July 5, 2013

Criterion staff honored for excellence in journalism

Senior reporter Mary Ann Garber’s photo that accompanied the story “ ‘Till Death Do Us Part’: Couple celebrates 75th anniversary shortly before God calls her home,” won second place in the best feature photograph category in the Catholic Press Association’s (CPA) 2012 awards competition.

Senior reporter Mary Ann Garber’s photo that accompanied the story “ ‘Till Death Do Us Part’: Couple celebrates 75th anniversary shortly before God calls her home,” won second place in the best feature photograph category in the Catholic Press Association’s (CPA) 2012 awards competition.

Criterion staff report

Staff members of The Criterion were recently honored for excellence in journalism by the Catholic Press Association (CPA).

Senior reporter Mary Ann Garber, who retired in January after nearly 25 years of service to the newspaper, and assistant editor John Shaughnessy each won individual awards from the CPA during the annual Catholic Media Conference held in Denver on June 19-22.

The CPA awards that staff members won include:
 

Second place—Best Feature Photograph by Mary Ann Garber.

Published in the July 20, 2012, issue of The Criterion, the photo accompanied the story, “ ‘Till Death Do Us Part’: Couple celebrates 75th anniversary shortly before God calls her home,” which shared the love story of Donald and Mary Bird, then residents of the St. Augustine Home for the Aged in Indianapolis.

“An intimate moment that really reflects the love between these two people,” judges wrote. “Very emotional, a key ingredient in making photographs connect with the reader.”
 

Honorable mention—Best Feature Story by John Shaughnessy.

Published in the Nov. 9, 2012, issue, the story, “Leave them laughing … and thinking: Priests who use humor in homilies say lessons in faith must be at the heart of their message,” shared how priests use funny stories or anecdotes in their preaching as another way of helping people grow in their lives of faith.

“Effective approach that uses the priests’ humor to amuse readers while making the larger point sought by the priests,” judges wrote.
 

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

“It is also always affirming when our staff is honored for their excellence in journalism and dedication to the evangelizing mission of the Church,” Otolski said. †

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