Clarion Herald voted best diocesan newspaper in U.S., Canada

The Clarion Herald won first place for Best Non-Weekly Catholic Newspaper in the U.S. and Canada and earned 11 other national awards at the Catholic Media Conference July 7 in Portland, Oregon. 

Clarion Herald editor Peter Finney Jr. was selected first runner-up for Multimedia Journalist of the Year and second runner-up for Writer of the Year.

Kids’ Clarion editor and staff reporter Beth Donze won four writing awards, including first place in both features (“Faith, food collide in Divine Mercy’s cooking show”) and newswriting (“Maps to offer ‘21st-century’ handle on Catholic cemeteries”), and associate editor Christine Bordelon took third place for her feature story on a confession “ambulance” that brings the sacrament of reconciliation to the streets.

The Clarion Herald also won first place for its special section, “The Gift of Priesthood,” which included personal columns written by priests across the state.

Finney took third place for best photo story about a quinceanera celebration in Covington, a Mexican Catholic ritual for 15-year-old girls to pledge themselves in a deeper way to Christ.

Donze also won an honorable mention in newswriting for her story on renovations to the St. Roch Chapel.

The Archdiocese of New Orleans’ Catholic Directory, produced by Jonelle Foltz, Cheryl Dejoie-Methe and M.J. Cahill, won second place.     

The Best Newspaper Award (for larger Catholic newspapers with at least six staff members) was judged on three consecutive issues published in 2021. 

The Clarion Herald submitted the issues of Oct. 16 (True Presence: “Ever ancient, ever new”); Oct. 30 (Notre Dame Seminary’s future leader); and Nov. 13 (Venerable Henriette: Pray for us) to the judges’ panel.

Those three issues can be viewed at clarionherald-la.newsmemory.com.

“This newspaper stands out because it seems to have something for everyone in the family, from seniors to parents to single people to teenagers to elementary school kids,” the judges wrote. “I like how the cover has multiple headlines, as well as well-placed to draw in readers. It’s a positive, welcoming, enjoyable newspaper to read. Great work!”

In multimedia journalism, Finney submitted stories and videos on:

“Knights on Bikes,” a ministry of the Knights of Columbus who spread their faith through motorcycle encounters across the country (youtu.be/ce060CrCuDg);

Richard Cheri, the pastoral musician of the year in the U.S. (youtu.be/yP5K4aS--sw);

The small but thriving St. Nicholas Byzantine Catholic mission (youtu.be/ZB6IwonFwKc);

The lay associates of the Sisters Servants of Mary who care for the dying (youtu.be/mmNHYz4Zm7c);

And, a northshore “quinceanera” celebration (youtu.be/nmZdZFo29Es).

“This entry stands out for the nominee’s consistently great photography and competent journalism,” the judges said. “His videography demonstrates awareness of the principles of framing, and he demonstrates a capacity for staying in the action of an event.”

In the Writer of the Year category, Finney submitted columns on New Orleans police officer Joe Delery, who shared a special admiration for a "mystery" quarterback (Drew Brees) who would dash into St. Rita Church at 6 a.m. each  morning on his way to Saints’ camp; the late St. Angela Merici usher and former insurance investigator Leon Drew who collected nothing but the truth; a resurrection parable about Johnny Young, a young man who overcome his drug addiction and became a missionary in Africa; De La Salle teacher John Charles buoyed by “360-degree” support following the murder of his only daughter; and St. Ann fourth-grader, Sarah Douglas, killed by a drunk driver, who “fell in love” with Catholicism in her short few months at her new school and captured the hearts of her classmates and teachers.

“Peter Finney shows us in his outstanding approach to writing and selection of stories how much good can come from seeming tragedy,” the judges wrote. “The murder of a daughter leads to creation of a family shelter. The death of a 9-year-old leads to organ donation to six individuals and a research lab. A heroin addict becomes director of a group helping children. And, just for fun, a mysterious churchgoer turns out to be Drew Brees, the now-retired New Orleans Saints quarterback, a shoo-in to the Hall of Fame. All well written and easy to read because Finney makes sure that what is important becomes important to his readers.”

The “Gift of Priesthood” section in the Oct. 30 issue (clarionherald.org/the-gift-of-priesthood) offers nearly two dozen columns by priests on their vocational journey as well as their day-to-day ministry in which they share the Eucharist and also draw inspiration from their parishioners.

“I really enjoyed these stories,” the judges wrote. “I especially enjoyed the pieces from Father (Deogratias) Ekisa (on the experience of a foreign-born priest) and Msgr. (Christopher) Nalty (on COVID ministry). Father (Mark) Raphael’s piece (on New Orleans’ history of priests ministering during the yellow fever epidemic) was fascinating. Exceptional headline writing in some tight spaces. Generous proportion of editorial content to advertising.”

Donze’s first-place feature on Divine Mercy Parish’s online cooking show focused on how Father Robert Cooper teaches the faith through the preparation of simple recipes with Lucy Delatte, a 4-year-old chef from his parish.

“What a fun story!” the judges remarked. “This is a great example of how one can use everyday activities and objects to evangelize and preach. I love how this is replicable so that kids and adults could interact through this activity anywhere that an adult would want to take the lead. The writer does a great job of explaining not only the program but also the Catholic lessons behind the various recipes. Just a delightful story – I’m blessed by having read it.”

Donze also drew praise for her news story on a high-tech mapping initiative conducted by the New Orleans Catholic Cemeteries that helps visitors find their family tombs and provides historical tidbits on a smartphone.

“Very informative reporting on an interesting and important topic,” the judges wrote. “Great details about the process involved with digital mapping. Gives the reader a strong understanding of the complexity of the project.”

Other judges’ comments:

On Finney’s second-place feature about a Lego artist who created a mockup of the Vatican (“Upon these rocks, he built this church”): “Wow, what an interesting story. The photographs really help to convey the exact complexity and enormousness of the projects. This story shows really well the nexus among craft and art and passion and faith. And the fact that the works are being shared to inspire others is really great. Thank you for writing this article – it’s a good eye that identifies stories like this that can convey someone else’s unique passion and inspire others through those stories, and you did it. Great work!”

On Bordelon’s third-place feature about the confession ambulance: “Thank you for writing this story. This is an innovative concept that needs to be known more widely, and this article should help to do that. This is the type of article that would be great to read in some national publication. The article is inspiring and informative. I especially like the concreteness conveyed in the story – the number of confessions, in particular. Great work!”

On Donze’s third-place news story on the former Our Lady of Lourdes School on Napoleon Avenue and Freret Street being converted into affordable senior apartments: “Well-reported story with deep details about the project and the use of a variety of sources to tell the story.”

On Finney’s third-pace photo story on the “quinceanera”: “Fabulous shots tell the story well. Good arrangement.”

The Catholic Directory was noted by judges for its “content and organization, with multiple telephone entries, a quick reference page, plus phone numbers listed for offices, individuals and so on, along with an alphabetical master index at the back, again with phone numbers. This entry also provided brief outlines of the purpose of each archdiocesan office. Serif typeface aids readability, and full-page photos at the end of some sections – e.g., the alligator at Holy Family Parish, p. 10, or the commemorative bell used at firefighters’ funerals, p. 118, added interest.”