When the finalists for the National Magazine Awards (NMA) were announced earlier this month, The United Church Observer received four nominations.

The last time the 185-year-old publication was nominated for a NMA was in 2002 and Editor and Publisher David Wilson said being recognized is an important milestone in their effort to market the magazine.

“Being nominated on a national scale confirms, there is an appetite for quality faith-based journalism beyond our traditional church borders,” he said. “Society has become very secular, but that doesn't mean stories about ethics, justice and faith no longer have an audience.”

In an effort to widen The Observer’s audience of 45,000 paid subscribers, the publication has contracted a research firm to poll 3,000 English-speaking individuals on their views about organized religion in general and the United Church in particular. Wilson said the results will appear in the summer issue.

The Observer was nominated in the Best Short Feature, Editorial Package, Online Video and Science, Technology and Environment categories. The 37^th annual National Magazine Awards will take place on Friday, June 6 at The Carlu in Toronto.