The Australian Catholic Bishops Conference daily e-newsletter CathNews has taken out the main award at the Australasian Catholic Press Association annual conference in Canberra.
ACBC Media and Communications Director Paul Osborne said winning the Bishop Kennedy Memorial Trophy was a tribute not only to editor Rebecca Comini and the team but all those who had produced CathNews since its founding in 1998.
“It is a testimony to the quality of CathNews that our most recent survey showed 92 per cent of readers believed it kept them up to date with what is happening in the Catholic Church,” he said.
“It is wonderful to see that we not only have reader support but also the confidence of our peers as we go about this important work.”
The judges noted CathNews “combines reach, authority and integrity … serving the whole Catholic community with excellence”.
Another project managed by the ACBC Media and Communications Department, the weekly television program Mass for You at Home produced by the Diocese of Wollongong, took out the award for best use of digital media.
More than 50 Catholic media and communications professionals gathered for the annual awards night, recognising excellence in Catholic media across Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific.
Delegates had gathered for the two days prior for their annual conference, focused on the theme, Messengers of Hope: Communicating the truth, goodness and beauty of our faith.
De La Salle Brothers Provincial Br Peter Bray featured as guest speaker for the dinner, highlighting his experience as Vice-Chancellor for the University of Bethlehem.
Outgoing ACPA President Jamie O’Brien from the Archdiocese of Perth congratulated Mr Osborne and Ms Comini for their dedication to the daily news service.
Mr O’Brien said in an age marked by noise, misinformation and division, hope is not a luxury – it is a necessity.
“As Catholic communicators, our task is not only to report facts, but to interpret the world through the lens of the Gospel and CathNews sets a positive example of how this important task can be carried out,” Mr O’Brien said.
“I congratulate all the winners and runners-up and thank all ACPA members who came together for this special occasion, to learn and grow with each other in faith.”
ACPA’s new executive is David Ahern (President), Jamie O’Brien (Vice-President), Tiffany Davis (Secretary), Tony Bivano (Treasurer) and Annette Scullion (Vice-President, New Zealand).
ACPA Awards Night – Winners
Category 1 – Best News Content
Winner: WelCom – recognised for a powerful six-page feature on the homecoming to the Cathedral of the Sacred Heart, capturing history, fundraising, interviews, and striking images.
Runner-Up: Melbourne Catholic – commended for its outstanding coverage of the Corpus Christi procession, uniting over 1,500 faithful in the streets of Melbourne.
Category 2 – Best Feature Content
Winner: Common Home TV – Learning to Serve in the Face of Terror, a documentary on Archbishop Bashar Warda’s courageous witness during the rise of ISIS.
Runner-Up: Fiona Basile – for her inspiring feature on Fr Greg Trythall, who swam every Sunday for 1,500 consecutive weeks, uniting body, spirit, and priestly ministry.
Category 3 – Best Editorial Column or Blog
Winner: Madonna Magazine – Letters to Charlotte & Ella, personal reflections from a mother to her daughters, full of faith and clarity.
Highly Commended: Aurora News – Bishop Michael Kennedy’s My Word, offering concise and thoughtful faith reflections.
Category 4 – Best Headline
Winner: The Catholic Weekly – Jesus, You Take the Wheel, an engaging headline blending faith and culture.
Highly Commended: Tui Motu InterIslands – When the Lid is Lifted, introducing New Zealand’s Royal Commission findings with sensitivity and depth.
Category 5 – Climate and Environment
Winner: Tui Motu InterIslands – Seasons of Creation, a creative collection of reflections rooted in First Peoples’ wisdom.
Runner-Up: Madonna Magazine – for making the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals clear, relevant, and accessible.
Category 6 – Social Justice
Winner: Common Home TV – for a moving interview with a Palestinian Christian, giving voice to trauma and resilience.
Highly Commended: Broken Bay News – with a heartfelt story of CatholicCare’s support for a man overcoming homelessness.
Category 7 – Best Content: Education
Winner: Melbourne Catholic – for its story of James Harris, a theology student whose life was transformed through the ACU Clemente program.
Runner-Up: The Southern Cross – Mia defies the odds, telling of a student’s determination to study medicine despite personal loss and illness.
Category 8 – Best Content: Faith Formation
Winner: Aurora – No one is beyond redemption, a beautifully crafted reflection on the ministry of prison chaplains.
Runner-Up: The Southern Cross – for celebrating the faith and service of Catholics working with seafarers.
Category 9 – Best Content: Faith & Life
Winner: The Southern Cross – A gentle soul, a moving life story told with simplicity and grace.
Runner-Up: Fiona Basile – for her feature on Gabrielle Mahony, revisiting Rwanda decades after genocide, bringing faith into suffering and hope.
Category 10 – Best Content: Ecumenical & Interfaith
Winner: Catholic Outlook – Cardinal Fitzgerald’s reflections on interfaith dialogue, both theologically rich and pastorally urgent.
Highly Commended: The eRecord – Path to Christian Unity, capturing ecumenical prayer with clarity and depth.
Category 11 – Best Content: Celebrating Cultural Expressions
Winner: Divine Word Missionaries – for a profound story on Tiwi culture and Catholic liturgy at the installation of Fr Niran Veigas SVD.
Highly Commended: The Catholic Leader – celebrating the Vietnamese community’s new parish church, a monument to faith and resilience.
Category 12 – Best Original Photograph
Winner: Horizons – Paschal Candle Being Lit, a breathtaking image of Easter light, symbolising Christ’s triumph over darkness.
Highly Commended: WelCom – Pukekara Leads World Rosary, capturing prayer, community, and devotion in a striking composition.
Category 13 – Best Original Artwork
Winner: Aurora – No one is beyond redemption, artwork transforming prison bars into a cross of light and hope.
Highly Commended: Eureka Street – a bold cartoon critiquing gambling with humour and prophetic punch.
Category 14 – Best Front Page (Print)
Winner: Australian Catholics Magazine – with its Science in the Service of God cover, bold, creative, and modern.
Highly Commended: Tui Motu – Welcome Every Child, a tender, bilingual cover with warmth and dignity.
Category 15 – Best Layout and Design (Online)
Winner: The eRecord – praised for its clean design, multimedia integration, and easy navigation.
Highly Commended: Melbourne Catholic – for its elegant, contemporary website design, optimised for today’s readers.
Category 16 – Best Layout and Design (Print)
Winner: The Record Magazine – recognised for its exceptional balance of images, stories, and contemplative design.
Highly Commended: Tui Motu InterIslands – with a calm, prayerful design that reflects its contemplative spirit.
Category 17 – Most Improved Publication
Winner: Kete Korero – honoured for its remarkable transformation, with vibrant new design, fresh editorial tone, and greater inclusivity.
No Highly Commended awarded.
Category 18 – Best Use of Digital Media
Winner: Mass for You at Home (Diocese of Wollongong) – one of the Church’s longest-running programs, now creatively reimagined for digital platforms, reaching 40,000 weekly.
Highly Commended: Catholic Archdiocese of Sydney – Disciple Diaries, powerful testimonies shared online, leading to real conversions.
Category 19 – Best Advertising Feature
Winner: The Catholic Weekly – The Christmas Story, a beautifully designed and informative booklet celebrating Catholic schools.
Highly Commended: The Record Magazine – for a thoughtful feature highlighting the importance of Catholic school funding.
Bishop Kennedy Memorial Trophy
Winner: CathNews – recognised as Australia’s premier Catholic news service. With 13,000 daily subscribers, more than 100,000 web visitors every quarter, and a vibrant social media presence, CathNews combines reach, authority, and integrity. More than news, it offers prayer, reflection, jobs, and resources—serving the whole Catholic community with excellence.
(Paul Osborne and Rebecca Comini accept the Bishop Kennedy Memorial Trophy from Jamie O’Brien. Image courtesy of ACBC/Ryan Macalandag)