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'Catholic Sun' garners 14 national press awards
Judges comments from the Associated Church Press and Catholic Press Association awards
ACP 'Best of the Christian Press' awards
Announced April 22, 2008 in Dallas
(Editor’s note: Award of excellence = 1st; Award of merit = 2nd; Honorable mention = 3rd)
Best in Class: Regional Newspaper
Award of Excellence: The Catholic Sun. Robert DeFrancesco, editor. “This is a class newspaper design: easy-to-read, clearly understood. The front page ‘Inside’ is a smart idea that helps readers use the publication. The Spanish section makes great sense, and some tough issues are taken up and tackled with compassion.”
News Story, Newspaper
Award of Merit: The Catholic Sun for “Pope Liberalizes Latin Mass” by Andrew Junker, July 19. “Excellent explanation of the 1962 Tridentine Mass and how it differs from the current Mass. Through interviews with ordinary parishioners, bishops, diocese directors, and priests, readers learn how the inclusion of this ‘extraordinary form’ will affect parishes.”
Media Review Section
Honorable Mention (tie): The Catholic Sun for Media/Arts by Andrew Junker and Rebecca Bostic, March 1 and October 4 • Sojourners for Culture Watch, edited by Molly Marsh, April and August.
Newspaper Front Page
Honorable Mention: The Catholic Sun for “The Catholic Sun,” Robert DeFrancesco, editor, November 1.
Newspaper Design, Spread or Story
Honorable Mention: The Catholic Sun for “Follow Me —Answering God’s Call,” J.D. Long-Garcia, designer, May 17.
Newspaper design, entire issue
Award of Merit: The Catholic Sun, Robert DeFrancesco, designer, February 15, May 17, October 4. “This content-driven publication is well designed. Solid organization and visual storytelling throughout. The overall feel makes me want to be a regular reader.”
Photography with Article or Cutline: Newspaper/News Service/Newsletter/Website
Award of Excellence: The Catholic Sun for “Marchers Call for Reform” by J.D. Long-Garcia, May 17. “The photographer has anchored the compositions well, placed himself extremely well, found interesting people and specific circumstances. Excellent work!”
Publication Website
Honorable Mention (tie): The Catholic Sun, Robert DeFrancesco, editor. • The Mennonite, Anna Groff, editor, Lightsky, designer. • Facts & Trends, Jenny Rice, editor.
2008 Catholic Press Association Awards
Announced May 30, 2008 in Toronto
Best News Writing (Award N2c — Local/Regional 40,001+ Diocesan Paper)
First Place, The Catholic Sun, Phoenix, Ariz., “Series on Immigration Reform” by J.D. Long-Garcia
In a category full of well-written pieces, J.D. Long-Garcia’s series on immigration reform and its impact on the Church and those on both sides of the U.S.-Mexico border strikes a chord. Theological and political philosophies are defined and challenged in an informative series of stories that are marked by their inclusiveness, their poignancy and their irony. Whether you agree or disagree with the Minuteman who patrols the border during the “April Muster” or, conversely, the immigrant who would rather make $400 a week in Phoenix versus $40 a week in Juarez, the stories and the photos from this series leave you wiser as to the motivations behind the numerous people who have a stake in what remains an emotional, divisive and often misunderstood issue.
Best Investigative News Writing (Award N4a)
Third Place, The Catholic Sun, Phoenix, Ariz., “Dangers Along the Road Less Traveled: Desert Deaths Continue to Rise” by J.D. Long-Garcia
J.D. Long-Garcia wrote a compelling story about the efforts of “No More Deaths” to give aid to people attempting to cross Arizona’s deadly desert from Mexico. Illegal immigration is a messy political topic these days, but Long-Garcia made very clear the importance of humanitarian aid.
Best Feature Writing (Award N8c — 40,001+ Diocesan Paper
Second Place, The Catholic Sun, Phoenix, Ariz., “How Do Minutemen Figure into Immigration Debate?” by J.D. Long-Garcia
J.D. Long-Garcia takes a dispassionate and even-handed approach to this story about the Minuteman Civil Defense Corps which helps the U.S. Government guard the border. He addresses interesting questions about whether the group is a vigilante force and how it deals with the immigrants who are trying to find lives for themselves in the U.S. He avoids the trap of putting black hats and white hats on the characters he portrays, instead shining a light on the complex issues that make the immigration issue so difficult to resolve.
Best Reporting Children (N11a)
Second Place, The Catholic Sun, Phoenix, Ariz., “Restoring Order: Families, Catechists Adjust to New Confirmation Guidelines” by Ambria Hammel
Ambria Hammel’s story about new confirmation guidelines was interesting, thorough and nicely balanced. Hammel did a great job of explaining the theology and bureaucracy behind a bishop’s request to switch the order in which children receive the sacraments of First Communion and Confirmation. She did not shy away from pointing out the concerns others have raised over this practice. It was good, and perhaps bold given her publisher and audience, to address skepticism about “restoring the order.” She included a nice array of voices.
Best Web site (N20)
Honorable Mention, The Catholic Sun, Phoenix, Ariz. www.catholicsun.org.
Individual Excellence Writer/Editor (English Only) (Award A10a)
First Place, The Catholic Sun, Phoenix, Ariz., “Series on Immigration” by J.D. Long-Garcia
J.D. addressed immigration, an issue important to all Americans, and framed it in a way that Catholics could easily understand the Church’s approach to the issue. He dug deep and put a human face on the story. Outstanding job!
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