CNEWA received 44 media awards — its largest share of awards ever — from the Catholic Media Association last week in Portland, Oregon, where the association’s conference resumed after a two-year hiatus due to COVID-19.
CNEWA’s quarterly magazine, ONE, received a first as magazine of the year in its category. “Gripping Middle East stories from Syria to Iraq to India,” the judges wrote, of people “coping with chaotic and even terrifying times. Fine writing, attention-getting photos from cover to last page with strong design bringing it all together. A prize winner in any contest.”
Among its 12 first place awards was the feature photo above of a student in Emdibir, Ethiopia. CNEWA’s blog was recognized twice for its coverage of topical news and social justice issues: “CNEWA’s blog is a brilliant narrative in international human rights,” the judges commented. “The enterprising and underreported story selection are one of the blog’s strengths. The bloggers cover topics from Syria to Armenia and discuss timely topics such as climate change and human rights abuses. The writing and tone of each article educates and informs the reader but also encourages a call to action.”
Firsts were received for multimedia coverage of social justice issues and the pandemic. “This package has it all” — the judges wrote of Everything in His Hands, which covers the impact of COVID in India — “a deeply reported, emotional story; many compelling original photos; and a video that puts the images and words into motion, taking the reader/viewer on a deep journey into faith and action in the face of COVID.”
CNEWA’s Michael La Civita was also named Communications Director of the Year in the individual excellence category that also included recognition of CNEWA’s Laura Ieraci as Editor of the Year and Paul Grillo as Designer of the Year.
The panel of judges included academics and media professionals from around the country, who recognized CNEWA for the quality of its website, feature writing and reporting, photography and design.
“The scope of the awards validates our efforts to ‘get the word out’ using a variety of media,” noted Michael La Civita. “Our limited resources have helped us to focus our efforts and build on our successes even as we plan and develop new initiatives, such as the Spanish-speaking website and our ONE-to-ONE news magazine program, which will air in the autumn.
“These awards reflect the tremendous scale of coordination among our regional directors and their teams, a cadre of talented and dedicated writers, photographers, videographers and interpreters, our creative teams in North America — and the heroes in the field whose amazing work we are privileged to support,” he concluded.