Baptist Communicators honor Convention PR staff

Courtesy Photo

Three members of the Florida Baptist Convention Public Relations Department received awards at the recent annual meeting of the Baptist Communicators Association. Award winners included (L-R) Deanne Carter, media producer; Barbara Denman, communications director; and Ty Wood, media services director. BCA president Jan Kelley (R) made the presentations.

JACKSONVILLE (FBC)—The Florida Baptist Convention Public Relations Division received twelve awards presented by the Baptist Communicators Association (BCA) during their annual meeting in Denver, Colo. April 20-23.

The Division’s Media Services arm received a total of seven awards within the Association’s Audio-Visual Communications Categories, winning four first place and three second place honors.

Ty Wood, the department’s director received first place for “Friends & Neighbors,” a public service announcement (PSA) used to create awareness among storm victims of the help available through Florida Baptist disaster relief during the 2004 hurricanes.

“I am grateful to be able to tell the stories of Florida Baptists making a difference,” said Wood. “Through the talents of the Media Services team the selfless service our local missionaries does not have to occur with total anonymity and I appreciate the opportunity to recognize their labor.”

Media Producer Deanne Carter received first place in the Non-Broadcast Video Feature Production category for a video highlighting Florida Baptist’s missions history. Carter also won second place for “Solutions,” a DVD designed to implement evangelistic strategy through Sunday School.

Crossroads, the department’s video magazine won first place Broadcast Video Feature Production and first place Video Magazine. The department also won second place for the 2004 Maguire State Missions Report and second place for a video of Florida Baptist history, “Our Heritage Our Hope.”

“The whole point of our work is to help further the kingdom of God,” Carter said. “To be recognized by our peers for doing so is an added blessing.”

In addition to the BCA awards, the Media Services department was recently recognized in the 2004 Communicator Awards, the 2005 Summit Awards and the 2005 Telly Awards.

Representing the Public Relation Division’s Communications Department, Barbara Denman, communications director, received first place in feature writing and first place in special materials for the quarterly print publication Florida Missions Today. Denman also won second place for news writing in the Series—Online Publication category.

Receiving a first place award for Specialty Giveaway Items, division director Don Hepburn was recognized for the 150th Anniversary Stones of Remembrance presented to messengers at the annual Florida Baptist State Convention meeting.

Hepburn also received second place in Special Exhibit/Display for the Heritage of Hope illustrations commissioned in honor of the State Convention’s 150th anniversary. The illustrations portrayed the historical foundation of Baptist work in Florida and were displayed at the annual State Convention Meeting on 10’ by 10’ vinyl alongside contemporary photographs of Baptists serving the state today.

Earlier this year, Hepburn and the Public Relations Division also received recognition from the Religion Communicators Council.

Honors included an Award of Excellence for the PSA “Friends and Neighbors,” an Award of Merit for the news article “Hurricane Ivan Destruction of Pensacola," an Award of Merit for the video magazine Crossroads, and an Award of Merit for the video “Heroes.” “Heroes” also won the Shoestring Award of excellence, an award presented to organizations for good planning on a limited budget.