Staff Writer Katie Scott’s second place award for individual
excellence as a writer led the way as the Arlington
Catholic Herald received 15 awards in the 2015 Catholic
Press Association awards competition.
The sample of Scott’s diverse writing this year included: a
report on binge drinking among young adults; how social
service agencies are dealing with homelessness among
children; the cycle of violence in Central Africa; and how
one mother has opened her home to foster children.
“Scott’s work demonstrates all the facets of good reporting:
observation, interviewing and research,” said the judges.
“She tells full stories that touch the heart while still
maintaining objectivity.”
The paper received five first place awards for advertising
design, headline writing, sports journalism and coverage of
vocations to the priesthood.
The Catholic Herald has received a total of 33 awards during
the past two years.
The winners were announced June 26 during the Catholic Media
Conference in Buffalo, N.Y.
Once again, every aspect of the paper was honored –
advertising design, writing, photography and graphics.
Photographer Gerald Martineau received three awards: two
honorable mentions for portraits (a homeless man at Christ
House in Alexandria and a dunk tank participant in Fairfax)
and a second place award for his photo feature on the Labor
Day Picnic at St. Mary of Sorrows Church in Fairfax.
“This set of photographs,” the judges said, really told the
story of a parish event. Nice photographs, a variety of
points of view and a variety of moments. This is the kind of
story that makes you feel your parish is a community.”
First place winners were:
– Best Single Ad Originating with the Publication (black and
white), Ashleigh Buyers, “St. Veronica School – Welcome
Back”;
– Best Local Retail Campaign, David Garcia, “The Irish
Collection”;
– Best Headline, Katie Scott,
“Holy smokes: New life for old candles”;
– Best Sports Journalism, Jim McElhatton,
“O’Connell girls win eighth title”;
– Best Coverage of Vocations to the Priesthood, Religious
Life or Diaconate, Christine Stoddard and Stacy Rausch,
“The crisis in Hispanic vocations.”
Second place honorees included:
– Individual Excellence: Writer, Katie Scott;
– Best Reporting on Young Adults, Katie Scott,
“Dangerous drinking”;
– Best Feature Photo Story, Gerald Martineau,
“Labor Day Patriotism”;
– Best Explanation of the Church’s Position on Marriage,
Arlington Bishop Paul S. Loverde, Michael F. Flach and
Maria-Pia Negro,
“State marriage law”;
“Judges ruling”;
“Stand for marriage”;
“Same-sex marriage ruling.”
Third place winners included:
– Best Reporting on Teens, Maria-Pia Negro,
“No texting and driving”;
– Best Special Supplement with Advertising Emphasis, Ashleigh
Buyers and staff, “Back to School.”
Honorable mention winners were:
– Best Portrait, Gerald Martineau,
“Thankful”;
– Best Portrait, Gerald Martineau,
“Dunk tank”;
– Best Promotional House Ad, Stacy Rausch, “July photo sale”;
– Best Seasonal Issue, Catholic Herald Staff, “Christmas
issue.”
