Faith And The City Forum TV Program Receives AIB’s Allen Award

Faith And The City e.Letter
October 13, 2004

Faith And The City Forum: Interfaith Dialogue on Public Issues, was recognized for programming excellence by Atlanta Interfaith Broadcasters Inc. at the 4 th Annual John H. Allen Awards, Oct. 12.

Produced by Faith And The City, the weekly public affairs program airs at 7:30 am, Tuesday, and 7:30 pm, Friday, on the Atlanta Interfaith Broadcasters regional cable network. AIB established the awards ceremony, named for the organization’s founder, to recognize exceptional faith-based and community service programming.

Faith And The City Forum received the Allen Award for Best Community Service Non-Profit Program for “The Georgia State Flag: Building Community on Controversy, ” one program in the ongoing public affairs panel discussion series. The winning program first aired March 25, 2003, during a statewide flag controversy that received nationwide media attention. Doug Gatlin, executive director of Faith And The City and executive producer of the TV program, and Dorie Griggs, producer of the program, accepted the award.

“We are very pleased to receive the Allen Award for Excellence,” explained Mr. Gatlin. “And we deeply appreciate our partnership with the AIB family and their ongoing encouragement and cooperation.” Gatlin also thanked the Presbyterian Church USA for the grant that funded the first 24 programs in the series.

Ms. Griggs emphasized the important roles of the AIB production crew, consulting producer Susan Hawkins and other freelance team members, and especially the program’s guest panelists. “Our panelists are extremely generous with their time, their professional expertise, and sharing the perspectives of their faith traditions,” Ms. Griggs said. “Although they argue their positions with insight and conviction, they always respect one another and the difference in their views.”

Addressing public issues ranging from international crisis in North Korea to gay rights in Georgia, panelists are subject experts who often express a firm personal commitment to their own faith traditions – including, to date, Islam, Judaism, Hinduism, and Christianity, as well as agnosticism.

John Baker Brown Jr., senior producer of the TV series and communications director for Faith And The City, praised the work of series host Steen Miles. “Faith And The City Forum could not claim the mantel of excellence without Steen’s exceptional professionalism, tireless service to the community, and her commitment to greater understanding across racial, ethnic, and faith lines,” Mr. Brown said. Ms. Miles is a noted former television journalist and currently a candidate for the Georgia State Senate from District 43.

Faith And The City Forum is one of several initiatives by Faith And The City, a nonprofit organization that works to encourage a sense of community throughout the 20-county metro Atlanta region by amplifying the voices of the many religious traditions represented in the region.

Panelists for the winning “Georgia State Flag” program included: Dr. Miriam Burnett, Faith And The City Program at the Interdenominational Theological Seminary; Harold Kirtz, Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta; Dr. Laura Sugg, Columbia Theological Seminary; and Tisha Tallman, Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund.

In 2003, Faith And The City was honored by the Georgia Society of Association Executives with the organization’s Award of Excellence for a Total Communications Program, which included the TV program, website, electronic newsletter, print newsletter, and informational brochures.

For more information on Atlanta Interfaith Broadcasters, which is celebrating its 35 th anniversary this year, visit www.aibtv.com.

For more information on Faith And The City Forum, including programs topics and panelists, click here. (http://www.faithandthecity.org/media/tv_forum/index.shtml)