‘The Catholic Sun’ tallies two dozen newspaper awards

The Catholic Sun Newspaper was recently recognized for its work by both the religious and secular press, racking up a total of 24 awards in May and June from three different newspaper associations, including the award of excellence from the Associated Church Press for best local religious newspaper in the country.

“This was a very competitive category. Readers are well served by all the entries. The Sun’s layout is clean and orderly. Front pages are full of news and there is a good variety of stories throughout,” read one judge’s comments. “The columnists are a strong point of this publication and made the difference in judging.”

The Associated Church Press, meeting at its annual convention May 6-8, in Arlington, Va., honored the best of the Christian press at its awards banquet May 8. The Sun picked up an award for best editorial (“Seeking Conversion,” April 16, 2009); an award of excellence for best news story (“Lifesavers or desert desecrators?” by J.D. Long-García, Nov. 19, 2009); a third-place tie for best newspaper front page; and an award of excellence for best newspaper design.

In early June, The Catholic Sun was recognized by the Catholic Press Association of the United States and Canada, tallying nine awards at its annual Catholic Media Convention.

The Catholic Sun took home second place for its editorial on a national/international issue (“Seeking Conversion”); and second place for best analysis/background/round-up news writing (“Reporting on Immigration” by J.D. Long-García).

Long-García was also recognized for his reporting on immigration and border issues, receiving prestigious awards from Catholic Relief Services for journalistic excellence and also from the Knights of Columbus for distinguished volunteerism journalism. The two first-place awards were for his story “Lifesavers or Desert Desecrators?”

He will be traveling to Haiti in the fall on an all-expenses-paid trip, courtesy of Catholic Relief Services.

The Sun also received first place for best online content not published in print; honorable mention for best online blog (www.blogtcs.com); third place for best stand-alone website (www.catholicsun.org); second place for best reporting on teenagers (“Class of 2009” by Ambria Hammel); and honorable mention for best regular column on family life (“Marriage Matters” by Andrew Junker).

The Catholic Sun’s graphics and advertising departments garnered 10 awards from the Arizona Newspaper Association’s Excellence in Advertising competition May 21.

In the non-daily, circulation over 10,000 division — which includes secular newspapers like the Phoenix Business Journal, The Navajo Times, The East Valley Tribune, the West Valley View and La Voz, The Catholic Sun won six first-place awards, including first in general excellence. Of particular note, graphic artist Mick Welsh received first place honors for a “Celebrate Marriage” advertisement, a first place for a Natural Family Planning series, and first place for best special section for “Covenant of Love,” Bishop Thomas J. Olmsted’s pastoral letter on marriage.

Also notable was the series done for Serrano’s Mexican Restaurant, which also won first place.