National Catholic Reporter won second place for best national newspaper at the 2024 Catholic Media Awards, announced June 21 at the Catholic Media Association's conference in Atlanta. (Laure Krupp)
National Catholic Reporter, Global Sisters Report and EarthBeat won 43 honors in 32 categories at the 2024 Catholic Media Awards, including a first place for Global Sisters Report's Spanish language edition in the best Spanish-language website category and second place for NCR for best national newspaper. NCR swept the "best investigative news writing" category, with Brian Fraga winning first and third place and Katie Collins Scott getting a second-place award. NCR also won first place for best editorial on a national or international issue and first place for a column by Michael Sean Winters. EarthBeat won in several categories, including first place for electronic newsletter.
GSR international correspondent Chris Herlinger and Latin America correspondent Rhina Guidos were honored with second place and honorable mention, respectively, as writers of the year. GSR's signature series, "Hope Amid Turmoil: Sisters in Conflict Areas," was recognized with three separate awards. GSR's Spanish website, launched May 1, 2023, was honored for work in its first year.
The awards for work done in 2023, were presented June 21 at the Catholic Media Association conference in Atlanta.
In the sweep of investigative news writing, Fraga's story "Lingering Vatican investigation of Tennessee bishop leaves diocese demoralized," won first place. Judges commented that "the piece is deserving of all the recognition for its breadth of research and interviews with those involved, particularly the bishop. The reporter does an excellent job balancing the subject matter's responses with the various issues."
Judges said "Catholic clergy abuse survivors of color endure compounded trauma," Scott's second-place story, "fulfills its goal to draw a wide-ranging picture of specific clergy abuse in Black and brown communities and the additional hardships endured," noting that the many interviews were "particularly heart-wrenching." Fraga's "Group promoting author GK Chesterton faces turmoil over right-wing connections earned third place.
GSR's special series, "Hope Amid Turmoil: Sisters in Conflict Areas" won in four categories, including first place for best online feature content not published in print, first place in best story and photo package by two individuals or more; second place for best news writing series for an international event and third place for best coverage – disaster or crisis.
Global Sisters Report's Spanish language edition won first place in the Spanish-language website category at the 2024 Catholic Media Awards, announced June 21 at the Catholic Media Association's conference in Atlanta. (Laure Krupp)
The first story in the series, "In spite of a year of war, Ukrainians endure and religious ministry continues," published on the eve of the second year of Russia's assault on Ukraine, by Chris Herlinger and photojournalist Gregg Brekke, prompted this comment by judges: "fantastic color brought to life by amazing photos … The story on the work of sisters such as Lydia Timkova was particularly moving and very enterprising. Videos helped bring all of this coverage to life. Outstanding work." Other parts of the series won first place for best online content not published in print, feature category. Other parts of the series by Africa regional correspondent Doreen Ajiambo, Herlinger and freelance writers Patrick Egwu and Thomas Scaria were recognized.
GSR's in-depth look at sisters' reconciliation efforts in the Canadian boarding schools controversy by Sandrine Rastello won first place in the best analysis/background/round-up news writing category and third place in the best in-depth/special reporting category. "An outstanding examination of this heartbreaking subject with vivid imagery and compelling details," the judges said with the first place award. "The writing is lucid and impossible to stop reading." NCR staff reporter Scott received second place in the category with her two-part series on homelessness, "Amid record chronic homelessness, advocates and experts say there is a solution," and "Programs to address chronic homelessness need more funding, support, say advocates."
NCR's editorial "Air quality is a justice issue — and not just when it hurts NYC" won first place in the best editorial on a national or international issue. Judges commented, "the lead-in graphs are written with an evocative language and imagery that capture the reader's attention. Statistics are sprinkled throughout to great effect in building the writer's argument."
NCR's Michael Sean Winters won first place in best regular column – political issues with the entry "Burke at Bedminster and Pence at Napa: The GOP at prayer?" Judges wrote: "The overall tone and style of this column made it stand out. Current issues with a bit of flair to the details and insights makes this piece a winner."
NCR contributor Franciscan Fr. Daniel P. Horan also took first place in best regular column - spiritual life with the entry "US bishops' document against transgender health care is a disaster."
EarthBeat Weekly won first place for best electronic newsletter and placed high among the coverage of social justice issues. Judges praised the newsletter's layout, clarity and content, adding "Most notably, the newsletter presents a cohesive narrative, with text and images seamlessly connecting and multiple pieces contributing to larger, emerging issues. Overall, everything is exceptionally well-done."
NCR, EarthBeat and GSR won six awards in coverage of social justice issues:
- Scott won first place in the "Call to Family, Community and Participation" category with a story about bishop-supported leadership training immigrants transforming parish communities.
- Brian Roewe won first place in the "Care for God's Creation" category with a story on how Pope Francis is seen as a global leader on the environment at the 10-year mark. He won second place for a story about how Washington, D.C., organizations have collaborated in a Laudato Si Program to plant tens of thousands of trees to increase the tree canopy.
- Nuri Vallbona and Luis Donaldo Gonzalez won first place in the "Solidarity" category with their story "Mexico's sisters accompany youth gang members: 'They make me turn the page.' " Julieta Valdez won an honorable mention in that same category for her story about Sr. Consuelo Morales, who accompanies families of those killed or missing in Mexico.
- Dan Stockman won honorable mention for "For centuries, sisters in the Deep South have worked to alleviate poverty. There's still more to do" in the "option for the poor and vulnerable" category.
NCR also won with visual and multimedia entries. Toni-Ann Ortiz won first place for best use of graphics – best original illustration for "LGBTQ+ Catholics express cautious hope for change as Synod of Bishops starts." NCR also took first place in best video-explainer with a piece by Chaz Muth on "Why Pope Francis' big Vatican meeting next month is so important." Judges noted that the entry was distinguished by its "simple but compelling narrative…supported by strong visuals and a clear, well-written script."
