PITTSBURGH, Pa. -- National Catholic Reporter was honored by the Catholic Press Association with a first place in “general excellence” June 24. It is the 12th consecutive year NCR has won the press association’s highest award for a national Catholic newspaper.
The contest judges -- journalism professors from Marquette University in Milwaukee and Loyola University of Chicago -- University and media professionals -- said NCR was "Comprehensive, well-edited, well-written. Good combination of news, analysis and opinion. Authoritative and comprehensive."
The awards were announced during the Catholic Media Convention in Pittsburgh.
Our Sunday Visitor received second place in the general excellence category. No third place was awarded.
Other awards earned by NCR are:
Best Investigative News Writing -- First Place: "New Maciel Revelations" and "How Maciel Built his Empire," by Jason Berry.
Best Investigative News Writing -- Second Place: "US Bishops Biblical Association in Dispute Over Royalties" by Jerry Filteau.
Best In-Depth News/Special Reporting -- First Place: "Emotions Run High" a look at three congressional races in the 2010 midterm elections by Paul Moses, Michael Sean Winters and Joshua J. McElwee.
Best Editorial (national newspaper) -- First Place: "The Credibility Gap Widens" by the editors. The judges called this "a brave, brilliantly constructed editorial that digs for answers. It reflects the finest in journalism in that it demands accountability from even the highest authority."
Best Editorial (national newspaper) -- Second Place: "Radical Indvidualism and the Poverty Rate" by the editors.
Best Personality Profile (national newspaper) -- Second Place: "Berrigan's Message to Peacemakers: Persevere" by Josh J. McElwee.
Best Personality Profile (national newspaper) -- Third Place: "On the Catholic Frontier" by Daniel Wilkes. This was a profile of a Catholic bishop's work in Sikkum, India.
Best Regular Column, Spiritual Life -- Second Place: The Earth and Spirit column by Rich Heffern.
Best Regular Special Supplement -- First Place: "At the Table," stories by staff and contributors. The judges called this special section, "Nicely written, well edited. A welcome mixture of faith, food and family. Recipes sounded great."
