by Connor), several roundtable discussions and a photography contest coordinated by S.C. Conference Communications Director Matt Brodie.

For more on UMAC, visit www.umcommunicators.org .