Christian Chronicle’s Bobby Ross Jr. wins national award from Religion Newswriters Association

Congratulations to Bobby Ross Jr., The Christian Chronicle’s managing editor.

Ross, who joined the Chronicle’s staff in 2005, won first place in the magazine reporting category in the Religion Newswriters Association’s 2013 national awards contest. Winners were announced Sept. 28 at the association’s annual conference in Austin, Texas.

Second place went to Jaweed Kaleem of The Huffington Post . Joshua J. McElwee of the National Catholic Reporter placed third.

Ross’ portfolio for the Magazine News Reporter of the Year contest included:

• Illegal immigration pits law vs. mercy: One minister’s passion for aliens.

• A rocky road for Mexico missions:  Amid violence south of the U.S. border, many churches rethink travel plans. But safety concerns fail to deter some.

• Black, white and Gray: Civil rights attorney who once challenged Lipscomb University in court receives the Christian university’s highest honor.

Ross also was a finalist — alongside journalists for publications including The Washington Post — for the association’s Supple Religion Feature Writer of the Year Award.

“I am so blessed by the opportunity to combine my love for journalism with the ministry of the  Chronicle  to inform, inspire and unite Churches of Christ,” Ross said.

Earlier this year, the Chronicle was named  top national/international newspaper in the Associated Church Press “Best of the Christian Press” contest.

Since 2007, the Chronicle has received 47 national awards from the Associated Church Press and 39 awards from the Oklahoma Society of Professional Journalists.