Kurdistan Chronicle is recognized by the Religion Communicators Council for the second year in a row

Kurdistan Chronicle has been honored with two prestigious awards in the United States: The Award of Excellence and the Award of Merit from the U.S.-based Religion Communicators Council (RCC). The publication won the Award of Excellence for the first time last year, making it the first print media outlet from the Middle East to win the distinction in the award’s 70-year history.

The Wilbur Awards are the top honor presented by the RCC, recognizing outstanding work in the communication of religious issues, values, and themes in secular media. According to RCC classifications, the Award of Excellence is granted to submissions of exceptional quality deemed unquestionably worthy of recognition, while the Award of Merit acknowledges work of notable merit. The RCC has presented the awards annually since 1949.

The awards were presented during the RCC’s annual convention in Cincinnati, Ohio, held from April 15–18, 2026, featuring panels with distinguished speakers and bringing together participants from around the world under the title “Coming Together: Charting Our Course.” Kurdistan Chronicle stood alongside esteemed organizations such as NBC, The Epoch Times, the Associated Press, Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, and NPR.

In the category of Written Works: Magazine, the Award of Excellence was given to “The Story of Iraq’s Jews” by Hemin Baban. This piece recounts the harrowing history of Iraqi Jews, particularly highlighting their experiences during a violent assault in June 1941 known as the Farhud. During this tragic event, 179 Jews were killed, and many homes and businesses were destroyed. The article underscores the resilience of the Jewish community in Iraq and serves as a poignant reminder of their significant but often overlooked history.

The Award of Merit was given to “Kurdistan’s Fallen Crosses” by Goran Shakhawan, which describes how Kurdish Peshmerga reinstated a cross on a church in Bashiqa, northeastern Mosul, Iraq, after liberating the town from ISIS. The symbolic picture of the event, presented to Pope Francis by Kurdistan Regional Government Prime Minister Masrour Barzani, illustrates the immense destruction caused by ISIS and the ongoing efforts to restore peace and religious coexistence in the region.

“We congratulate Kurdistan Chronicle on being honored with an Award of Excellence for the second year in a row,” Brad Pomerance, Wilbur Awards Coordinator for RCC, said.

“In selecting our Wilbur Honorees, our judges evaluate content, creativity, execution, and results, but the ultimate criterion is excellence in communication about faith and religion,” Pomerance told Kurdistan Chronicle. “Each entry in the Wilbur Awards is judged by three experienced media professionals.”

Kurdistan Chronicle’s article “The Prophet Nahum: A Symbol of Religious Coexistence in Kurdistan,” also written by Hemin Baban, received the Award of Excellence in 2025. This piece exemplifies the magazine’s commitment to bridging cultural divides and promoting the shared values of the Kurdistan Region’s diverse communities.

“For more than seven decades, the RCC’s Wilbur Awards have honored outstanding storytelling in secular media that explores faith, values, and the human spirit,” Ryan Koch, president of the RCC’s Board of Governors, told Kurdistan Chronicle. “This year’s honorees carry that remarkable legacy forward with creativity, insight, and conviction.

“The Wilbur Awards ceremony is always an uplifting reminder of how meaningful, well-crafted communication can foster understanding among people of all beliefs,” Koch added. “I encourage anyone in media or communications to join us in celebrating the power of these inspiring stories.”

Rabbi Eric Greenberg, who has spent decades working in interfaith relations, praised Kurdistan Chronicle for its ability to bring different cultures and traditions together, noting that fostering genuine understanding between communities is more vital than ever. That sentiment was echoed by RCC board member Kathy Williams, who welcomed the publication’s third award from the organization. “We aren’t just celebrating a trophy,” Williams said. “We’re celebrating the real collaboration and mutual respect that this publication stands for. It’s exactly the kind of journalism that actually brings people together.”

The RCC announced the 2026 Wilbur Award recipients on March 10, recognizing exceptional work across secular media fields including print and online journalism, book publishing, podcasts, radio, television, and film.