Kurdistan Chronicle has been honored with the prestigious Award of Excellence by the U.S.-based Religion Communicators Council (RCC), making it the first print media outlet from the Middle East to win this distinction in the award’s 70-year history.
On April 25, 2025, a dedicated team from Kurdistan Chronicle attended the Wilbur Awards ceremony held in Salt Lake City, Utah. Established in 1949, the Wilbur Awards recognize outstanding communication on religious issues, values, and themes in public secular media. This honor reflects the RCC’s emphasis on professionalism, fairness, and integrity in religious storytelling, making this recognition even more meaningful.
The three-day conference featured panels with distinguished speakers from around the world. On the final day, Kurdistan Chronicle stood alongside esteemed organizations such as the Associated Press, NPR, Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, ABC, The Atlantic, and CBS “60 Minutes” to accept this remarkable accolade. We are proud to join past winners, who include Morgan Freeman, Oprah Winfrey, Jane Pauley, Mister Rogers, CBS “Sunday Morning,” ABC’s “20/20,” NBC’s “Meet the Press,” Vanity Fair, and the New York Times.
Among the notable works recognized at the event, Kurdistan Chronicle’s article “The Prophet Nahum: A Symbol of Religious Coexistence in Kurdistan,” written by Hemn Baban and published in Issue 20, received special acknowledgement. This piece exemplifies the publication’s commitment to bridging cultural divides and promoting the shared values of the Kurdistan Region’s diverse communities. Reflecting on the honor, Baban emphasized that “this award is not just for us; it’s for all the voices in Kurdistan Region striving for peace and understanding.”
Highlight commonalities through storytelling
As head of the U.S. Desk at Kurdistan Chronicle, I, along with my colleagues Sardar Sattar (senior reporter) and Hemn Baban (deputy editor-in-chief of Kurdistan in Arabic, the magazine’s Arabic-language edition), had the honor of delivering Kurdistan Chronicle’s message on stage. Since establishing the Kurdistan Chronicle Media Foundation in 2023, our mission has been to address the gap in media representation in the Kurdistan Region. While many English-language outlets focus on hard news, we strive to tell the stories of the people – highlighting the commonalities that unite the region’s diverse ethnic and religious groups.
Within the message, Sattar provided a brief history of the Kurdish cause, shedding light on the atrocities committed by the Ba’athist regime in Iraq, which included genocide, mass graves, chemical attacks, the destruction of more than 400 villages, and the deaths of over 300,000 Kurds.
Brad Pomerance, Award Coordinator for the RCC, emphasized the significance of Kurdistan Chronicle’s achievement, noting that it is the first time a Middle Eastern entity has claimed this honor in the Wilbur Awards’ history. “I was overjoyed when I saw that our friends from Kurdistan Chronicle had been awarded an Award of Excellence, a very high honor here at RCC,” he said. “This marks the first time in 70 years that an organization from the Middle East has been recognized.”
Founded in 1929, the RCC has presented the Wilbur Awards annually since 1949. According to its classifications, the Award of Excellence is granted to submissions of exceptional quality, deemed unquestionably worthy of recognition. “To see Kurdistan Chronicle among such esteemed media outlets is a testament to the power of storytelling in promoting interfaith dialogue. This award represents a bridge between cultures and celebrates the values we hold dear,” Pomerance said.
Bringing communities together
Rabbi Eric Greenberg, a veteran in multi-faith relations, praised Kurdistan Chronicle for its efforts to foster understanding among diverse faith groups, cultures, and traditions. “It’s vital for us to learn about one another’s backgrounds and beliefs,” he said. “Kurdistan Chronicle is playing a crucial role in that educational process, helping to illuminate the rich tapestry of Kurdish culture and its many faiths.”
Meanwhile, Kathy Williams, a board member of the RCC, expressed her excitement at Kurdistan Chronicle’s recognition for its excellent journalism, describing it as a beacon of interfaith connectivity in the region. “Tonight, we celebrate not just an award, but the spirit of collaboration and mutual respect that Kurdistan Chronicle embodies,” she said. “Their work exemplifies the kind of journalism that brings communities together.”
On the first day of the conference, Pomerance introduced us to RCC President Teresa Faust, who was delighted to meet the Kurdistan Chronicle team. After an engaging conversation, she discussed the Wilbur Awards’ mission of recognizing excellence in faith and religious communication among secular organizations. “We are here to honor those who illuminate the complexities of faith and religion in our world,” she stated. “The communicators help us reflect on our beliefs and foster understanding among diverse communities, reminding us that, despite our differences, we all share a common humanity.”
RCC Board Member Ibrahim Anli also expressed pride in Kurdistan Chronicle’s achievements, particularly its coverage of Prophet Nahum. “As a Kurdish American, it fills me with great pride to see Kurdistan Chronicle receive this Award of Excellence,” he shared. “Their commitment to telling stories that resonate both locally and globally is commendable. I look forward to seeing more of their impactful work in the future.”
This recognition not only reflects Kurdistan Chronicle’s commitment to high-quality journalism, but also highlights the vital role of diverse voices and the spirit of coexistence in shaping conversations about religion and society in the Kurdistan Region.
Goran Shakhawan is a Kurdish-American journalist and author based in the United States. He has covered news for several Kurdish news outlets and was a former senior correspondent for Kurdistan24 in Erbil and Washington D.C. He has published several books in Kurdish.
