The Catholic Press Association Thursday afternoon honored CNEWA’s President Msgr. John E. Kozar with the prestigious Bishop John England Award. The award was presented at the Catholic Media Conference now underway in St. Petersburg, Florida.
The Bishop England Award— named for the bishop who founded the first Catholic newspaper in the United States, the Catholic Miscellany in 1822 — honors a publisher who has been a staunch defender of press freedom.
As the nominating criteria puts it: “The recipient of the Bishop John England Award should clearly have acted in defense of the publication or used their publication, in accordance with its mission, to defend the First Amendment rights of the publisher, the institution owning the publication, and/or the Catholic Church as a whole.”
The nomination for Msgr. Kozar described his achievements in communications:
“During his eight years as president of Catholic Near East Welfare Association and as publisher of CNEWA’s magazine, ONE, Msgr. John E. Kozar has been a champion of journalism, promoting accountability and transparency in reporting, affirming a commitment to excellence, and promoting the church’s evangelical witness throughout the world — especially in some of its most embattled corners.
More than a publisher, he is in his bones a journalist who relishes getting a good story and sharing it. A photographer and essayist, he has used his considerable skills as a photojournalist — skills he first developed in high school — to take readers to far-flung corners of the globe to show the Gospel at work.
John Kozar has also redefined how CNEWA tells the story of its own mission, challenging the CNEWA staff to articulate the association’s work with clarity, optimism and zeal — emphasizing our work of ‘accompaniment’ and encouraging a spirit of invitation. The result has been a dynamic approach to communications that has attracted new readers in all media.
He has accomplished this with an ethic and spirit of transparency and accountability that sets the standard for every publisher. Through his essays, videos, emails and reports, Msgr. Kozar has kept readers informed and engaged, bolstering CNEWA’s credibility and winning readers’ loyalty and trust.”
Previous winners include Bishop Gerald F. Kicanas, Cardinal Francis George, Greg Erlandson and Cardinal John O’Connor.
We at CNEWA could not be prouder, and can’t think of anyone more deserving. On behalf of all of us: congratulations, Msgr. Kozar!
