The Catholic Courier won 27 awards from the Catholic Media Association for work published in 2024.
The Catholic Media Association represents more than 600 Catholic publications in the United States and Canada. The organization’s annual conference and awards dinner took place June 24-27 in Phoenix, Ariz.
The Catholic Courier won the following awards:
General Individual Excellence
Photographer of the Year
Chief Photographer Jeff Witherow received third place for a body of his work from 2024.
“Jeff Witherow’s work is top notch with a real art for telling the stories of the Catholic Church,” the judge wrote. “He really knows how to illustrate for Catholic media.”
Social Media Professional of the Year
Marketing Manager Heidi Huntington received an honorable mention for her 2024 work on the Courier’s social-media platforms.
First-Place Awards
Best Photo Gallery or Slideshow
Witherow won first place for his photo gallery of field days at Catholic schools.
“It’s difficult to get action photos of children; even more to get photos of them smiling. Acknowledging the technical planning, these photos stand out for their closeness, their vibrancy and their activity,” the judge commented.
Best Video — Explainer, Diocesan and National News Organization
Witherow won first place for his What is Ash Wednesday? video with Deacon Jonathan Schott that was part of the Catholic Courier’s 2024 Lenten Guide.
“This excellent explainer video hits its target,” the judge wrote. “This video is easily accessible, dense storytelling in video format.”
Best Multimedia Package — Feature
Witherow, along with Digital Content Producer Gina Capellazzi and Graphics Manager Matt Saxon, won first place for their multimedia presentation on the ordination of Father James Muscatella.
“What makes the ordination of Father James Muscatella so remarkable and memorable is the way a simple story is transformed into a compelling narrative through the use of high-quality visuals,” the judge commented. “The producer documents key moments of Father Muscatella’s journey in detail, including his formation, ordination and first Mass. It’s a visually stunning profile that captures the essence of his experience in a powerful way.”
Best Promotional House Ad
Saxon won first place for the “Pledge Your Support” house ad he created.
“Grand, colorful and striking — this piece makes excellent use of space and has an extremely professional appearance,” the judge wrote.
Best Media Kit
Saxon and Huntington won first place for the Catholic Courier’s 2024 Media Kit that they created.
“This entry stands out for the time it spends on the pitch,” the judge commented. “Through infographics, it presents a substantial amount of information about the audience and their readership patterns, including relevant details to advertisers, like click-through rates.”
Best Seasonal Issue — Digital Only
The Courier staff won first place for the 2024 Lenten Guide.
“This is an excellent Lenten season issue featuring bite-sized, engaging content for readers,” the judge wrote. “The author includes a great use of multimedia content to connect with readers.
Best Photograph — Photo Illustration
Witherow won first place for the photo illustration he created for the Catholic Courier’s 135th photo exhibit.
“This photo is stellar in every way, far and above the best in this category,” the judge commented. “Not only are the technical elements outstanding — from the rich colors, breathtaking depth of field and composition — the theme “135 years in pictures” screams at the viewer in a creatively abstract way.”
Best Photograph — Priesthood, Religious Life, or Diaconate
Witherow won first for a photo of Trappist monk James Almeter in prayer at the Abbey of the Genesee in Piffard.
“This beautiful photograph excels in depicting the silence and peace of this moment of prayer,” the judge wrote. “That both the subject and the tabernacle (the target of his prayer) are lit should not be lost on the viewer.”
Second-Place Awards
Best Use of Video on Social Media — News Organization
Capellazzi and Huntington won second place for the teaser video they created for the second episode of the Courier’s “Through the Lens of Faith” podcast.
“This video includes great use of video and visuals to tell an important story and provides historical context for the audience,” the judge wrote.
Best Seasonal Issue — Digital Only
The Courier staff won second place for the 2024 Advent Calendar.
“This fun, engaging and innovative twist on the traditional Advent calendar offers readers digital content related to the season, such as podcasts and videos,” the judge commented.
Third-Place Awards
Best Photograph — Scenic, Still-life or Weather Photo
Witherow received a third-place award for his photo of the Northern Lights over Livonia on Oct. 11, 2024.
“This peaceful night shot captures the mysterious silhouetted steeple in a star-illuminated sky, rendering the viewer aptly moved by the holiness of the moment,” the judge wrote.
Best Photograph — Catholic Education
Witherow won third place for his photo of students at St. Michael School in Penn Yan looking at a projection on a telescope during a demonstration of solar eclipse viewing.
“This photograph excels technically,” the judge commented.
Honorable Mention
Best Multimedia Package Series
The 2024 Advent Calendar also received an honorable mention in the best multimedia package series category.
Best Use of Video on Social Media — The Clergy — Diocesan and National News Organizations
Capellazzi and Witherow received honorable mention for their video with Father William Coffas demonstrating how to make St. Joseph’s Pasta.
Best Online Content Not Published in Print — Photo
Witherow received two honorable mentions in this category, one for his photos of early voting in the 2024 election and one for his photos of the first-day of school at Catholic schools.
Best News Writing on Regional Event — Non-Weekly
Staff Writers Jennifer Burke and Mike Latona received an honorable mention for their articles on the New York’s constitutional amendment, known as Prop 1.
Best Reporting on a Special Age-Group — Children and Teens Younger than 18
Burke won an honorable mention for her article on Lucy Quigley, a student at St. Francis-St. Stephen School in Geneva who designed a jersey for the Rochester Red Wings.
Best Print Special Supplement — Regular Special Supplement
The Courier staff received an honorable mention for the Vocations and Milestones section in the May 2024 edition.
Best Multiple Picture Package — Sports
Witherow received an honorable mention for photos of a basketball game at Charlotte’s Holy Cross School during Catholic Schools Week.
Best Photograph — Feature Photo
Witherow received an honorable mention for a photo of the color guard marching at the start of a Veterans Day ceremony at St. Pius Tenth Church in Chili Nov. 8, 2024.
Best Photograph — Portrait
Witherow won an honorable mention for a photo of Mercy Sister M. Raymond Joseph Griffin turning 100 on Feb. 11.
Best Photograph — Scenic, Still-life or Weather Photo
Witherow received an honorable mention for a photo of Lenten decorations adorning the altar at St. Mary Church in Canandaigua, which was the cover photo for the March 2024 print edition.
Best Photograph — Priesthood, Religious Life, or Diaconate
Witherow received a honorable mention for a photo from the 2024 Solemn Mass of Chrism at Sacred Heart Cathedral.
