Criterion staff honored for excellence in journalism
Assistant editor John Shaughnessy’s story about Indiana University football coach Bill Lynch won first place in the best sports feature category in the Catholic Press Association’s 2007 awards competition. The newspaper recently won a total of 10 awards from the CPA, Woman’s Press Club of Indiana and the Society for the Propagation of the Faith.
Criterion staff report
Archbishop Daniel M. Buechlein and staff members of The Criterion were recently honored for excellence in journalism by several organizations.
The recognition included awards from the Catholic Press Association, the Society for the Propagation of the Faith and the Woman’s Press Club of Indiana.
The Criterion’s awards for material published in 2007 include:
• First place—Senior reporter Mary Ann Wyand, 2007 Archbishop Edward T. O’Meara journalism award for outstanding world mission news coverage. She won a first-place honor from the Society for the Propagation of the Faith for her “Stewards Abroad” mission series.
The stories included “A light of Christ in Uganda,” a feature about missionary Sherry Meyer’s work in Africa, and “A witness to Christ’s Gospel of Peace,” a story about Comboni Father Michael Barton and his mission work in war-torn Sudan.
The awards are named for the late Archbishop O’Meara, who served as the national director of the Society for the Propagation of the Faith from 1966 to 1979 and was Archbishop Daniel M. Buechlein’s predecessor as shepherd of the Archdiocese of Indianapolis from 1979 to 1992. The society is responsible for informing Catholics about the Church’s worldwide mission and advising them of ways they can participate in that mission.
“With the history of the awards and their connection to Archbishop O’Meara, we were very happy to be recognized by the Society for the Propagation of the Faith for a second year in a row,” said Criterion editor Mike Krokos.
• First place—Wyand’s mission stories also received top honors in the Special Articles/Religion category in the Woman’s Press Club of Indiana 2008 Communications Contest.
“These are engaging stories, well-written and entertaining,” judges wrote.
• First place—Feature Story, Woman’s Press Club of Indiana, “She’s truly a miracle,” by Mary Ann Wyand. The compelling story on newborn Anne Therese Felts and her fight for life received top honors.
“Well-written with nice photos,” judges said.
Both first-place Woman’s Press Club awards advance to the National Federation of Press Women’s Communication Contest for further judging.
• Second place—News/Continuing Coverage, Woman’s Press Club of Indiana, for a story by Mary Ann Wyand on the fire that destroyed St. Anne Church in New Castle and several follow-up stories.
• Third place—Personality profile, Woman’s Press Club of Indiana, for a story by Wyand on Father Rick Nagel’s path to the priesthood.
The CPA awards that staff members won include:
• First place—Best Sports Feature, assistant editor John Shaughnessy, for “A Season to Believe: Faith helps lead Hoosiers during emotional ride of loss and hope,” a profile on Indiana University football coach Bill Lynch.
“You can’t help but get emotionally wrapped up in this compelling story. John Shaughnessy artfully recounts Indiana’s tragic, but victorious football season during which Coach Bill Lynch helped the team endure after the death of Coach Terry Hoeppner,” judges wrote.
• Second place—Best Headline, editor Mike Krokos, for “Food for thought: Lenten recipes can set the table for lessons in faith.”
• Second place—Individual Excellence, Writer/Editor, John Shaughnessy. In this category, writers were asked to submit up to five examples of their work.
• Third place—Best Regular Column, Spiritual Life, “Seeking the Face of the Lord,” Archbishop Daniel M. Buechlein’s weekly column.
• Honorable mention—Best Use of Syndicated/Wire Art/Graphics, art director Ann Sternberg, for “I Was a Stranger and You Welcomed Me: Meeting Christ in New Neighbors.” Sternberg was recognized for the cover that she created for the newspaper’s supplement of the 2007 Indiana bishops’ pastoral on immigration.
Greg Otolski, Criterion associate publisher, said the award recognition was well deserved.
“It’s always affirming when our staff gets recognition for their dedication and hard work,” Otolski said.†
