The Catholic Free Press wins general excellence award

The Catholic Free Press was honored by the Catholic Press Association for general excellence at the 2011 Catholic Media Convention in Pittsburgh last week. The convention is a joint conference of the Catholic Press Association and the Catholic Academy of Communication Arts Professionals.

The Worcester Diocese’s weekly newspaper received a second place award for general excellence in the diocesan newspaper with circulation of up to 17,000 category. Judges commented that the newspaper was “newsy” with a lot of local content. They said it also had “a strong community feel.”

Executive Editor Margaret M. Russell said, “We have always seen the importance and value of local news and do our best to put it in the context of the larger Church. Our small staff makes every effort to engage the community and it is good to be recognized for our success.”

First place in the category went to the Catholic Northwest Progress of Seattle, Wash. It too was lauded for its local content and role in the community.

The Tennessee Register, Nashville, was given the top general excellence award in the 17,001-40,000 circulation category; The Catholic Transcript, Archdiocese of Hartford, won in the over 40,000 circulation category; and the National Catholic Reporter, Kansas City, Mo., was honored in the national newspaper category.

The Catholic Free Press also won a second place award for best front page in the broadsheet category. The Pittsburgh Catholic took first place in the category.

During a panel discussion June 23 at the convention, Pittsburgh Bishop David A. Zubik said Catholic newspapers and magazines continue to be the best way to reach people in the pews.

“There has been no greater and more consistent success in Catholic communications in the United States than through the use of print,” the bishop said.

He cited figures from the Catholic Press Association’s official directory, which showed that Catholic newspapers and magazines in the United States and Canada reach almost 13 million households.

“That is an extraordinary number and that is still going on today,” said Bishop Zubik. “We can and we must use every means of social communications available to us today: television, radio, Twitter, Facebook, Skype and whatever has evolved since you and I began our meeting this morning. But I believe that it is incumbent on us as bishops and on us as church to maintain a vital Catholic print presence.”

Peace,
Marge

Marge Russell
The Catholic Free Press
51 Elm St.
Worcester, Ma 01609