Three in a Row: Catholic New York Again Takes First in General Excellence

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Catholic New York won first-place General Excellence honors for the third consecutive year in the annual Catholic Press Awards competition, the first time the paper has accomplished that feat in its 34-year history.

The General Excellence award, in which Catholic New York competed against other diocesan newspapers in the largest circulation category, 40,001 and above, was one of eight CNY received. The judges called Catholic New York an “excellent newspaper” and said the paper’s content was comprehensive and displayed impressive graphic design elements.

“Abounding in well-written stories and good photographs, each issue of Catholic New York takes its readers on a journey across the archdiocese as it reports on news and people of significance here and there,” they noted.

The judges complimented Cardinal Dolan’s “well-crafted and insightful column” for offering a welcoming introductory note to each biweekly issue.

The paper’s photographers also received four awards.

Maria R. Bastone earned two second-place awards. One was for her beautifully composed front-page image of Sister Purificacion Ferrero, S. de M., speaking to her patient, James DiStefano, at his home in the Bronx, which was cited in the Best Feature Photo category. The second, in the Multiple Picture Package category, captured scenes from a lively visit to Santa Maria School in the Bronx by Cardinal Dolan.

Also twice honored was Mary DiBiase Blaich, for images from a 9/11 Evening of Remembrance at St. Peter’s Church on Staten Island, including the powerfully evocative Twin Beams of Light emanating from Ground Zero. She captured second place in the Best Scenic, Still-Life or Weather Photo category and also earned honorable mention in the Best Feature Photo Story category.

Third place for Best Personality Profile went to staff writer Juliann DosSantos for her poignant story, “In Sickness and Health, Long-Married Couple’s Faith Endures,” which exemplified the staying power of love and marriage.

Staff writer Ron Lajoie merited an honorable mention citation for Best Sports Journalism for his feature about New York Yankees pitcher David Phelps’ focus on faith during his visit with students at Epiphany School in Manhattan.

CNY Production Manager Leah Bossio won third place for the Most Effective Use of Small Space with her advertising design, “Seton Shrine,” of which the judges said, “The design fits the subject so well, extremely appealing.”

The awards were distributed June 26 at the closing banquet of the annual Catholic Media Conference, held in Buffalo. At the conference, CNY’s Advertising and Business Manager Matt Schiller was installed as president of the Catholic Press Association (CNY, June 25).