by The Tablet Staff
BALTIMORE — The Tablet won best weekly newspaper of the year among Catholic publications at this year’s Catholic Media Conference in Baltimore June 9, where the newspaper, along with Nuestra Voz, Currents News, and DeSales Media, took home 35 other awards for print, graphics, videos, and digital work from the past year.
Nuestra Voz, the monthly diocesan Spanish newspaper, won third place for best Spanish publication, and The Tablet received an honorable mention for the best print supplement — a one-time special issue for the on “Abortion in America: The Fight for Life.”
In other top honors, Dustin Etheridge, former manager of digital content and creative services for The Tablet, was given an honorable mention as social media professional of the year, and the book, “Chasing Church News,” by Ed Wilkinson, The Tablet’s editor emeritus, chronicling his 50- year career in Catholic journalism, received second prize in the best coffee table book/ religious art category.
The Catholic Press Association’s annual conference took place this year in Baltimore June 6-9 with more than 300 participants from around the country and Canada. The group represents more than 200 publications and 90 communications offices throughout the United States and Canada.
The Tablet, Nuestra Voz and Currents News are produced by DeSales Media Group, the communications and technology ministry for the Diocese of Brooklyn.
Fabiola Rodriguez, The Tablet’s graphic designer, won seven awards — two first, two second, and two third places, and one honorable mention for graphics and best newspaper layout.
Currents News and The Tablet team won second place in the best freestanding presentation of online video (news) for “Special Coverage: The Chrism Mass” and The Tablet also won an honorable mention in the best freestanding presentation of online video (pro-life activities).
The newspaper and Currents News won three awards for multimedia packages: for coverage of the March for Life, the chrism Mass, and church vandalism; they also received third place for use of video in social media in their chrism Mass coverage.
The Tablet won honorable mentions for the social media campaign: “A Minute with Bishop Brennan,” best promotional house ad and best headline: “Drawing Attention to Diversity: Artist Helps Church Feel More Welcoming.” It also won third place for its column “Walking with Migrants,” by Bishop Emeritus Nicholas DiMarzio.
The DeSales Media Group’s marketing department won an honorable mention for the best online content not published in print and third place for the best diocesan printed fundraising appeal. The DeSales’ communications department won first place for the best Facebook account for a diocesan bishop.
Tablet writers won multiple awards. John Lavenburg won honorable mentions for best coverage of a disaster or crisis with his story “Ian’s Aftermath” and for a piece on cleanup efforts in Appalachia. He also won an honorable mention for best personality profile for “Bleacher Brothers Hit the Road to Evangelize in MLB Parks.”
Bill Miller won first place for investigative news writing with a weekly publication for his story, “Historic Tabernacle Stolen, Eucharist Desecrated at St. Augustine Church,” and third place and honorable mention for best news writing on a local or regional event.
Miller and Lavenburg shared third place for best news writing series of an international event for coverage of Haiti’s earthquake recovery.
Paula Katinas won honorable mentions for best news writing on a local or regional event and best personality profile as well as a second second place for best reporting of a social justice issue for “Headed for Divorce? Church Vows to Help You.”
In the category best spot news writing on an international event, Engy Madgy won first place for the story: “Taliban Erases Decades of Progress for Afghan Girls.”
Vito Formica, executive director of news content and development for DeSales Media, described the awards as a “validation from our peers that our work has merit and makes an impact.
“I see and experience the dedication my team puts in each day to turn out a quality product that our audience trusts. It’s inspiring and makes me proud,” he said.
Formica also stressed that the awards also serve as a reminder “that we must not take journalism for granted. There will always be forces who work against our mission of pursuing the truth. However, it’s worth standing up for what is right and good because that is what we are called to do by our Creator.”
