The top award is General Excellence and the Catholic
Herald garnered second place while competing against other weekly
Catholic newspapers with a circulation of 25,000 or more. That’s a top-notch
group of publications.

The comments from the judges read, “Nice teasers to attract
readers into the newspaper. The layout is fun and varied. Nice balance of stories
from a variety of areas — news, sports.”

Also in the excellence category among all publications,
Ashleigh Kassock won second place for Multi-media Journalist of the Year and Staff
Writer Zoey Maraist received an honorable mention for Writer of the Year. 

Our freelance photographer, Joe Cashwell, won 12 awards,
including sweeping the category for Best Sports Photo Story.

Our Graduation Special Section won an honorable mention for Best
Supplement or Special Issue.

Best News Writing on a Local or Regional Event brought a
third place award to Zoey Maraist for her piece on “The Opioid Epidemic.” 

In the Best News Writing on a National or International
Event, I won first place for my piece from Fatima, Portugal, and third place
for my piece from France on “Liberty, Equality and Fraternity.”

Maraist and Elizabeth A. Elliott won a second place for Best
Reporting on Ecumenical and Interfaith Issues and third place in the Best
Reporting on the Celebration of a Sacrament went to Elliott.

Second place in Best Multiple Picture Package went to
Kassock and Maraist, and a second place for Best Coverage of Pro-Life issues
went to Maraist, Elliott and Mary Stachyra Lopez, who also won a first place in
the Best Reporting of Social Justice Issues.

Cashwell’s work was complemented by Elliott’s for a second
place win in Best Multiple Picture Package and an honorable mention for Best
News Photo Story for “Pilgrimage to shrine.”

In the advertising category, between Graphic Artists David
Garcia and Kassock, the newspaper won two first places, two third places and an
honorable mention. Garcia’s sticky note, the small adhesive ad attached to the
front page, won first place for Most Effective Use of Small Space. Kassock’s
Irish Walk ad campaign won first place.

Kassock also produced a video called, “The Whistler” that
won second place in Best Use of Video in Social Media.

Having won 93 awards in the past three years, the staff is pleased at the recognition for just a piece of all the work that goes into everything we do, from the weekly print newspaper founded in 1976, the website that first launched in 1996, the e-newsletter, the videos, podcasts and all the offerings on social media,including Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and Instagram. We strive every day to inform, inspire and connect our readers.

 

 

Catholic Press Association awards

 

AB06: BEST LOCAL RETAIL CAMPAIGN ORIGINATING WITH THE PUBLICATION

First Place

“Irish Walk” by Ashleigh Kassock, Advertising staff 

The green is well played. Subtle, but always there. The info bar
at the bottom is nice. Clean sharp and concise. The product pictures are
perfect. Definitely the most creative entry. And very clever — exactly what I
love about and expect from the Irish.

Honorable Mention

“Summer Storytime at Pauline Books” by David Garcia, Ashleigh
Kassock, Advertising staff

 

AB07 Best Promotional House Ad

Third Place

“Respect life month” by Ashleigh Kassock, Advertising staff

The central image in this ad elicits a strong emotional response
that, in itself, serves as a call to action.

 

AB40: Most Effective use of small space

First Place

“Bishop Ireton sticky note” by David Garcia, Advertising staff

An elegant and effective design to capture attention on the front
of a newspaper.

Third Place

“Shopping at the Paschal Lamb” by Ashleigh Kassock, Advertising
staff

A creative and fun way to capture attention and interest with
graphics and photography.

 

AD31: BEST USE OF VIDEO IN SOCIAL MEDIA

Second Place

“The whistler” by Ashleigh Kassock

Amazing shares! Perfect for sharing!

 

E06: NEWSPAPER OF THE YEAR — Weekly Diocesan Newspaper,
Circulation 25,001 or more

Second Place

By Catholic Herald Staff

Nice teasers to attract readers into the newspaper. The layout is
a fun and varied. Nice balance of stories from a variety of areas — news,
sports.

 

E13: WRITER OF THE YEAR

Honorable Mention

Zoey Maraist for “Remembering Little Saigon; In the chapel on
bended knee; Free medical clinic in Manassas; Life in a country parish; The
opioid epidemic.”

 

E20: MULTIMEDIA JOURNALIST OF THE YEAR

Second place

Ashleigh Kassock for “Find your inner whistle”; “Christendom
alumnus finds love and a movie deal”; Catholic Press Month promotional videos (Informing, inspiring and connecting Catholics and How to print a newspaper);
“Faith and feathered friends.”

N02b: BEST NEWS WRITING ON A LOCAL OR REGIONAL EVENT: Weekly
Diocesan Newspaper, Circulation 25,001 or more

Third Place

“The opioid epidemic” by Zoey Maraist

A solid local look at this very serious problem and how the
church can be part of the reaction to it. Lot of work went into this story, it
seems.

 

N03c: BEST NEWS WRITING ON A NATIONAL OR INTERNATIONAL EVENT:
International Event, Diocesan Newspaper

First Place

“Fatima: A century of devotion” by Ann M. Augherton

With a descriptive narrative the author updates the story of the
three children of Fatima and the beatification of two of them. The words paint
a picture of the story.

Third Place

“Liberty, equality and fraternity” by Ann M. Augherton

 

N13a: BEST PHOTO STORY: News Photo Story

Honorable Mention

“Pilgrimage to shrine” by Elizabeth A. Elliott, Joe Cashwell

 

N13b: BEST PHOTO STORY: Feature Photo Story

Third Place

“Easter Vigil” by Joe Cashwell

The entire package comes together from start of the ceremony with
the shadows of the fire to finishing with the bright cleansing light of the
baptisms.

 

_{“Wrestlers elevated” was part of a first place package for best sports photo story and second place for best sports photo. JOE CASHWELL | FOR THE CATHOLIC HERALD}

N13c: BEST PHOTO STORY: Sports Photo Story

First Place

“Wrestling tournament” by Joe Cashwell

Images are high quality and action packed drawing the reader
through the wrestling match with pace and anticipation.

 

Second Place

“Rugby tournament” by Joe Cashwell

The images all portray the Christendom Crusaders as the dominant
team showing them out—pacing and out—performing at a level above their
opponents, matching the description of the match.

Honorable Mentions

“Softball championship” by Joe Cashwell

 AND “Swim meet” by Joe Cashwell

 

N14f: BEST PHOTOGRAPH: Best Sports Photo

Second Place

“Wrestlers elevated” by Joe Cashwell

Great timing to show both wrestlers floating above the mat. An
unusual sight you rarely see in wrestling.

Third Place

“Lacrosse team celebrates victory” by Joe Cashwell

Great celebration shot. Good position by the photographer in
front of the celebrants. The girl leading the group sets the tone of the rest
of the team.

 

N15a: BEST MULTIPLE PICTURE PACKAGE: News Package

Second Place

“Diocesan pilgrimage to shrine” by Elizabeth A. Elliott, Joe
Cashwell

Really nice variety of impactful images with the obvious effort
by the photographer(s) to capture some really unique point of views elevated
this package among the rest.

 

N15b: BEST MULTIPLE PICTURE PACKAGE: Feature Package

Second Place

“Celebrating life” by Connor Bergeron, Ashleigh Kassock, Zoey
Maraist

(Celebrating the God of life, March for Life shows ‘The Power of One,’)

Just a great all around collection of images that really told the
story of the event(s). The variety of angles and different perspectives, along
with wonderful lighting and moments, elevated this entry.

 

N15c: BEST MULTIPLE PICTURE PACKAGE: Sports Package

First Place

“Rough and rugby” by Joe Cashwell, Staff

Great collection of images that worked well as a group, while
each image stood alone as strong sports images capturing great action and a
real feel for the event.

Second Place

“Panthers fall short” by Joe Cashwell

Well covered event to not only capture the action, but the
emotion of the loss also helped to tell the story.

Honorable Mention

“Panthers defeat Cardinals” by Joe Cashwell

 

N16a: BEST USE OF ART OR GRAPHICS: Best Use of Art or Graphics

Honorable Mention

“10 ways to help the poor” by Ashleigh Kassock

 

N19a: BEST SUPPLEMENT OR SPECIAL ISSUE: Best Regular Special
Supplement

Third Place

Honorable Mention

“Graduation” by Catholic Herald Staff

 

N23b: BEST REPORTING ON THE CELEBRATION OF A SACRAMENT: Weekly
Diocesan Newspaper, Circulation 25,001 or more

Third Place

“Growing the Catholic Church” by Elizabeth A. Elliott

Nice coverage with ample supporting quotes from those involved.

 

N48b: BEST COVERAGE OF PRO-LIFE ISSUES: Weekly Diocesan
Newspaper, Circulation 25,001 or more

Second Place

“Lodging for Life; Vigil for an execution; The Power of One;
Doing the job of God’s angels; Free medical clinic blessed in Manassas; A
lifetime of love in two days” by Zoey Maraist, Elizabeth A. Elliott, Connor
Bergeron, Mary Stachyra Lopez

The Catholic Herald coverage represents pro-life teaching from
womb to tomb with intriguing stories of personal struggle and triumph as well
as informative background articles.

 

N50a: BEST REPORTING ON ECUMENICAL AND INTERFAITH ISSUES:
Diocesan newspaper

Second Place

“Putting the church back together; Seeking unity in uncertain
times; Interreligious kindness” by Zoey Maraist, Elizabeth A. Elliott

Multiple sources, good context, well-written.

 

N54b: BEST REPORTING OF SOCIAL JUSTICE ISSUES: Call to Family,
Community and Participation

First Place

“Love: the universal language” by Mary Stachyra Lopez