The Tidings newspaper received second place in general excellence in its circulation category for the year 2006 at the Catholic Press Association Convention held last week in Brooklyn.
The award came in the category for diocesan newspapers with circulation of 40,001 and above. The Catholic Spirit, newspaper of the St. Paul-Minneapolis Archdiocese, earned first place, and The Leaven, of Kansas City, Kansas, was third.
The award is based on general excellence in three consecutive issues for the calendar year of 2006. The Tidings submitted its issues of April 28, May 5 and May 12, in which the immigration reform issue (including the May 1 rally in downtown Los Angeles) and the opening of "The Da Vinci Code" film were among the major events taking place.
In their comments accompanying the award, the judges noted:
"The Tidings is impressive in many ways, foremost for the way it tackles head-on the serious social issues impacting the Catholics it serves. Each of these issues has a strong story that puts readers face-to-face with questions about their values: immigrant legal tangles, rallies for Hispanic rights, the controversy over 'The Da Vinci Code.' Add to the mix some powerful photos, strong editorial stands, compelling columnists and solid headlines, and you have a paper that packs a lot for its readers in a small package."
The Tidings previously earned second place in general excellence for the year 2001, and first place for 2002.
Among other awards presented at the CPA convention, Daughter of St. Paul Sister Rose Pacatte, whose Film Essays appear in The Tidings, received Second Place in the Magazine division, best review section, for her "Eye on Entertainment" in the St. Anthony Messenger.
The National Catholic Reporter won first place for general excellence among national newspapers for the eighth straight year. Diocesan newspapers judged tops in general excellence also included The Michigan Catholic, Detroit (17,001-40,000 circulation), and Hawaii Catholic Herald, Honolulu (17,000-and-under). |