Criterion staff honored for excellence in journalism

The Criterion’s annual Vacation/Travel Supplement won third place in the best regular special supplement category in the Catholic Press Association’s 2008 awards competition. The newspaper recently won awards from the CPA and the Society for the Propagation of the Faith.

Criterion staff report

Editorial writer Daniel Conway and staff members of The Criterion were recently honored for excellence in journalism by

two organizations.

The recognition included awards from the Catholic Press Association and the Society for the Propagation of the Faith.

The CPA awards that staff members won include:

• First place—Best Editorial on a National or International Issue, editorial writer Daniel Conway, for “Economic crisis is a failure of responsible stewardship.”

The editorial, published in the Oct. 3, 2008, issue of The Criterion, said the beginning of the economic crisis last fall was the result of poor stewardship by banks, other financial institutions, regulatory agencies and government officials charged with the responsibility to serve and protect our nation and its institutions.

“The writer skillfully takes a national issue that is both little understood and over-commented on, and provides readers with a thoughtful, logical examination,” judges wrote. “The writer clearly connects religious and philosophical beliefs to the world of commerce. The editorial informs the reader, offers the reader context to understand the situation and, finally, provides the reader with clear, firm leadership on how to respond. Well done.”

• Third place—Best Regular Special Supplement, Vacation/Travel Supplement, published in the May 23, 2008, issue, by The Criterion staff. The lead story in the special section was a feature titled “Explore Southern Indiana’s State Parks.” The supplement was edited by senior reporter Mary Ann Wyand.

“From the attractive design and smart use of photos to the snappy headlines and writing, this guide to Indiana tourism presents a fun and useful way for readers to meld their faith with their travel plans,” judges wrote.

Assistant editor John Shaughnessy was recognized as a 2008 Archbishop Edward T. O’Meara journalism award winner for outstanding world mission news coverage. He won honorable mention in the Society for the Propagation of the Faith’s “mission series” category for two stories that appeared as part of The Criterion’s ongoing “Stewards Abroad” mission outreach.

The stories are “Lord, I come to do your will,” a feature about St. Pius X School third-grade teacher Alice Mattingly and her parish’s outreach to a small village in El Salvador, and “A place of hope,” a story about Jesuit Father Terry Charlton and the role he played in helping open the world’s first high school for AIDS orphans in Nairobi, Kenya.

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.

This is the third consecutive year that a staff member has been recognized for reporting on mission work, noted Criterion editor Mike Krokos.

“With the history of the awards and their connection to Archbishop O’Meara, we were thrilled to again be recognized by the Society for the Propagation of the Faith,” he said.

Greg Otolski, Criterion associate publisher, said the awards recognition for the staff was well deserved.

“It is always affirming when our team gets recognition for their commitment, dedication and hard work,” Otolski said. †