The Evangelist racks up major awards

In addition, James Breig, editor of The Evangelist, was cited as one of the top five Catholic journalists in North America, while Kate Blain, assistant editor, was named one of the four best writers in the Catholic press.

Only three other newspapers totalled more prizes than The Evangelist: The Leaven in Kansas City, Kansas; The Catholic Herald in Milwaukee; and the Catholic Standard and Times in Philadelphia.

The awards were handed out during the annual convention of the Catholic Press Association, held recently in Dallas, Texas. The prizes were given for material that appeared in 2000.

In a separate competition that recognized excellence in covering the missions, Ms. Blain was also saluted by Catholic Relief Services, the overseas aid agency of American Catholics.

Counting that prize, Mr. Breig's honor and the seven awards gained during the newspaper competition, The Evangelist garnered nine citations for excellence during the convention, more than any other Catholic newspaper in New York State.

Here is a complete list of the honors won by The Evangelist:

1. The Evangelist was named the fourth best Catholic newspaper in its circulation category, topped only by Catholic New York, newspaper of the Archdiocese of New York City; the Clarion Herald, newspaper of the New Orleans archdiocese; and the Fairfield County Catholic, newspaper of the Bridgeport, Conn., diocese.

2. James Breig, editor of The Evangelist, was nominated for the St. Francis de Sales Award, given annually to the top Catholic journalist in North America. Four others were nominated for the award: Anne Buckley, recently retired editor of Catholic New York, newspaper of the Archdiocese of New York City; Kay Lagreid, editor of the Seattle archdiocesan newspaper; Daniel Medinger, editor of the Baltimore archdiocesan newspaper; and James O'Gara, retired editor of Commonweal magazine. Ms. Buckley won the prize.

3. Mr. Breig was also honored with a second prize for best editorial for "Perspective needed on priest's departure," which concerned a priest's decision to consider sex-change surgery. The judges commented that "one supposes that many diocesan editors would wish this kind of story would go away. To the contrary, this editorial provides a compassionate pastoral tone while not backing down from Church teaching."

4. Mr. Breig was also awarded a second prize in the category of best column on the arts for his television column, "Tuned In." The judges credited his "thought-provoking columns that critique and analyze television," including his "great article on the chummy relationship between the White House and a TV network."

5. In terms of mission coverage, Kate Blain, assistant editor, was saluted by Catholic Relief Services for an article on efforts by Community Hospice in the Albany Diocese to assist a hospice for AIDS victims in Africa. The Eileen Egan Awards are named for CRS's first overseas staff representative. A noted author and advocate for the poor, Ms. Egan died last October at 88. She was a native of Albany.

6. Ms. Blain also ranked fourth in the category of individual excellence in writing, a category that includes newspaper and magazine personnel. She was topped only by the editor of the Clarion Herald in New Orleans; a writer for Faith magazine; and a writer for the Florida Catholic in Orlando.

7. In the category of best feature photo, Dave Oxford, whose work appears weekly in The Evangelist, won a first prize for his image of Bishop Howard J. Hubbard celebrating the annual Respect Life Mass at St. Agnes Mausoleum in Menands. Calling it "very arty," the judges said they "liked the contrast of light and shadow, with light illuminating the chalice. The designer gave the photo the size it needed to have impact. The photographer came up with something different."

8. In the same category of best feature photo, Mr. Oxford also took a third prize for his picture of the Bishop encountering students during a visit to Marian Academy in Schenectady. The judges said "the photographer captured a moment out of a routine assignment. Loved the range of expressions on the kids' faces."

9. Mr. Oxford also took a third prize in the category of best news photo for an image he took of an inmate praying during a Holy Year Mass celebrated by Bishop Hubbard at Mt. McGregor Correctional Facility in Wilton. The judges credited the "nice composition" as well as the "tension between guards and prisoner [which] adds to the impact."

(06-07-01) [[In-content Ad]]