2025 Awards

Catholic Media Awards

2025 Catholic Media Awards

The Catholic Media Association is an organization of publishers and media professionals united to serve the Church. National Catholic Reporter, Global Sisters Report and EarthBeat won more than 70 honors at the 2025 Catholic Media Awards. The awards were presented on June 27, 2025 and honor works published in 2024. 

See the list below and read the story. 

Graphic Artist/Designer of the Year

  • First Place
    Angie Von Slaughter
    National Catholic Reporter
    From the judges: Angie Von Slaughter’s creative use of elements comes together to evoke emotions. Her pieces are well done and address timely, relevant topics.

Writer of the Year (English)

  • Third Place
    Katie Collins Scott
    National Catholic Reporter
    From the judges: This work is evocative, comprehensive, engaging. The writer keeps the reader until the end, with depth of coverage; demonstrates command of her craft with breadth of coverage.
  • Honorable Mention
    Brian Roewe
    National Catholic Reporter

Best Use of Video on Social Media – Ongoing Series - Diocesan and National News Organizations

  • Honorable Mention 
    EarthBeat's "Coping with Climate Anxiety" video series.
    John Grosso, Angie Von Slaughter
    EarthBeat

Best National Electronic Newsletter

  • Second Place
    EarthBeat Weekly
    Stephanie Clary, Brian Roewe.
    EarthBeat
    From the judges: EarthBeat packs a lot of information from a variety of trusted news sources into a single, easy-to-read newsletter, providing a comprehensive approach to climate change and faith topics.

Best Newspaper – National/ Wire Service

  • Third Place
    National Catholic Reporter
    From the judges: This publication is comprehensive, thoughtful and well edited, offering a wide variety of interesting, non-routine stories. I learned something on virtually every page and believe it serves its readers exceptionally well.

Hot Topic - 2024 Election

  • Third Place
    NCR coverage of state-level anti-abortion initiatives
    Heidi Schlumpf, Russ Choma.
    National Catholic Reporter
    From the judges: This is classic “follow the money” journalism. This cohesive set of articles offers an interesting examination of the key donors behind state abortion initiatives and raises questions about the effective use of those funds.

Best Use of Graphics – Best Chart or Information Graphic

  • Second Place
    Polling US Catholic Voters in Seven Swing States
    Toni-Ann Ortiz
    National Catholic Reporter
    From the judges: This clean collection of infographics neatly summarizes some of the key findings of the poll discussed in the article — a lovely at-a-glance synopsis of content that may be otherwise complicated to parse.

Best Regular Column – Culture, the Arts and Leisure

Best Regular Column – Scripture

  • Second Place
    Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time: Great expectations
    Sr. Mary M. McGlone, CSJ
    National Catholic Reporter
    From the judges: This is exceptional storytelling that brings Scripture to life — both in its original context and in how it resonates with the present day.

Best Regular Column – Spiritual Life

  • Second Place
    Seek truth with the eye of your soul
    Pierre Eau Claire, Michael Leach
    National Catholic Reporter
    From the judges: This piece captures spiritual life with clarity and thoughtful support, drawing on Scripture, art, literature, and the essence of everyday experience. It is thorough, clear and compelling.

Best Coverage – Political Issues

  • First Place
    National Catholic Reporter 2024 SCOTUS Coverage
    Brian Fraga, Katie Collins Scott.
    EarthBeat
    From the judges: This piece features stellar, compelling and thorough reporting paired with exceptional writing. It is well-researched, providing depth that fairly captures the breadth and nuanced complexity of the issues.

Best Coverage – Pro-life issues

Best Coverage – Racial Inequities

  • First Place
    2024 Black Issues Coverage
    Aleja Hertzler-McCain, Brian Fraga, Alessandra Harris
    EarthBeat
    From the judges: Excellent, comprehensive and distinctive coverage of issues rooted in racial inequities. The writers capture the breadth of topics that underscore the complexity of systemic injustice.
  • Second Place
    2024 Coverage of Indigenous Issues
    Katie Collins Scott, Chris Herlinger
    National Catholic Reporter
    From the judges: Thorough reporting and exceptional writing underscore and highlight the need for and value of an ongoing commitment to spotlight and address racial inequities.

Best Coverage of Ecumenical and Interfaith Issues

  • First Place
    2024 Interfaith and Ecumenical Coverage
    Katie Collins Scott, Brian Roewe, Camillo Barone.
    EarthBeat
    From the judges: These three well-researched articles about ecumenism vary widely in subject: a breakdown in dialogue in a mission church, care for creation in the Islamic faith and an interfaith comedy tour. Each article is insightful, relevant and helpful in increasing understanding of other faith traditions. Plentiful photography adds to reader interest and comprehension.

Best Editorial on a National or International Issue – National newspaper or Wire Service

  • First Place
    Editorial: US bishops made a bad deal with the GOP
    NCR Editorial Staff
    National Catholic Reporter
    From the judges: This piece presents an interesting argument that, in today’s political climate — particularly regarding the issue of abortion — the Catholic Church and its adherents should abandon their traditional worldview of intertwining church and papal authority with state affairs, and instead adopt the traditional Protestant two-kingdoms model of political engagement; it is written in layman’s terms and is quite thought-provoking
  • Second Place
    The utter destruction of Gaza must end
    NCR Editorial Staff.
    National Catholic Reporter
    From the judges: This column has a clear message and provides a worldview rubric that extends beyond the specific geopolitical issue at hand (Gaza). This grounding provides cover against charges of antisemitism, which the author acknowledges are a real concern and possibility. This column provides a buttress for readers who agree with the author’s worldview.
  • Honorable Mention
    Hope in a time of darkness
    NCR Editorial Staff
    National Catholic Reporter

Best Headline

  • Third Place
    Blessed are the brats: Thérèse of Lisieux flips entitlement on its head
    Stephen G. Adubato, NCR Copy Desk.
    National Catholic Reporter
    From the judges: This headline stakes out a counterintuitive position that stimulates readers to investigate further. The article that follows develops the headline in ways many won’t anticipate, but is entirely faithful to the attention grabbing headline.

Best In-Depth News/Special Reporting – National Newspaper or Wire Service

  • First Place
    2 conservative groups influence US Catholic transgender policies
    Katie Collins Scott
    National Catholic Reporter
    From the judges: This story highlights the significant, yet often unknown, influence of external groups on transgender policies within the Catholic Church. It provides a range of perspectives, including those of theologians, LGBT advocates and Catholic educators. Excellent research went into this story, especially in analyzing diocesan websites.
  • Second Place
    US bishops to decide fate of anti-poverty program reviled by conservatives
    Brian Fraga
    National Catholic Reporter
    From the judges: This story does an excellent job combining financial data and historical context, while weaving in voices from those directly impacted by this work. The inclusion of perspective from Father Guillermo Treviño is particularly powerful.
  • Third Place
    Leonard Leo, architect of conservative Supreme Court, takes on wider culture
    Heidi Schlumpf
    National Catholic Reporter
    From the judges: This story very skillfully shows Leonard Leo’s reach and influence. The author shines a spotlight on the intricate financial and ideological connections behind Leo’s work. The story makes good use of interviews and publicly available information such as tax records.
  • Honorable Mention 
    ASEC uplifts 'entire communities' in Africa in 25 years of educating sisters
    Doreen Ajiambo, Chris Herlinger.
    Global Sisters Report

Best Investigative News Writing – National newspaper or Wire Service

  • Second Place
    National Catholic Reporter 2024 Investigative Reportage on Leonard Leo.
    Heidi Schlumpf
    National Catholic Reporter
    From the judges: This story very skillfully shows Leonard Leo’s reach and influence. The author shines a spotlight on the intricate financial and ideological connections behind Leo’s work. The story makes good use of interviews and publicly available information such as tax records.
  • Third Place
    National Catholic Reporter 2024 Investigative Reportage on Transgender Issues
    Katie Collins Scott
    National Catholic Reporter
    From the judges: This story highlights the significant, yet often unknown, influence of external groups on transgender policies within the Catholic Church. It provides a range of perspectives, including those of theologians, LGBT advocates and Catholic educators. Excellent research went into this story, especially in analyzing diocesan websites.

Best Analysis/Background/Round-Up News Writing – The Gerard E. Sherry Award – National Newspaper or Wire Service

  • Third Place
    Is There Anything Catholic About the so-called Catholic Vote?
    Heidi Schlumpf
    National Catholic Reporter
    From the judges: These are very good articles that provide valuable information about how religion and politics intersect, intertwine, and sometimes disagree. It is a creative approach to a relevant topic

Best News Writing on a Local or Regional Event – National newspaper or Wire Service

  • First Place
    Grandmothers protest closure of parish's LGBTQ+ ministry in Milwaukee Archdiocese
    Camillo Barone
    National Catholic Reporter
    From the judges: A key to great reporting is to let the reader “see” and “feel” about the topic. This is achieved well.
  • Third Place
    In Kansas City, Catholics recall how celebration turned to unimaginable loss
    Brian Roewe
    National Catholic Reporter
    From the judges: The tragedy and aftermath of the Kansas City Chiefs victory parade is reported well from the eyes of Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish.
  • Honorable Mention 
    Portland archbishop bans Mass for rare Lutheran-Catholic ecumenical community
    Katie Collins Scott
    National Catholic Reporter
  • Honorable Mention 
    Latino Catholics distraught at Portland Archdiocese's dismantling of Hispanic ministry
    Katie Collins Scott
    National Catholic Reporter

Best News Writing One Shot – National Event

  • Third Place
    Catholic reaction to Trump's 2024 election win falls along ideological lines
    NCR Staff
    National Catholic Reporter
    From the judges: This article provides a good analysis of a complicated landscape for Catholics.

Best News Writing Series – National Event

  • First Place
    Pilgrims 'take Jesus to the streets' in tough trek to eucharistic congress
    Brian Fraga
    National Catholic Reporter
    From the judges: This was a tough decision because there was so much good coverage of the Eucharistic Congress from many publications. This coverage was the most sweeping with plenty of context and provided a fine overview.

Best News Writing One Shot – International Event

  • Second Place
    Austin Tice's mother speaks to NCR on faith and 12-year effort to find her son
    Camillo Barone
    National Catholic Reporter
    From the judges: A deeply moving narrative that chronicles a mother’s relentless 12-year search for her son. The story interweaves personal loss with enduring hope and faith, creating an emotionally compelling piece that resonates on an international scale.
  • Honorable Mention
    Catholic Church Doing ‘as Much as It Can to Help as Haiti Continues to Struggle
    Camillo Barone
    National Catholic Reporter
    From the judges: This measured report examines the Catholic Church’s efforts to provide relief and support amid ongoing hardships in Haiti. It underscores a commitment to practical compassion, offering a reflective and supportive look at a challenging international crisis.

Best News Writing Series – International Event

  • First Place
    Earthbeat COP29 coverage
    Doreen Ajiambo, Brian Roewe
    EarthBeat
    From the judges: This series provides an in‐depth look at the climate crisis and action with a multifaceted approach that ties together policy, faith, and global responsibility. At a time when there’s no shortage of international emergencies, this reporting delivers a compelling narrative that informs and inspires action on climate.

Best Reporting on a Special Age-Group – Young adults (18-40)

  • First Place
    'You are not alone': In community, young people find antidotes to climate anxiety
    Heidi Schlumpf
    EarthBeat
    From the judges: Excellent reporting and writing that captures a window into the target demographic and offers a more complete picture with nuance in storytelling and craft. Well done!

Best Reporting of Social Justice Issues – Call to Family, Community and Participation

  • First Place
    Catholic families navigate surrogacy with faith and spiritual discernment
    Camillo Barone
    National Catholic Reporter
    From the judges: An example of excellent reporting and writing form a gripping, nuanced narrative about pregnancy, loss, friendship and faith.
  • Second Place
    Catholic group at Columbia seeks to foster 'mutual respect' amid protests
    Camillo Barone
    National Catholic Reporter
    From the judges: This piece delivers important reporting with clear organization and strong writing on a significant and weighty breaking news event.
  • Honorable Mention 
    Interfaith activists arrested protesting Citigroup's fossil fuel investments
    Camillo Barone
    EarthBeat

Best Reporting of Social Justice Issues – Care for God's Creation

  • First Place
    In the Philippines, Catholic priests tackle plastic waste brick by brick
    Brian Roewe
    EarthBeat
    From the judges: This piece provides excellent, comprehensive coverage — from reporting and writing to editing and visuals — resulting in a well-rounded and impactful presentation.
  • Third Place
    In first for US church, San Diego Diocese divests from fossil fuels
    Brian Roewe
    EarthBeat
    From the judges: This piece offers timely reporting and well-written coverage of social justice and issues related to God’s creation

Best Reporting of Social Justice Issues – Care for God's Creation

Honorable Mention 
In Africa's Congo Basin, Indigenous peoples lose homes to conservation efforts
Ngala Killian Chimtom
EarthBeat

Best Reporting of Social Justice Issues — Care for God’s Creation

  • Honorable Mention 
    Catholics should confront AI's environmental costs
    Céire Kealty
    EarthBeat

Best Reporting of Social Justice Issues – Dignity and Rights of the Workers

  • First Place
    Parishes turn former convents into affordable housing for teachers
    Katie Collins Scott
    National Catholic Reporter
    From the judges: This piece offers excellent, timely coverage of an important topic, with a specific focus on social justice and
    human dignity.

Best Reporting of Social Justice Issues – Dignity and Rights of the Workers

  • Second Place
    Nurses lead largest protest during bishops' fall meeting in Baltimore
    Rhina Guidos
    National Catholic Reporter
    From the judges: This piece provides excellent coverage of breaking and developing news, with a specific focus on the theme of human dignity.

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

  • Third Place
    Transgender Catholics face barriers to religious life, find peace in communities
    Camillo Barone
    National Catholic Reporter
    From the judges: This story provides important reporting and storytelling on a timely topic.

Best Reporting of Social Justice Issues – Option for the Poor and Vulnerable

  • First Place
    Xavier Mission provides lifeline to New Yorkers facing eviction, homelessness
    Camillo Barone
    National Catholic Reporter
    From the judges: This piece is well reported and well written, with great visuals and comprehensive coverage that effectively humanizes an important issue.

Best Reporting of Social Justice Issues – Rights and Responsibilities

  • First Place
    Catholic activists mobilize as Democrats ignore abolition of death penalty
    Camillo Barone
    EarthBeat
    From the judges: This is timely accountability reporting on political issues and policy positions that matter to the audience but aren’t widely covered elsewhere, with excellent reporting and writing throughout.

Best Reporting of Social Justice Issues – Solidarity

  • Honorable Mention 
    Indigenous leaders gain support of Washington Catholics for dam removal
    Rebecca Randall
    EarthBeat
  • Honorable Mention 
    US delegation supports Palestinians fleeing West Bank violence, prays at Gaza border
    Katie Collins Scott
    National Catholic Reporter

Spanish Publication of the Year

  • Honorable Mention 
    Global Sisters Report en Espanol
    GSR Staff
    Global Sisters Report

Best Coverage – Immigration

  • Third Place
    On US-Mexico border pilgrimage, sisters ponder response to migrant hardships
    Rhina Guidos
    Global Sisters Report
    From the judges: Immigration topics from the perspective of religious women who have firsthand experience working with migrants as well as a deep understanding of political and religious implications: a unique angle that is underrepresented in all the clamor.

Best In-Depth News/Special Reporting – National Newspaper or Wire Service

  • Honorable Mention 
    ASEC uplifts 'entire communities' in Africa in 25 years of educating sisters
    Doreen Ajiambo, Chris Herlinger.
    Global Sisters Report

Best Personality Profile – National newspaper or Wire Service

  • Third Place
    Sr. Martha Pelloni advocates for women and fights corruption in Argentina
    Catalina Cepparro
    Global Sisters Report
    From the judges: This is an incredible story — very well told and so engaging that I didn’t want to stop reading. It’s chock full of essential information that readers need to know.

Best Reporting of Social Justice Issues – Care for God's Creation

  • Second Place
    Sisters of the Earth Community focuses on 'largest pro-life issue' — the Earth
    Gail DeGeorge
    Global Sisters Report
    From the judges: This piece demonstrates excellent reporting and writing in its coverage of an important topic.

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

  • Second Place
    Catholic leaders and sisters rescue child survivors of sexual violence in Sierra Leone
    Doreen Ajiambo
    Global Sisters Report
    From the judges: This piece offers excellent firsthand reporting on an important issue, providing much-needed context to enhance understanding.

Best Reporting of Social Justice Issues – Option for the Poor and Vulnerable

  • Second Place
    Lake Victoria, once a source to uplift Kenya's poor, lures child labor
    Doreen Ajiambo
    Global Sisters Report
    From the judges: This reporting is a moving piece on an important topic.

Best Reporting of Social Justice Issues – Solidarity

  • First Place
    At burial ground for unidentified migrants, sisters pray for the dead
    Rhina Guidos
    Global Sisters Report
    From the judges: This is compelling original reporting and writing on a timely and important issue.

Best Multiple Picture Package – Feature

  • Third Place
    Lake Victoria, once a source to uplift Kenya's poor, lures child labor
    Doreen Ajiambo
    Global Sisters Report
    From the judges: The photos are compelling and well composed. Nice uses of light and focus to highlight subjects.

Best Story and Photo Package – By an Individual

  • First Place
    'Refugees in their own land': Kenyans experience homelessness due to severe floods
    Doreen Ajiambo
    Global Sisters Report
    From the judges: Representative of several submissions from this organization, these deeply researched pieces excel at seating national crises in the lived experiences of their victims — whether they perceive themselves as victims or not. The photography is outstanding, and the emotional stakes of the piece are balanced with hefty amounts of data and context.

Best Photograph – General News Photo

  • Second Place
    People Sign the Nuns on the Bus Motorcoach at the Circle Resource Center Oct. 8 in Chicago.
    Dan Stockman
    Global Sisters Report
    From the judges: The perspective of this photo draws in the newspaper reader to want to know more about what is happening and the story behind it. This photographer obviously has an artistic eye, which really elevates the subject of this photo to a level that seriously adds value to the story. I very much appreciate the skill demonstrated here. Great work!

Best Online Content Not Published in Print – Feature or News

  • First Place
    Hna. Martha Pelloni siembra luz, justicia y verdad en Argentina
    Catalina Cepparro, Jorge Nieto, Yolanda Morales, Rhina Guidos, Chris Herlinger, Doreen Ajiambo.
    Global Sisters Report
    From the judges: This article presents an impactful story — it’s so well written that it compels you to keep reading and learn more about Sister Martha Pelloni’s work. It underscores the importance of highlighting people like her.

Spiritual Life

  • First Place
    Dios nos visita en un cuartito de maderas
    Begoña Costillo, Vuelo en V, Carmen Notario.
    Global Sisters Report
    From the judges: These columns are phenomenal reflections on the presence of God in everyday life. The authors are gifted with a supernatural ability to see beyond the here and now and notice God’s footprints through the quotes. I’m especially impressed by the applicability of their reflections to the Latino community, pulling from experiences and examples with which a Spanish-speaking audience would resonate.

Best Coverage – Priesthood, Religious Life, or Diaconate

  • Third Place
    En las montañas de Guatemala florecen las vocaciones indígenas
    Rhina Guidos, Barbara Fraser.
    Global Sisters Report
    From the judges: This is an interesting vocational story that is well written and well told, with a commendable emphasis on the individual vocation journeys of the sisters rather than on the program as a whole.

Best Coverage – Racial Inequities

First Place
Hermanas y grupos católicos apoyan a inmigrantes ante posibles deportaciones masivas en EE. UU.
Global Sisters Report Staff and Freelancers.
Global Sisters Report
From the judges: The authors of this column of pieces focused on loving our neighbors do a phenomenal job of highlighting the vital work religious sisters are doing in Latin America to address racial and other inequities. Their storytelling is compelling and powerful; I’m inspired by these sisters, and grateful for their vocations!

Best Feature Writing

  • First Place
    En las montañas de Guatemala florecen las vocaciones indígenas
    Rhina Guidos
    Global Sisters Report
    From the judges: This is a fascinating piece detailing one community’s efforts to promote vocations in an unlikely place, bridging cultural, linguistic, and economic divides to invite people to follow Christ and serve their neighbors. I was floored by the clear success of the community and their ability to navigate such challenges. I’m impressed by the author’s ability to synthesize the information while capturing the ethos of the community, even while inspiring me — and other readers — to follow Christ more closely, despite any challenges.

Best Interview

  • First Place
    ENTREVISTA | La Hna. Maritza Rolón escucha desde las cárceles el clamor del pueblo ecuatoriano
    Ángel Alberto Morillo
    Global Sisters Report
    From the judges: Once again the Global Sisters Report presents compelling writing that moves you. I very much appreciate the contribution made to the publishing world but the presentation is lacking.

Best News Writing- National/International Event

  • First Place
    Religiosas en Nicaragua, entre las más afectadas tras reciente represión del Gobierno
    Rhina Guidos
    Global Sisters Report
    From the judges: This article made me aware of how many religious orders are still being oppressed by the governments in foreign countries. Unfortunately, this topic doesn’t make it to mainstream media. Please continue reporting on this important issue facing those in religious life who are serving the people in these dangerous situations.

Best Reporting – On Immigration

  • First Place
    Refugios para migrantes en la frontera de México refuerzan su seguridad
    Jorge Nieto
    Global Sisters Report
    From the judges: We see the turbulent reality that migrants face in Mexico, where protection and justice are often lacking. Yet, there are people like Sister Paoletti — and many others like her — who work tirelessly to support this community and uphold their dignity as human beings.

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