wfn.org | [PCUSA News] "Passages" Radio Program Wins Prestigious Award

[PCUSA_NEWS@ecunet.org]

96213    "Passages" Radio Program Wins Prestigious Award 
 
                      by Jerry L. Van Marter 
 
PITTSBURGH--"PASSAGES," a 90-second radio show produced by the Presbyterian 
Media Mission (PMM) here, took top honors in the world-renowned 29th Annual 
WorldFest-Houston International Film Festival.   
 
     It was the only religious production to win an award in this, the 
largest and oldest continuous film, video and radio competition in the 
world.  A total of more than 4,300 entries from 38 countries were judged at 
the 1996 event in mid-April.  Winners were notified in May.  
 
     "PASSAGES" received the Grand Award in the Best Radio Advertisement 
category, joining an impressive list of winners including Emmy-winning 
actor Tim Reid's new feature film, "Once Upon a Time When We Were Colored." 
 
     "It is great to add such a prestigious award to the honors for 
PASSAGES here in our fifteenth year of this program serving the public 
interest for our broadcast friends and the Church," says Presbyterian Media 
Mission Executive Director Gregg Hartung. 
 
     "PASSAGES," produced by Presbyterian Media Mission (PMM) and United 
Methodist Communications (UMCom) as a cooperative media ministry venture is 
carried on more than 600 radio stations nationwide.  The program includes a 
90-second daily feature on compact disc and  a 15-minute and 30-minute 
weekly series of audio parables in which people share their journeys 
through sturggle and triumph.  Each show targets various interest groups, 
and includes people who, in their own words, talk about the importance of 
faith and values. 
 
     PMM's the Rev. Dennis Benson (PMM) is "PASSAGES" host and producer; 
Bill Richards, UMCom's director of radio ministries is executive producer, 
Gregg Hartung (PMM) and Bill Wolfe (UMCom) are associate producers, and 
Lafayette Richardson (UMCom) is engineer. 
 
     "It is especially gratifying to receive such an outstanding honor, 
knowing "PASSAGES" was judged by the criteria of the commercial 
marketplace," said Richards. 
 
     Among notable producers who received their first public recognition 
during past WorldFest competitions are Steven Spielberg, George Lucas and 
Oliver Stone. 

------------
For more information contact Presbyterian News Service
  phone 502-569-5504             fax 502-569-8073  
  E-mail PCUSA.NEWS@pcusa.org   Web page: http://www.pcusa.org 

--