By Bobby Ross Jr.

DECATUR, Ga. — I was honored to receive my eighth Excellence in Religion Reporting Award at the Religion News Association’s recent annual convention.

I earned second place in the national contest for Excellence in Analysis and Explanatory Reporting.

The prize recognized the Weekend Plug-in column I write each Friday for Religion Unplugged.

My entry featured these three columns:

1. COVID miracle: At the pandemic’s 5-year anniversary, it’s time to tell the story from Altus, Okla.

2. ‘New pope, new me’: Devout Catholic baseball star finds his hitting groove from Arlington, Texas.

3. Grief and guilt: Parents who’ve lost children feel the pain of Texas flooding deaths.

I was a finalist for RNA’s Supple Award for Feature Writing for this portfolio of stories for The Christian Chronicle and Religion Unplugged:

1. COVID miracle: At the pandemic’s 5-year anniversary, it’s time to tell the story from Altus, Okla.

2. ‘Most severely injured’ OKC bombing survivor overcomes evil with good from Oklahoma City. With related column.

3. A pitch to follow Jesus: Baseball players embrace players’ faith testimonials from Detroit.

I previously won first place from RNA for feature writing (2024), analysis (2023) and magazine reporting (2013) as well as other awards in 2022, 2021, 2019 and 2015.

Photo by Clemente Lisi