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July 12, 2018
Christina Gray
Rick DelVecchio, editor and general manager of Catholic San Francisco, was recognized as Editor of the Year by the Catholic Press Association at its annual Catholic Media Conference in Green Bay, Wisconsin, June 12-15.
The Catholic Press Awards recognize the professional excellence of Catholic newspapers, magazines, newsletters and communications departments in four regions of North America including Canada. The Catholic Press Association has nearly 250 publication members and 600 individual members. The 2018 awards were based on the 2017 work of members in seven divisions including magazines and newsletters, newspapers, Spanish language, communications, digital and business.
In his eighth year at the helm of Catholic San Francisco, DelVecchio was one of a handful of recipients singled out for an Excellence Award, an elite division of the contest that names the best editor, writer, photographer, communications professional, social media director, advertising professional, graphic designer and publications from among all CPA members.
Under his direction, Catholic San Francisco also won two first place awards, a second place award, three third place awards and an honorable mention in the 2018 press awards contest for non-weekly diocesan newspapers with a circulation of 25,001 or more.
The judges noted DelVecchio’s “very impressive leadership” during an eventful 2017 that included the coverage of the nearby Wine Country wildfires, the deaths of two former archbishops and the consecration of the archdiocese to the Immaculate Heart of Mary.
“The product represents professionalism at its finest,” they wrote.
Catholic San Francisco is a labor of love for those who participate in it, DelVecchio said, and he believes that comes through to judges and readers alike.
“You don’t win awards like this unless you really care and without putting your passion and heart into it,” he said. He credited his staff for taking content “that could be ordinary and making it special.”
“You can look at all of the awards we won this year and see that in one way or another it was because of the extra measure of care by people who love their work and do it on their own initiative and based on their own sense of what excellence means,” he said.
Catholic San Francisco staff members gathered at the Pastoral Center for a group photo on July 2. The official newspaper of the archdiocese won eight national Catholic press awards for work in 2017. From left, Joe Pena, advertising director/business manager; Christina Gray, associate editor; Rick DelVecchio, editor/general manager; Tom Burke, senior writer; Chandra Kirtman, advertising and circulation coordinator; Mary Podesta, associate advertising director. Not present were Karessa McCartney-Kavanaugh, production manager; Joel Carrico, production assistant; and Sandy Finnegan, administrative assistant. Consulting photographers Dennis Callahan and Debra Greenblat also contributed to the paper’s award-winning coverage in 2017. (Photo by John Gray/Archdiocese of San Francisco)
Former CSF assistant editor Valerie Schmalz, who in March was appointed director of the archdiocesan Office of Human Life and Dignity, won first place in the category of Best Personality Profile for her story on Melissa Ohden, a woman who survived her mother’s abortion. Schmalz also took a second place for Best Feature Writing for her look at San Francisco “destination parishes” St. Dominic, St. Ignatius and Star of the Sea.
Reporter Christina Gray won a first place for Best Headline for a short photo story titled: “Lenten exercises: Sisters race to support aging friars.” Gray also shared a third place award with Schmalz for Best Coverage of Immigration.
In 2017, Catholic San Francisco launched a new website that earned a third place for Best Newspaper Website in its first full year. DelVecchio and Gray teamed with production manager Karessa McCartney and assistant communications director Jan Potts to create what judges called “a compelling digital product rooted in mission and reporting.”
The deaths of retired Archbishop John R. Quinn on June 22, 2017, and retired Archbishop George Niederauer on May 2, were covered in special issues by the staff with special reporting and a curated selection of photos. “Farewell Archbishop Niederauer” won third place for Best Layout of Article or Column and “San Francisco’s farewell to Archbishop John R. Quinn” earned an honorable mention for Best Story and Photo Package.
“In this office we see the hard work and great results of the newspaper staff on a daily basis and are happy to see this acknowledgement of the quality and impact of their efforts,” said Mike Brown, the Archdiocese of San Francisco’s director of communications.
Catholic San Francisco, the archdiocesan newspaper, falls under the archdiocesan Office of Communications, which received two awards in the contest.
“Mosaic: Catholicism in the Archdiocese of San Francisco,” produced and hosted by communications manager J.A. Gray, earned a third place for Best Use of Video – Ongoing Series. The office earned an honorable mention for Best Facebook Post for a post from Archbishop Salvatore J. Cordileone announcing the death of Archbishop Quinn.
DelVecchio manages the editorial content of the paper and the staff that develops it, but as general manager also serves as steward of the paper’s resources. The paper’s business model, now nearly 20 years old, remains vital as advertising sales and donations sustain program costs which have been substantially lowered by a reduced issue schedule and a recently completed line-by-line audit of circulation records.
Contest judges noted DelVecchio’s development of a readership survey in 2015. The survey results showed strong loyalty for the paper and an overwhelming preference for continued home delivery over digital distribution.
Catholic San Francisco is one of the few diocesan papers that provides free home delivery, according to DelVecchio, who called it “an extremely valuable pastoral resource for the archdiocese.”
Over the past year Catholic San Francisco has reached out to readers asking for their support in helping continue home delivery, which is sustained by advertising and gift revenue supplemented by a small number of paid subscriptions. The campaign has been highly successful.
“We wouldn’t have gone from 620 to almost 3,000 gifts in less than a year without people feeling they are cared for, are listened to, and are being treated well,” DelVecchio said.
He said he’s “looking ahead” to continuing to improve the print product.
“Our best days aren’t behind us,” he said. “We continue to think we can do it better, do different things next time and next year. The church has a future and we have a future.”