The Catholic Media Association honored The Catholic Virginian with three awards for its editorial work during a ceremony Thursday, July 7, at the association’s conference in Portland, Oregon.
Janna Reynolds earned first place for best personality profile at a non-weekly publication with fewer than six staff members for “Popes’ preacher subject of local producers’ film,” which appeared in the Nov. 24, 2021, issue.
Judges praised the story about Cardinal Raniero Cantalamessa, a Capuchin friar, for “extensive use of wide-ranging interview quotes” that “made this article stand out in defining the personality explored and particularly the difference he has and is in making in the world today.”
For the second consecutive year, the paper, in a combined effort with the Office of Communications and the Finance Office, received first place for best annual report — (Arch)diocesan finances, which also appeared in the Nov. 24, 2021, issue.
Judges stated, “This was a great ‘Goldilocks’ annual report where everything was balanced well. There was just the right mix of text, images, facts, figures, anecdotes and quotes. The numbers were available for those interested in digging deeper into the budget, but the information provided was not overwhelming. The images ranged in tone from playful to solemn with everything in between — symbolizing the many different highs and lows of the year.”
Wendy Klesch, a Catholic Virginian correspondent in the Eastern Vicariate, received an honorable mention for “CHS students getting hands-on engineering experience” in the Jan. 26, 2021, issue.