The Catholic Standard and Spanish-language El Pregonero newspapers and websites of The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Washington received a total of 29 Catholic Media Awards in the 2024 competition sponsored by the Catholic Media Association of the United States and Canada. The awards were announced on June 21, 2024 during the annual conference of the Catholic Media Association held this year in Atlanta.
Competing in the Spanish language division, El Pregonero received 18 awards, including a third place award for Spanish publication of the Year. Judges noted, “El Pregonero is an incredibly important publication for the Spanish-speaking Catholic population. They do a great job focusing on diversity, inclusion and justice through the lens of Catholicism.”
El Pregonero also received eight first place awards in the Spanish language division, for best editorial page, best newspaper cover, best special issue, best reporting on family, best coverage of pro-life issues, best reporting on a local issue, best reporting on social justice issues – care for God’s creation, and best interview. The first place award for best special issue was for El Pregonero’s June 2023 edition commemorating Cardinal Wilton Gregory’s 50th anniversary as a priest.
The Catholic Standard staff received 11 awards announced at the 2024 Catholic Media Association Conference in Atlanta, including a first place award for best in-depth news/special reporting for coverage of a reunion in Southern Maryland of descendants of people enslaved and sold by the Jesuits in 1838, and a second place award for best news writing series on a national event for coverage of the 2023 National Black Catholic Congress gathering in the Washington area. Mihoko Owada, Carroll Media’s digital media and photography manager, received three individual awards for photography. The Catholic Standard also received a third place award for best newspaper website and for its Junior Saints section that highlights students’ artwork and writings.
The 2024 Catholic Media Awards received by the Catholic Standard included three first place awards:
- Best Photo Gallery or Slideshow
First place – “Photo Gallery: United in Faith, Asian and Pacific Island Catholics Gather at National Shrine for 20th Annual Pilgrimage” – Mihoko Owada, Catholic Standard. Judges commented, “Among the many entries documenting liturgies, these photos stand out for their high quality, unique composition, and attention to contextualizing the event through its key figure, the Blessed Mother, via careful framing.”
- Best In-Depth News/Special Reporting – Non-Weekly
First Place – “Descendants of People Enslaved and Sold by the Jesuits in 1838 Reunite for Family Reunion in Southern Maryland” – Mark Zimmermann and Mihoko Owada, Catholic Standard. Judges commented, “This moving story about a reunion for the descendants of people enslaved and sold by the Jesuits covers a broad time period, writing memorably about individuals who were sold into slavery and providing reflections from those who came together recently to honor them.”
- Best Photograph – Sacramental
First Place – “Easter Joy/Cardinal Baptizes Man at Easter Vigil” – Photo by Mihoko Owada, Catholic Standard. Judges praised the photo for “creative perspective in capturing a sacrament in an image.”
The honors included one second place award:
- Best News Writing Series – National Event
Second Place – “National Black Catholic Congress” – Mark Zimmermann, Catherine Buckler, Jaclyn Lippelmann, and Mihoko Owada, Catholic Standard. Judges commented, “For anyone interested in the topic, this is the most comprehensive coverage they would expect. It’s written with a sense of expertise and sensitivity to the themes of the gathering.”
https://www.cathstan.org/series/washington-area-hosts-national-black-catholic-congress-xiii
The honors included two third place awards:
- Best Website – Newspaper
Third Place – Catholic Standard newspaper’s website, Catholic Standard staff. Judges commented, “This website looks professional and modern. The side navigation menu is a highlight, making it easy to view various columns and articles from any page.”
- Best Reporting on a Special Age-Group – Children and Teens Younger than 18
Third Place – “Junior Saints” – Writings and artwork by students in Catholic schools in The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Washington, Catholic Standard. Judges commented, “This entry focused on students and combined their writing on caring for creation and Christmas with their artwork. The design and student voices made this a winner.”
https://www.cathstan.org/junior-saints/junior-saints-october-2023-caring-for-creation
The honors included five honorable mention awards:
- Best Promotional House Ad
Honorable mention – Back to School – Patricia Castrillo, Catholic Standard.
- Best Coverage – Racial Inequities
Honorable mention – “Clean-up Effort at Sacred Heart Cemetery; Descendants Help Clear Grounds Near Ancestor’s Grave; Cardinal Leads Prayer Service for Enslaved African Americans Buried in Unmarked Graves” – Catherine Buckler and Mihoko Owada, Catholic Standard.
- Best Reporting on a Special Age-Group – Senior Citizens
Honorable Mention – “Remembering the March on Washington” – Mark Zimmermann, Richard Szczepanowski and Catherine Buckler, Catholic Standard.
- Best Photo Story – News
- Best Photo Story – News
- Best Photograph – Catholic Education
Honorable Mention – “Catholic Schools Off to Running Start for 2023-24 School Year” – Photo by Jaclyn Lippelmann, Catholic Standard.
