An embarrassment of riches.
As three of us from the Arlington Catholic Herald sat at the
Catholic Press Association’s awards dinner last Friday night,
that’s what it felt like as our name was announced over and
over and over again.
Some 34 times, we heard “Arlington Catholic Herald,” from
honorable mentions, to second- and third-place honors, to
several first-place listings, and to the “best in show” – the
coveted General Excellence award.
Exhilarating, flattering and a bit embarrassing, our hoots
and applause began to soften around award number 15.
A record number of awards for the Catholic Herald in a given
year, more importantly, it’s acknowledgement of what went
into each offering – each article, photo, video, ad,
headline.
Here’s an inside look at that process.
Most assignments start in a weekly editorial staff meeting,
where we go through diocesan calendars and emailed story
suggestions, and we brainstorm. Assignments emerge and
reporters start their work, photographs and videos are
planned, events are covered, notes emerge, articles take
shape, the editors collaborate, the layout and design process
begins, proofreading becomes a priority, ads are created,
pages are finalized and sent to the printer.
Just a few hours later those slightly damp newspapers are on
their way to churches, newspaper boxes and homes. The digital
process begins with stories, photos and videos uploaded to
the website. The e-newsletter is produced. Social media takes
off at breakneck speed with tweets, Facebook posts, Pinterest
and YouTube offerings flowing into the cyber world of
trending topics and unique stories being shared globally.
A staff of slightly more than a dozen makes all this happen.
From the front desk, to circulation, to the advertising
department, to graphics/production, social media and the
editorial department, we all share in the mission of telling
the story of the diocese through inspiring, relevant,
thought-provoking words and images.
This year, impressively, each Catholic Herald department was
recognized, including each and every content provider. We
didn’t expect it, but we sure do appreciate it. (See sidebar
list.)
We work day in and day out to share this story, to inform
you, to inspire you, to encourage you to act on your faith,
to give you the news you need (and won’t find elsewhere), to
refresh your faith practices, and to be your only local
reliable source of Catholic news – local, national and
international.
It’s our mission, call it ministry, to keep you foremost in
our minds as we approach every day, every tweet, every parish
event. It’s our privilege to share with you the latest quote
or heartwarming photo from the pope. It’s our duty to
challenge you to action in the work of our faith.
We don’t do it for praise or personal profit; we don’t do it
to preach. We do it because we think it’s vital to an active,
effective and well-informed community.
Thank you for allowing us into your parishes, schools and
homes, and maybe even occasionally, into your hearts.
Augherton can be reached at [email protected]
Editorial
Best electronic newsletter
Second place,
“Catholic Herald eEdition,” by Mary Stachyra Lopez (Sign up here)
Individual excellence, writer
Second place, Katie Scott
Individual excellence, videographer/video producer
Honorable mention, Ashleigh Buyers
Best news writing originating with the paper on a local or
regional event
Second place, “Mega
boda,” by Ann M. Augherton
Honorable mention,
“Showing love, one load at a time,” by Zoey DiMauro
Best news writing originating with the paper on national or
international event
Honorable mention,
“In the center ring,” by Dave Borowski
Best in-depth news/special reporting
First place,
“Small lives, big heartbreak,” by Katie Scott
Honorable mention,
“Out of the shadows,” by Katie Scott
And
“Organs are key,” by Katie Scott
Best reporting on children and teens
Second place, “The
sweet life,” by Ashleigh Buyers and Mary Witko
Best feature photo story originating with a newspaper
First place,
“Night in Bethlehem,” by Joe Cashwell
Best sports photo story originating with a newspaper
First place,
“Cardinals make a big splash,” by Joe Cashwell
Second place,
“Beautiful day on the water,” by Joe Cashwell
Third place,
“Right through the uprights,” by Joe Cashwell
Best general news photo
Honorable mention,
“Bishop opens the Holy Door,” by Dave Borowski
Best multiple sports picture package originating with a paper
Honorable mention,
“A razor-thin win,” by Gerald Martineau
Best use of art or graphics
Second place,
“10 green gifts,” by Stacy Rausch and Katie Scott
Best use of art or graphics: best original illustration
First place,
“Three kings,” by Ashleigh Buyers
Best column on family life
Third place, by Elizabeth
Foss
Best headline
Third place,
“If you fry it, they will come,” by Ashleigh Buyers
Best regular special supplement
Honorable mention, “Graduation,”
by Catholic Herald staff
Best special supplement on a bishop
Second place,
“Bishop’s anniversary,” by Catholic Herald staff
Best seasonal issue
Third place, “Christmas,” by Catholic Herald staff
Best coverage of a routine, sacramental event
First place,
“Carrying Christ,” by Katie Scott
Second place,
“In service to the church,” by Julia Willis and Joe
Cashwell
Best coverage of vocations to the priesthood, religious life
or diaconate
First place,
“In service to the church,” by Julia Willis and Joe
Cashwell
Best coverage of consecrated life
Second place,
“A praying heart in the diocese”;
“Holy stewards of the earth”;
“St. Paul’s mission with new media,” by Ashleigh Buyers
Best coverage of immigration
Honorable mention, “Coverage of Immigration,” by Dave
Borowski
Best coverage of the Year of Mercy
Third place, “Our Holy Door”;
“Spiritual, Corporal Works of Mercy”;
“Parishes make ‘mercy our paradigm,'” by Dave Borowski,
Ashleigh Buyers and Katie Scott
General excellence
First place, by Catholic Herald staff
Advertising
Best single ad originating with the publication, color
First place, “Calling all WWII veterans,” by David Garcia
Best ad copywriting
Third place, “Teaching Catholicism to Capitalists,” by
Narguess Moasser and Beariz Lopez, Catholic U. ad
Best local retail campaign originating with the publication
Third place, “Paschal Lamb,” by Ashleigh Buyers
Honorable mention, “Irish Walk,” by Ashleigh Buyers
Best promotional house ad
Second place, “Follow the Pope with us!” by Ashleigh Buyers
Other awards
Katie Scott, first place, Knights of Columbus McGivney Award
for outstanding writing on volunteer efforts,
“Healing the poor”
Ann M. Augherton, first place magazine coverage for package
on Pope Francis’ visit to the U.S. for St. Anthony
Messenger, co-written with her husband, Christopher J.
Gunty
Christine Stoddard, honorable mention, Pontifical Mission
Society Archbishop O’Meara Award for mission animation news,
“Unstoppable”