Register earns 14 awards at event honouring Christian journalism

The Catholic Register earned 14 awards June 26 at an online ceremony honouring excellence in Christian journalism in Canada.

Included were five first-place honours in the newspaper category at the Canadian Christian Communicators Association Awards of Merit celebration, as well as second place in “general excellence” among newspapers.

“I think The Catholic Register is one of the best newspapers in Christian journalism today,” wrote one of the CCCA judges.

“From its design, broad content and national appeal, The Catholic Register presents itself as a newspaper backed by a professional staff that should be considered a must-read for the Canadian Catholic community. I found myself time and again lingering over fascinating and well-written articles.

“This is a first-rate newspaper that doesn’t shy away from difficult issues.”

In the newspaper category, The Register’s Associate Editor Michael Swan was the recipient of seven awards, including three for first place:

• In-depth news reporting with a series of stories that came from his trip to the Amazon: “The Tacumã ring as a sustained motif in the first part of the series was both intelligent and interesting,” wrote the awards judge. “This series of articles set the scene for the forthcoming synod and helps readers to understand why preservation of the Amazon rain forest is important to Indigenous peoples, Brazil and ultimately the world.”

• News photography that accompanied his story detailing the plight of Venezuelan refugees: “This is a very emotional photograph,” wrote the CCCA judge. “The juxtaposition from the look on the girls face to the doll’s face is amazing. The girl seems to be so happy just to have a doll that is obviously old and worn. There seems to be a certain amount of pain in the girl’s eyes. You have captured this so well.”

• The feature photo category with portraits of people battling poverty: “Every photograph is so well composed with a perfect dark background,” the judge wrote. “This allows the viewer to concentrate on your subjects. All I see is such happiness which seems to contradict the title. The first photograph is wonderful, I feel such love. The lighting and the progression of all three photographs works so well.

Swan also earned second place in the news story category for his story on Venezuelan refugees called “On the edge of ruin,” which also earned an honourable mention for the A.C. Forrest Memorial Award for “excellence in socially conscious religious journalism.”

In the features category, he earned a second place for his story on Janet Somerville (“Forgetting God is unthinkable”).

His feature story on Sr. Nuala Kenny (“The good doctor”) earned him third place in the biographical profile category. 

Also claiming a first-place award was Deacon Robert Kinghorn, author of The Register’s Church on the Street columns, in the humour category for a piece on his encounter with “Natalie” and her wheelchair.

“Mr. Kinghorn successfully uses heartwarming and gentle humour to paint a picture of life on the streets, and to show human kindness and generosity in unexpected places,” the CCCA judge wrote.

Church on the Street was also recognized with a second place in the columns category.

The Register’s just-retired Editor and Publisher Jim O’Leary took first place in editorial writing for a piece condemning Quebec’s Bill 21. “The editor takes a well-argued stand on a current issue that is relevant to the readership and complex in its implications. It’s exactly what the criteria for winning says,” said the CCCA judge.

The Register’s weekly feature Youth Speak News claimed second place in the department category. “This feature has consistently modeled what this category has been interested in honouring; namely, a clearly delineated audience (Catholic youth), with reporting and opinion writing that addresses perceived and relevant topics to their readers,” said the judges.

Art Director Lucy Barco was recognized with second place for Edition Layout & Design, as well as a third place for her front page illustrating Swan’s “Saving the Amazon” series.