Several years ago I got the chance to attend the Religion News Association's (RNA) conference in North Carolina. At the time I was blogging for the Houston Chronicle's "Houston Belief" blog. Little did I know that attending that conference would propel me into writing for publications like The Washington Post, Newsweek, and Huffington Post.
I can't thank the RNA and its leadership enough for the opportunities this network of religion beat reporters gave me. That's why I am honored to serve on the RNA Board as Treasurer and especially humbled to be the point-person for the selection of our William A. Reed Lifetime Achievement Award.
The William A. Reed Lifetime Achievement Award was created in 2001 and is presented to individuals who demonstrate exceptional long-term commitment and service to the Religion News Association and its members, and to the field of religion newswriting.
This year we selected Cecile S. Holmes -- formerly of The Houston Chronicle and current professor of Journalism at the University of South Carolina -- for the award. As a past RNA President and long-term religion reporter I enjoyed interviewing her and writing a profile on her contribution to the beat and her reception of the award. I invite you to read more about her life and experience below, if only to get a small glimpse into the world of religion newswriting...
“Thirty years ago Cecile Holmes started working on a beat that some find downright strange.
Starting as the religion and food writer at the Greensboro News and Record in Greensboro, N.C., Holmes was quickly captivated by the beat.
“I learned some odd things,” on the beat Holmes said. Like, “how to write quasi-interesting stories about the peripatetic John Paul II when I had had no sleep and way too much caffeine.”
On a more serious note, she also found herself sticking up for stories her editors wanted to shut down or keeping her sense of humor when she interviewed the holier-than-thou. Through it all Holmes said, “I still think religion is the best reporting beat.””