Office of Communications, Minnesota Catholic Conference each take home four awards

The Catholic Spirit

The Catholic Spirit took home 19 awards from the 2022 Catholic Media Conference’s July 7 awards banquet, which celebrates the work done among members of the Catholic Media Association.

Among the awards for last year’s work were seven first place awards, with three of them related to Dave Hrbacek’s photography, including first place for a “photo and story package” on Bethlehem Academy in Faribault’s agriculture program (September 2021). Other first place awards recognized Joe Ruff’s reporting on a woman who found healing after abortion (January 2021), Barb Umberger’s reporting on the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis’ Drexel Mission Schools initiative (February 2021) and Maria Wiering’s reporting related to Pope Francis’ “moto proprio” limiting the use of the pre-conciliar Latin Mass (July 2021).

Also awarded first place honors was a photo by Michael Pytleski for social media of a double rainbow at Cathedral of St. Paul in St. Paul, and a front-page design by Caron Olhoft for the July 15, 2021, issue, featuring an actor imitating a historical religious sister while giving tours of downtown St. Paul with the headline “Creature of habit?”

The Catholic Spirit also received two second-place awards, four third-place awards and five honorable mentions, including for Hrbacek in the Photographer of the Year category.

The staff of the archdiocese’s communications office won an additional four awards, including first place for its COVID communications outreach. The Minnesota Catholic Conference staff also won four awards, including first place for its podcast “Bridge Builder: Connecting Faith and Politics.”

The Catholic Media Association serves professional Catholic communicators in the U.S. and Canada. Its annual conference was held July 4-7 in Portland, Oregon.

First place (7)

Best use of photos in social media, first place: Double rainbow at Cathedral of St. Paul in St. Paul.

Best front page, first place: Creature of habit?

Best coverage of pro-life issues: A matter of life and death

Best Analysis/Background/Round-Up News Writing – Weekly, 6+ Full-Time Staff (The Gerard E. Sherry Award): Tridentine Tensions

Best Reporting on Catholic Education: Catholic Investment: Funding partnerships help students attend, thrive at Drexel Mission Schools

Best Story and Photo Package by an Individual: Fertile Ground

Best Photograph – Portrait: Larger Than Life

Second place (2)

Best Photograph – Sacramental: Eucharist Unites

Best Photograph – National/International Event: After the Verdict

Third place (4)

Best Coverage – Racial Inequities: Chauvin Trial Reaction

Best In-Depth News/Special Reporting – Weekly, 6+ Full-Time Staff: Tridentine Tensions

Best News Writing One Shot – National Event: Crookston Bishop Resigns

Best Photograph – Holy Days/Liturgical Seasons: Remember you are Dust

Honorable mention (5)

Best Feature Writing – Weekly, 6+ Full-Time Staff: Taking back Sunday

Best Reporting of Social Justice Issues – Life and Dignity of the Human Person: Life after death

Father John Ubel, rector of the Cathedral of St. Paul in St. Paul, holds two of his most valuable baseball cards, Jackie Robinson and Hank Aaron. Those cards and more from Father Ubel are the basis of a March 12-14 auction to benefit Aim Higher Foundation, which provides Catholic grade school scholarships to students in need.

Best Sports Journalism – Sports Feature or Column: It’s in the Cards

Best Reporting of Social Justice Issues – Solidarity: Local Myanmar refugees suffer with their homeland

Best Reporting on Vocations to Priesthood, Religious Life or Diaconate – One Shot: After a challenging year, a sign of hope

Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis Office of Communications

First place

Best Package – COVID Pandemic Outreach Communications Plan: Back to Mass: Created for Communion

Second place

Best Interview – Video: The Catholic Spirit Live Interview with Archbishop Bernard Hebda and Bishop Andrew Cozzens

Third place

Best Diocesan Pastoral Message – Audio or Video: Message from Archbishop Hebda regarding Start of Derek Chauvin Trial

Honorable Mention

Best Freestanding Presentation of Online Video – Panel Discussion: Faith and Culture: Dignity of Women

Minnesota Catholic Conference

First place

Best Podcast Program: Bridge Builder: Connecting Faith and Politics

Second place (3)

Best Interview: Bridge Builder, Ed Condon on the Role of Catholic Journalism and the Withdrawal from Afghanistan

Best External E-Newsletter: Catholic Advocacy Network News Update

Best New Website: Minnesota Catholic Conference