CSF earns 15 Catholic media awards

Dennis Callahan's photo of a lone worshipper at St. Pius Church in Redwood City during adoration Nov. 9, 2029, was among his work samples that earned him a U.S.-Canada Catholic Press Association second place as top photographer for 2019 in Catholic San Francisco's newspaper division. (Photo by Dennis Callahan/Catholic San Francisco)

UPDATED

Aug. 26, 2020
Catholic San Francisco

The Archdiocese of San Francisco was recognized for excellence in 18 categories in the U.S.-Canada Catholic Press Association’s annual awards competition July 2 with Catholic San Francisco earning 15 of those awards in the 25,000-plus-circulation division for non-weekly diocesan newspapers.

The awards were announced to CPA members via Zoom after coronavirus restrictions canceled the annual Catholic Media Conference slated for June 30-July 2 in Portland, Oregon.

Catholic San Francisco, the bi-monthly newspaper of the Archdiocese of San Francisco led by editor Rick DelVecchio earned three general excellence awards -- the competition's highest level of achievement -- as well as 12 editorial awards. 

Archdiocesan communications director Mike Brown and his department were recognized with two first place awards in the general excellence division; one for Brown as Communications Director of the Year, and the other for Best Diocesan Website managed by assistant director of communications Jan Potts. Communications manager John Gray and Mosaic-TV host earned an honorable mention for Best Video/Audio Interview for his episode on Catholic marriage.

Brown's department includes Catholic San Francisco, the Spanish newspaper San Francisco Catolico, associated social media pages and a growing range of other broadcast and digital communication resources. 

DelVecchio, who earned Editor of the Year in the CPA’s 2018 competition, earned third place this year as Best Social Media Professional.

"Impressive social media strategy and utilization of multiple platforms, messaging styles and engagement techniques. Steller professional work," judges wrote of Delvecchio's entry.

Under DelVecchio’s leadership and with technical support from Washington, D.C.-based Catholic media consultant Heidi Thompson, Catholic San Francisco launched a three-part digital publishing initiative in early 2019. The effort formally debuted Catholic San Francisco as a multi-platform media organization with a daily or near-daily digital news report and digital audiences including CSF print subscribers as well as non-subscribers. The move quadrupled website visits, tripled email newsletter subscriptions and expanded Facebook engagement to the top tier of the U.S.-Canada (arch)diocesan media peer group.

Consulting photographer Dennis Callahan won second place for Best Photographer for his wide-ranging work in 2019. DelVecchio's nominating letter for Callahan noted his combination of technical skill, newsperson's eye for story and commitment to deadlines and sensitivity in working with and portraying subjects.

The judges agreed. 

"While the portfolio heavily emphasizes liturgies, the photographer captures diverse aspects within that framework. He demonstrates a skilled eye, particularly for architecture and for lighting and his human subjects are captured in moments of interest," they noted.

Advertising director Mary Podesta earned an honorable mention as Advertising Professional of the Year. DelVecchio's nominating letter for Podesta, who was appointed to the position less than two years ago after long service as a commission ad salesperson, noted her creative and organizational skills and consistently high productivity to support the self-funded editorial programs of CSF and San Francisco Catolico.

Catholic San Francisco reporter and associate editor Christina Gray earned eight editorial awards, including a first place for Best Reporting on Social Justice Issues (Solidarity) for her pictorial story on a Catholic Charities outreach to the homeless in San Francisco's Bayview-Hunters Point neighborhood, "Helping San Francisco’s invisible homeless." 

Judges called the story an "inspiring piece of work." Gray used "elegant and deft prose" judiciously to tell her story. "Lots of words don't make a story great. The right words at the right pacing do. Quality quotes and interviews make for stellar work."

Gray also won first place for “Living the Consecration: A Practical and Inspirational Guide,” which the judges recognized for Best Special Supplement.

The 16-page resource guide, distributed to email subscribers, supported Archbishop Salvatore J. Cordileone’s call for frequent rosary prayer, confession and adoration to live out the consecration of the archdiocese to the Immaculate Heart of Mary in 2017. The digital project, which was accessed by hundreds of email subscribers, was a joint effort by Gray, DelVecchio, consultant Heidi Thompson and production manager Karessa McCartney.

"This section highlights advertising at its highest -- if a bit different -- level because the entire section is one continuous ad aimed at Catholics who need -- whether they know it or not -- more information about the Rosary, Penance and Adoration," judges said.

Gray won second place for Best Feature Writing for her interview with Shelby, a Catholic man who ended up on the streets after moving to San Francisco, "Homeless and hanging on with faith and friends." 

"High-quality, detail-filled writing that vividly portays the trials and tribulations facing the homeless," wrote judges.

She won a third place for Best Reporting on the Celebration of a Sacrament for "Confessors on confession," a story based on interviews with four local priests on the beauty of the sacrament of reconciliation. 

"A well-written and uniquely interesting take on a common topic," judges wrote.

She also received an honorable mention in the same category for her story on the baptism of a one-time teenage atheist, “One young woman’s unexpected conversion.”

The same story also was recognized with an honorable mention for Best Feature Writing.

Gray earned third place awards for Best Reporting on Social Justice Issues (Solidarity, and Option for the Poor and Vulnerable categories respectively) for her story on Nicholas Peters, a terminally ill St. Charles School student who spent his last months ministering to the homeless.

"It isn't often we get to meet saints in our daily lives," judges wrote. "The story is vibrant, like Peters' life and not weepy as it so easily could have become. Excellent work."

She won another third place for her story on formerly homeless veterans housed on the grounds of Holy Cross Cemetery in Colma.

Second place honors for Best Reporting on Social Justice Issues (Solidarity) went to CSF reporter Nicholas Wolfram Smith for "Change by the Bushel," his story on a collaborative farming program benefiting the homeless in San Mateo County. 

"Readers go on a journey, and Nicholas Wolfram Smith is an excellent guide," wrote judges. "Quality writing and portraiture and information."

Consulting reporter Lidia Wasowicz won second place in the category of Best Personality Profile for "Warrior for Life," a story about pro-life crusader Raymond Dennehy.

"The subject's passion and deep belief system shine off the page of this article," judges wrote. "This was well-written with many excellent details and quotes."

Catholic San Francisco won third place for Best Annual Report for DelVecchio's year-end article on "10 ways Catholic San Francisco made a difference in 2019."

"This is nice - dead-on, perfectly targeted," wrote judges. "The Faces in the News was a masterstroke, tracking faces, websites, popular stories, posts, etc."

Longtime CSF production manager Karessa McCartney was recognized with a third place award for Best Layout of an Article for a newspaper spread highlighting portions of the "Living the Consecration" supplement.

"Clean, no-nonsense layout," judges wrote. "Good breakdown of information  both in textual and visual elements."