The Catholic Standard newspaper and website of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Washington received 16 Catholic Media Awards at the 2025 Catholic Media Conference that met June 24-27 in Phoenix, Arizona. The Catholic Standard’s honors included first place awards for best front page for a diocesan newspaper, best multimedia package, best column by a bishop and best photograph of a national event. The Catholic Standard also received a third place award for best newspaper website, and honors in the best news writing on a national event, best reporting of social justice issues on the dignity and rights of workers, best sports journalism, best original illustration, best photo gallery, best spot news photo and best photo story categories.
Also at the 2025 Catholic Media Conference, El Pregonero – the Spanish-language newspaper and website of the Archdiocese of Washington – received 15 Catholic Media Awards, including a third place award for Spanish publication of the year. El Pregonero also received first place awards for best cover, best editorial and best reporting on social justice issues. El Pregonero also received awards for best in-depth analysis, for its reporting on immigration, family and cultural heritage issues, for news writing on a national or international event, and for an advertisement originating within the publication.
The St. Francis de Sales Award – the highest award that the Catholic Media Association presents for “outstanding contributions to Catholic journalism” was presented to Carol Zimmermann, the news editor of the National Catholic Reporter who formerly was a longtime reporter for the Catholic News Service and began her journalism career as a reporter for the Catholic Standard. She is the wife of Mark Zimmermann, the Catholic Standard’s editor.
Here is a list of the 2025 Catholic Media Awards received by the Catholic Standard:
The 16 awards Catholic Media Awards that the Catholic Standard newspaper and website of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Washington received at the Catholic Media Conference in Phoenix on June 24-27 included a first place award for best front page in a diocesan newspaper. This cover from March 14, 2024 shows Washington Cardinal Wilton Gregory during the Rite of Election and Call to Continuing Conversion at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception greeting catechumens and candidates preparing to fully enter the Catholic Church at Easter. (Catholic Standard photo by Mihoko Owada)
- First place, Best front page, diocesan newspaper – March 14, 2024, “Welcome home: At Lenten rite, Cardinal Gregory welcomes people preparing to become full members of the Catholic Church at the Easter Vigil; April 18, 2024, “Eclipse: Students at St. Michael’s in Ridge enjoy solar eclipse, guided by pastor with background in astronomy;” May 23, 2024, “Golden Apple teachers: Catholic schools celebrate Golden Apple Award-winning teachers;” designs by Patricia Castrillo, photos by Mihoko Owada and Jaclyn Lippelmann. (Judge’s comment: “The engaging art, combined with a clean and clear layout, captures attention and sparks interest, encouraging readers to turn the page for more.”)
- First place, Best regular column by a bishop or archbishop – “What I Have Seen and Heard” columns by Washington Cardinal Wilton D. Gregory: April 18, 2024, “Catholicism as a team sport;” May 23, 2024, “Sainthood candidates who bridge the generation gap;” and Dec. 19, 2024, page 5, “Restoring and renewing Notre Dame Cathedral.” (Judge’s comment: “This collection of columns engages the reader and offers a glimpse into the personal life of an archbishop. The pieces are pastoral, easily accessible and relatable. I enjoyed reading these – and can imagine that the faithful of the archdiocese look forward to being inspired by them.”)
- https://www.cathstan.org/voices/catholicism-as-a-team-sport
- https://www.cathstan.org/voices/sainthood-candidates-who-bridge-the-generation-gap
- https://www.cathstan.org/voices/restoring-and-renewing-notre-dame-cathedral
The dignitaries attending an Oct. 16, 2024 celebration of the life of the late Ethel Skakel Kennedy held at the Cathedral of St. Matthew the Apostle in Washington included, from left to right, President Joe Biden; former President Barack Obama; former President Bill Clinton; Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-California), the speaker emerita of the U.S. House of Representatives; and her husband, Paul Pelosi. (Catholic Standard photo by Mihoko Owada)
- First place, Best photograph, national or international event – Nov. 14, 2024, “Three presidents smile remembering Ethel Kennedy at her memorial service,” photo by Mihoko Owada. (Judge’s comment: “This photograph is notable not only for its historical interest, but for the evocation of emotion and camaraderie that it captures.”)
- First place, Best multimedia package series – “2024 Golden Apple teachers,” series on Catholic Standard website featuring stories by Mark Zimmermann, photos by Mihoko Owada, and videos by Geoffrey Ros and Ronald Bethke. (Judge’s comment: “This excellent series is marked by charmingly written profiles, excellent photography and often touching videos to complement the pieces. This submission most aptly meets the spirit of the category.)
- url for series of 10 articles posted in spring 2024: https://www.cathstan.org/series/2024-golden-apple-teachers
- Links to stories, photos and videos for five of the Golden Apple Award-winning teachers:
- https://www.cathstan.org/local/purple-reign-golden-apple-award-for-st-peters-waldorf-third-grade-teacher-whose-favorite-color-is-purple-and-favorite-character-is-eeyore
- https://www.cathstan.org/local/a-golden-apple-and-golden-roses-for-second-grade-teacher-at-little-flower-school-in-great-mills
- https://www.cathstan.org/local/sacred-heart-teacher-known-for-fun-fridays-has-a-surprise-monday-learning-she-is-a-golden-apple-award-winner
- https://www.cathstan.org/local/golden-apple-teacher-holly-kaufmann-found-faith-at-st-marys-ryken-and-now-she-hopes-to-pass-that-on-to-her-students
- https://www.cathstan.org/local/golden-apple-award-winning-resource-teacher-at-st-mary-of-the-assumption-works-to-help-students-excel-in-school-and-in-life
- Second place, Best sports journalism / sports news – Aug. 22, 2024, “Record-setting swimmer Katie Ledecky and two fellow Stone Ridge Gators alumnae shine at Summer Olympics in Paris,” story by Maureen Boyle. (Judge’s comment: “The story does a good job building the connection back locally, which can be difficult on such a quick turnaround and with such high-profile subjects. The author also does a good job including other mediums of communication in the story.)
- https://www.cathstan.org/local/record-setting-swimmer-katie-ledecky-and-two-fellow-stone-ridge-gators-alumnae-shine-at-summer-olympics-in-paris
After being baptized by Cardinal Wilton Gregory at the March 30, 2024 Easter Vigil at the Cathedral of St. Matthew the Apostle in the nation’s capital, Michelle Washington says “Amen!” Fourteen men, women and children were baptized during the Easter Vigil at St. Matthew’s Cathedral. (Catholic Standard photo by Mihoko Owada)
- Second place, Best photograph, sacramental – April 18, 2024, “Woman’s ‘Amen!’ to being baptized at Easter Vigil,” photo by Mihoko Owada. (Judge’s comment: “The emotion and drama of this photo merit it for recognition.”)
- Second place, Best use of graphics/Best original illustration – March 14, 2024, “2024 College Fair cover illustration” by Gloria Marconi. (Judge’s comment: “The bright colors and myriad subjects of this illustration are attention-getting.”)
- Third place, best website of a newspaper – Catholic Standard of the Archdiocese of Washington, www.cathstan.org (Judge’s comment: “The website offers clean design, consistent formatting and great visuals. It is easy to navigate the articles and interact with the content.”)
Olympic swimming champion Katie Ledecky at center visits her alma mater, Stone Ridge School of the Sacred Heart in Bethesda, Maryland, on Oct. 22, 2024 and listens as second grader Anna Reilly at right asks her a question during a session with Lower School students there. From left to right are fourth grader Annie Siciliano, third grader Lilly Bracewell, first grader Amelia Farrell, Katie Ledecky, kindergarten student Bowen Wiegmann and second grader Anna Reilly. (Catholic Standard photo by Mihoko Owada)
- Third place, Best sports journalism / sports feature – Nov. 14, 2024, “After Paris Olympics, swimmer Katie Ledecky returns home to Stone Ridge School of the Sacred Heart and Little Flower Parish,” story by Mark Zimmermann, photos by Mihoko Owada. (Judge’s comment: “It completely captures the Katie Ledecky story and what her high school alma mater has meant to her and vice versa. She is such a down-to-earth subject as well, and the article captures that very well.”)
- https://www.cathstan.org/local/after-paris-olympics-swimmer-katie-ledecky-returns-home-to-stone-ridge-school-of-the-sacred-heart-and-little-flower-parish
As it did for people across the United States, viewing the solar eclipse on April 8, 2024 brought a sense of wonder and excitement to students at St. Michael’s Catholic School in Ridge, Maryland, who gathered outside the school. (Catholic Standard photo by Mihoko Owada)
- Third place, Best photograph, spot news – April 18, 2024, “Eclipse: Students at St. Michael’s in Ridge enjoy solar eclipse;” photo by Mihoko Owada. (Judge’s comment: “The smiles are what does it for me, it shows the magic of what can be learned at schools.”)
- Third place, Best photo gallery or slideshow – Aug. 7, 2024, “Photo gallery: At joyful Mass, cardinal ordains 16 new priests for Archdiocese of Washington in largest ordination class since 1960,” photos by Mihoko Owada, Catholic Standard website. https://www.cathstan.org/local/photo-gallery-ordination (Judge’s comment: “These ordination photos take care to capture the grandeur of the event by careful angles that include the scale and scope of the National Shrine itself. The location becomes a subject, never in the foreground but setting the tone for the liturgy itself.”)
- Third place, Best promotional house advertisement: Flier for January 2024 Catholic Schools Week sections in the Catholic Standard and El Pregonero newspapers of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Washington, designed by Patricia Castrillo. (Judge’s comment: “The chalk font is amazing – distinctive without being hard to read. The placement of all elements and the choice of colors are excellent, creating an interesting and eye-catching appeal.”)
- Honorable mention, Best news writing on a national event, one shot –Nov. 14, 2024, “Ethel Kennedy’s life and legacy celebrated at cathedral memorial service,” story by Mark Zimmermann, photos by Mihoko Owada.
- https://www.cathstan.org/us-world/ethel-kennedys-life-and-legacy-celebrated-at-cathedral-memorial-service
- Honorable mention, Best reporting of social justice issues / dignity and the rights of workers – Aug. 22, 2024, “Bishop Menjivar’s ministry shaped by his experiences as an immigrant worker,” story by Mark Zimmermann, photos by Mihoko Owada.
- https://www.cathstan.org/faith/bishop-menjivars-ministry-shaped-by-his-experiences-as-an-immigrant-worker
- Honorable mention, Best photo gallery or slideshow – June 29, 2024, “Photo gallery: National Eucharistic Pilgrimage stops in nation’s capital,” photos by Mihoko Owada, Catholic Standard website. https://www.cathstan.org/local/photo-gallery-national-eucharistic-pilgrimage-stops-in-nations-capital
- Honorable mention, Best photo story / feature – Sept. 12, 2024, “First day of school, St. Anthony Catholic School in Washington welcomes students back for the new school year,” photos by Mihoko Owada.
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