Editor's Desk: New York Convention Is Worth the Trip

By Michael F. Flach
Herald Editor
(From the issue of 5/31/07)

The Arlington Catholic HERALD was in a New York state of mind last week during the annual Catholic Press Association convention in Brooklyn. The paper received a total of eight awards, including two first place awards for “Best Personality Profile” and “Best Local Retail Campaign.” The paper has received 28 awards during the past fours years.
Staff writer Alfonso Aguilar’s Spanish language profile “La Odisea de German Martinez” was the first place winner. Aguilar received second place honors for a portrait photo he took during a trip to the Banica Mission in the Dominican Republic. He also took third place in Spanish language writing for his feature story “De Padre en Padre va creciendo el rebano de sacerdotes.”
The judges described Aguilar’s profile of German Martinez, a blind and almost deaf undocumented alien from Honduras, as “a dramatic tale of how far immigrants will go to reach their goal for a better life. This three-part piece is written as if the writer was with Martinez all the way, from the moment he decided to cross the border, to his crossing through the Rio Grande. The interview with Martinez sounds like a dialogue, full of color and giving an accurate picture of the man.”
Regarding his photo of a young girl at the Chapel of Cercadillo, a neighboring village near Banica, the judges wrote, “If eyes are the window to the soul this image captures this person. Nice, tight crop focusing your attention on the subject’s eyes.
“In a time where many dioceses make desperate pleas to promote priesthood as an essential vocation, Aguilar practically ‘sells’ these efforts with a series of interesting articles about the strong representation and participation of Spanish speaking priests in the Arlington Diocese,” the judges said about his award-winning feature story.
Graphic artist Rhochelle Munsayac also received three awards. She and Paulina Maldonado collaborated on a series of ads for Petrine Homes that captured first place in the category “Best Local Retail Campaign.” Munsayac’s series of ads for the Irish Collection received third place in the same category. She received honorable mention in the “Best Single Color Ad” for “Which Baby Should We Have Denied Care to?” The judges said the Petrine Homes series displayed a “great use of color with wonderful reproduction.”
Staff writer Gretchen Crowe’s article “Board Votes to Partially Shut Arlington’s Golden Door” received honorable mention for “Best News Writing on a Local Event.”
The HERALD’s graduation issue received second place for “Best Special Supplement or Special Issue with Advertising Emphasis.” The judges said the ads in this publication “do an excellent job of prominently featuring graduating students. This is incredibly interesting to potential readers. I found myself drawn to the color photos of the students even before I finished looking over the articles. Great job!”
It’s always satisfying to receive professional recognition for your work. Rhochelle, Alfonso, Paulina and Gretchen were specifically mentioned, but the entire staff deserves congratulations for producing an outstanding weekly Catholic newspaper. — M.F.F.

(c) Copyright 2007 by Arlington Catholic Herald