INDIANAPOLIS — Rhode Island Catholic, including its Spanish language edition El Catolico de Rhode Island, won a combined 10 awards from the Catholic Press Association during its 2012 Catholic Media Convention.
The awards were won in a range of categories, from news, feature and column writing to advertising.
Rhode Island Catholic Editor Rick Snizek represented the diocesan newspapers at the annual convention, which was held this year in Indianapolis.
“We are quite honored to have been recognized by the Catholic Press Association for our efforts to bring the news of the church into the homes of our more than 80,000 readers each week,” Snizek said.
The editor noted that with the national and international Catholic news wire services picking up for distribution many Rhode Island Catholic stories, colleagues at other publications around the country are familiar with the work being crafted by the journalists of the diocesan newspapers.
“Journalists who work for Catholic publications are especially supportive of each other’s work and the efforts being done to advance the teachings of the faith through stories and photos that are engaging to our readers. We were in very good company during the media convention,” Snizek added.
The newspapers won the following awards in the category for diocesan newspapers with circulations of more than 30,000:
Rhode Island Catholic
Best News Writing
First Place: Staff Writer Laura Kilgus, for a story she co-authored with Angela Cave, of The Evangelist, the newspaper of the Diocese of Albany, N.Y., on the decline in church bingo.
Honorable Mention: Editor Rick Snizek for a story about a state representative’s efforts to bargain with a colleague to advance same-sex marriage legislation.
Best Feature Writing
Second Place: Rick Snizek for a story on the role of faith in the cancer recovery of a young parishioner of St. Philip Parish, Greenville.
Best Example of an Effective Advertising Promotion Originating with the Publication
First Place: Display Advertising Manager Richard Lafond
Best Local Retail Campaign originating with
the Publication
Honorable Mention: Production Manager Laura Kilgus and Richard Lafond
El Catolico de Rhode Island
Best Regular Column by
a Bishop or Archbishop
Second Place: Bishop Thomas J. Tobin for “Without a Doubt.”
Individual Excellence – Writer
First Place: Silvio Cuellar
Best News Writing – National/
International Event
Second Place: Rhode Island Catholic Assistant Editor Brian J. Lowney and El Catolico Editor Silvio Cuellar for a story on the participation of young people from the diocese at the annual Pro-Life Rally in Washington, D.C.
Best Column –
General Commentary
First Place: “Rincon de la Familia” by Editor Silvio Cuellar
General Excellence
Honorable Mention: El Catolico de Rhode Island
