WCR writers win honours

Two WCR staff writers have received major honours for their work from the Canadian Church Press.

The first prizes given to Reporter Bill Glen and News Editor Lasha Morningstar were among six awards the WCR garnered at the annual CCP awards banquet in Winnipeg May 5.

Morningstar won the first prize in newspaper feature writing for a piece on Archbishop-Emeritus Joseph MacNeil's relationship with Pope John Paul II published immediately after the pope's death last April.

"This is a great piece of writing. The entire piece caught the right tone from the beginning," said the judge in his comments on Morningstar's article.

Glen won the first prize in the biographical profile category for his feature article on Sister Annata Brockman, who was retiring as long-time pastoral associate at St. Joseph Basilica.

The judge said, "Wonderful quotes from Brockman inform us to her thoughts and motivation for her service. The reader gets a sense of her warmth and determination and flexibility."

The CCP also honoured Maria Kozakiewicz, who writes a monthly reflection in the Word Made Flesh series on Sunday Scripture readings. Kozakiewicz won second prize for a regular column in a newspaper.

The judge was pleased with her "vivid, personal stories; strong articulation of your point of view."

Also winning a second prize was a WCR team of writers, led by historian Juliette Champagne, who wrote a 24-page supplement on Alberta's centennial, entitled Catholicism in Alberta: The Church helps build a province. The supplement won in the category for an in-depth treatment of a news event.

The judge said, "Clearly a vast amount of work done here. Impressive package. Good use of archival photos. Lots to read."

Contributing to the supplement along with Champagne were reporters Bill Glen and Ramon Gonzalez and Editor Glen Argan.

Argan was honoured with a third prize for his layout of Gonzalez's two-page feature article on the 25th anniversary of the outdoor Way of the Cross.

The judge described the layout as "A clean and balanced presentation. Visually compelling. Great work!"

The WCR also won a third prize in the letters to the editor category. The newspaper's letters section was praised for presenting "A good range of issues, from moral investments to gay marriage. Pages give voice not only to Church dogma but also to critics of the Church."

At the CCP's annual meeting, Argan was also elected the organization's vice president.

The Canadian Church Press, which will celebrate its 50th anniversary next year, is the national ecumenical organization of about 80 Christian newspapers and magazines.

Copyright © 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009 -- Western Catholic Reporter