Evangelist wins national prizes; editorial, column, teen issue cited

The Evangelist has been honored with three prizes for excellence in Catholic journalism.

The awards were handed out at the recent annual convention of the Catholic Press Association, which represents Catholic newspapers and magazines. The convention was held in Washington, D.C. There are 200 Catholic newspapers in the U.S., with combined circulations of 6.5 million readers.

The awards, judged by journalists from both the religious and secular press, were given for material that appeared during 2003.

The Evangelist won:

* First prize for best editorial on a national or international topic for "Solidarity and Modern Warfare," by James Breig, editor. The editorial appeared in the April 10, 2003, issue.

The judges said, "This bold editorial stepped back from the usual arguments that were made in favor of the war in Iraq and questioned whether there was a deeper rationale: to protect people from dictators and injustice. We have a responsibility for people beyond our own borders who are suffering. This piece reflected on the question of solving difficult issues that we often do not think of as being our issues."

This is the third time in four years that Mr. Breig has been honored for his editorials. This year's winner can be read in the archives section at The Evangelist's website, www.evangelist.org.

* Second prize for best column on Scripture to Kate Blain, assistant editor, for her weekly "Good News for Kids," which explains the Sunday Gospel to children.

The judges said that Ms. Blain "gets down on one knee and looks a kid in the eye [to give] clear, concise advice. [She] doesn't try to accomplish too much and gives children their due respect."

This is the fifth time Ms. Blain's column has been cited. First prize in this category went to Bishop Robert Morneau of Green Bay, Wisc.

* Second prize for best regular supplement for The Evangelist's annual teen issue, which appears each November. The judges noted that "good writing and photos are complemented by nice layout. The articles feature some interesting angles. These teenagers are looking for God -- and making a difference as they find Him in the everyday. That's 'good news' for those growing up -- and for grown-ups as well."

First prize in this category went to the Catholic Spirit of St. Paul, Minn., for its back-to-school issue.

CRS award to staff writer

In addition to the awards from the CPA, Karen Dietlein, staff writer, received an honorable mention in the Eileen Egan Journalism Awards contest from Catholic Relief Services, the overseas aid agency of American Catholics. Ms. Dietlein's interview with a survivor of genocide in Rwanda was called "a poignant, well-written piece" by a judge from Reuters News Service and "a haunting profile" by an editor at The Wall Street Journal. To read the article, go to www.evangelist.org and search for "genocide." The article is headlined "I was lucky."

(6/10/04)