DENVER, Colo. — The Catholic Herald-Diocese of Madison won six awards in the 2013 Catholic Press Awards competition sponsored by the Catholic Press Association of the United States and Canada.
The awards were announced during the Catholic Media Conference held in Denver.
The paper won three first place awards, including:
- Best Editorial on a Local Issue for Catholic Herald Editor Mary C. Uhler for an editorial called “Moving on from here” written as a follow-up to the state’s 2012 recall elections. Judges commented, “Local fare, on a larger national issue. Nice summation; thoughtful, hopeful reflection. Good quotes and structure. Clean, clear writing brings it all together.”
- Best Coverage of the Year of Faith. Judges said, “The Year of Faith wasn’t just a motto for the Catholic Herald; it became real. It used the tips with great art to make something happen in the readers’ lives and published ‘How to Say the Rosary.'”
- Best Promotional House Ad for a Catholic Press Month ad, “Take steps to strengthen your faith,” designed by Kat Wagner and Erik Peterson. Judges said, “Excellent imagery. Good use of size. Copy works. Clear call to action.”
Other awards included:
- Individual Excellence-Advertising/Business/Marketing Professional. Steve Hefty, the paper’s advertising account executive, received a second place award. Hefty has worked for the paper since 2000, expanding advertising sales in the Madison paper and also selling ads for the Superior and Milwaukee diocesan papers. His total sales for the last fiscal year showed more than a 10 percent growth despite a struggling economy.
- General Excellence. The Catholic Herald received third place for General Excellence.
Judges said, “After reading an issue of the Catholic Herald, one has the sense of knowing what’s going on in every corner of the diocese. The Herald editor creates a solid blend of major stories, news briefs, and in-depth pieces on Catholic life.”
• Best Editorial on a Local Issue, third place for Mary C. Uhler for an editorial called “Our nation needs healing,” written after the shootings at a Sikh temple in Oak Creek. Judges called it a “clear, simple, thoughtful, beautiful reflection.”
The Catholic Herald in Milwaukee won three awards, including an honorable mention for a news article by Karen Mahoney, an honorable mention for a feature article by Maryangela Roman, and second place for a supplement on Cardinal James Harvey.
The annual Catholic Media Conference is an educational event dedicated to professionals who communicate and report on the Good News. It brings together members of the Catholic Press Association and the Catholic Academy for Communication Arts Professionals.