Several ACPA awards go to New Zealand publications

New Zealand’s Catholic media took several awards at the recent Australasian Catholic Press Association Annual Conference held in Wellington, 5-7 September.

The Marist Messenger won three awards, Best Magazine Layout and Design, Best Editorial for an insightful and compassionate editorial piece written by Fr Brian Connell on the sensitive issue of suicide. Fr Merv Duffy won the award for Best Article on Catechesis for his article titled ‘That Clumsy Word in the creed’ published in the Marist Messenger giving a clear and engaging explanation of a word within the creed that was known to challenge people.

Independent Catholic monthly magazine Tui Motu InterIslands won five awards – the Best Ecumenical/Interfaith Story for an article by Danny Kettoola, called ‘Young People’s Servolution’, as well as Highly Commended Awards in the following categories; the Bishop Philip Kennedy Memorial Prize for Magazines and Electronic Publications; Best Social Justice Coverage; Best Devotional Article Applying Faith to Life; Best Editorial Feature.

NZ Catholic, the national Catholic newspaper, received three Highly Commended Awards for the following categories; Best News Story, given for Michael Otto’s article titled ‘An influx of priests linked to less leadership by laity’, Best Newspaper Layout and Design and The Bishop Phillip Kennedy Memorial Prize – Newspaper.

More than 50 delegates attended the ACPA Awards, which invite more than 100 member publications to submit entries to be judged by professional secular media representatives as the best in their field.