Last Updated: Friday - 09/24/2010

WCR again named the best of its kind in Canada

Austin Mardon

TORONTO - The Western Catholic Reporter has again been honoured as the best regional Christian newspaper in Canada.

The Canadian Church Press gave its top award for regional newspapers to the WCR at its annual meeting in Toronto May 14.

The WCR, according to the judge Linda Kay, head of the journalism department at Montreal's Concordia University, is "an extremely well-written paper, (with) great story ideas, very strong writing."

Kay paid tribute to the WCR as a newspaper that is "a pleasure to read," with "thought-provoking articles (and) engaging layout."

The general excellence award was one of three first prizes and two other awards that the WCR won in the CCP's annual awards ceremony.

Austin Mardon, an advocate for the mentally ill and occasional contributor to the WCR, won a first prize for the best opinion piece in a newspaper for his article in the Oct. 12 WCR, "Keep Alberta Hospital Beds Open."

"The author's piece is brutally, almost unflinchingly honest in its first-person portrayal of one patient's experience with the mental health care system in Alberta, and the potential for disaster if funding is removed and beds are closed," said the judge, Carmi Levy.

"It takes guts to write about yourself with such razor sharp clarity, and the author quickly builds a connection with the reader by simply being himself."

The WCR also was honoured for the best overall layout and design of a newspaper.

Judge Gordon Preece, editorial art director for the Winnipeg Free Press, said the WCR has an "attractive, solid presentation" that is easy to read and makes good use of art.

WCR editor Glen Argan won the first prize for layout and design of a feature article for his presentation of "Be A Man!," freelance writer Paul Marck's coverage of a Catholic men's conference.

The design was "a compelling page that immediately conveys the story to the reader. Captivating! You want to read it," said Preece, who also judged this category.

Argan also won third place for the design of a front page and an honourable mention for his Sept. 21 editorial, "Double standard for excommunications leaves activist on outside."

Other publications winning CCP awards for general excellence were Geez, the Winnipeg-based top denominational/interdenominational magazine, Celebrate!, edited by Edmonton's Bernadette Gasslein, among specialized magazines, and Christian Week, a Winnipeg evangelical biweekly was named the best national newspaper.

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