The Catholic Spirit won seven awards and the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis Office of Communications won four awards from the 2023 Catholic Media Conference’s awards ceremony, which celebrated the 2022 work of Catholic Media Association members.
Participants can submit work for the awards in a variety of categories that highlight writing, design, production and editing. Awards honor “the outstanding work of members in their efforts to further the mission of the Church,” the CMA, which serves professional Catholic communicators in the United States and Canada, stated on its website.
The June 9 awards banquet was held in Baltimore at the conclusion of the CMA conference held June 6-9. Below are the awards The Catholic Spirit and the Office of Communications won this year.
The Catholic Spirit
First Place (4)
Best in-depth news/special reporting – non-weekly, first place: “Troubling past: The Church’s role in America’s Indian boarding school era” — Maria Wiering
Best story and photo package – by an individual, first place: “Pray Ball: Catholic Softball Group puts Jesus at the center of weekly gatherings on the diamond” — Dave Hrbacek
Best personality profile – non-weekly, first place: “On the cusp of 80, Mary Jo Copeland is unwavering” — Christina Capecchi, for The Catholic Spirit
Best story and photo package – by two individuals or more, first place: “On the cusp of 80, Mary Jo Copeland is unwavering” — Christina Capecchi and Dave Hrbacek
Second Place (3)
Best analysis/background/round-up news writing – The Gerard E. Sherry Award – non-weekly, second place: “MCC urges people to consider the dangers of recreational marijuana” — Joe Ruff
Best print special supplement – on a bishop’s transition, second place: “‘Follow Christ’ — At Jan. 25 ordination, Bishop Williams encourages faithful to share Gospel” — The Catholic Spirit staff
Individual excellence – photographer of the year, second place: Dave Hrbacek
Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis Office of Communications
First Place (1)
Hot topic – the Dobbs decision, first place: “We Need More Love, More Life!” — Archbishop Bernard Hebda, Zach Jansen, Tom Halden
Third Place (2)
Best diocesan pastoral message – audio or video, third place: “Archbishop Hebda’s Invitation to Read the Pastoral Letter” — Office of Communications staff
Best use of live video in social media, third place: “PLAM Dobbs Decision Rally” — Zach Jansen
Honorable Mention (1)
Best video – hot topic – the Dobbs decision, honorable mention: “Archbishop Bernard Hebda’s Statement Regarding Dobbs Ruling by U.S. Supreme Court” — Tom Halden, Zach Jansen
Complete awards details can be found online at catholicmediaconference.org/lists.
