Register captures honours at Catholic Press Association awards

The Catholic Register continued a prosperous awards season on July 2, picking up four first-place awards among the 22 honours it received at the Catholic Press Association awards.

The Register’s Associate Editor, Michael Swan, earned two top honours for his article “On the Edge of Ruin,” a story on the plight of Venezuelan refugees, one for best reporting of social justice issues - rights and responsibilities, and the other for best news writing on an international event.

“Excellent reporting paired with compelling writing makes this a first-place winner,” wrote the CPA judges, who looked at entries from Catholic media across Canada and the United States. “The writing style conveys the sense of urgency and heartbreak experienced by Venezuelan refugees, while the reporting gives the context readers need. Great work.”

Art Director Lucy Barco also won top honours for best layout of an article with a two-page design around a story on climate change. “This layout is a fine integration of eye-catching graphics that don’t interfere with readability. It draws the eye to create coherence across the gutter,” said the judges.

The Register also won for best seasonal issue with its annual Christmas edition.

The CPA awards ceremony, which was streamed on Facebook, came just days after the Canadian Christian Communicators Awards where The Register earned 14 awards, including five for first place.

At the CPA awards, The Register finished third overall in the best national newspaper category, which was judged on the basis of three consecutive issues of the paper, including a special feature on the Amazon.

“Ambitious and impressive report from the Amazon,” said the judges. “Robust and eclectic commentary section.”

The Register also picked up a third place in the special supplements category for its World Day of the Poor coverage and was given an honourable mention for its annual Estate Planning, Planned Giving section.

Aside from his first-place awards, Swan also captured two second-place awards for reporting on vocations with his “Making of a cardinal,” a story about Cardinal Michael Czerny, and for his photograph of Venezuelan refugees. “The photographer captures a haunting and memorable moment that stirs our emotions and our hearts around the refugee crisis,” said the judges.

His writing also earned four third-place honours and three honourable mentions.

The Register’s Managing Editor Mickey Conlon finished third in two categories: for reporting on vocations and for sports news, which was a look at the legacy of hockey great Red Kelly.

Barco also earned third place for front-page design and an honourable mention for a graphic on the Pan-Amazon region.

Register publisher Jim O’Leary also was given honourable mention for coverage of religious liberty issues.