Communications staff earns prestigious Fr. John Catoir Social Media Award; Detroit Catholic earns two first-place honors
DETROIT — Detroit Catholic earned six awards July 7 during the Catholic Media Association’s awards banquet in Portland, Ore., and the Archdiocese of Detroit’s communications staff earned two additional honors.
The annual gathering, held in person for the first time since 2019, celebrates the work of Catholic journalists, media professionals, communications directors and digital media specialists in the United States and Canada.
The archdiocese’s communications department earned the exclusive Fr. John Catoir Social Media Evangelization Award for its “Unleash the Gospel” social media campaign, including animated videos, graphics, articles and photography.
The award is named for Fr. John Catoir, a pioneer in Catholic media who founded St. Jude Media Ministry and was a former director of The Christophers. Fr. Catoir died in April 2022.
Detroit Catholic also took home two first-place awards, including one for reporter Daniel Meloy’s August 2021 feature story about couples strengthening their marriages through the COVID-19 pandemic, and another for photographer Valaurian Waller’s depiction of fathers marching with their children in a Eucharistic procession on Father’s Day.
Reporter Gabriella Patti earned second place for “Best Reporting on Vocations to the Priesthood, Religious Life or Diaconate” for her September feature examining the diaconate from the perspective of the wives of permanent deacons.
Patti also earned a third-place award for “Best Personality Profile” for her story about cartoonist Pat Byrnes, the brother of former Detroit auxiliary bishop and current Guam Archbishop Michael J. Byrnes, and honorable mention for “Best In-Depth News and Special Reporting” for her story exploring the impact of the pandemic on deaf and hard-of-hearing Catholics.
Meloy earned honorable mention for news writing on an international event for an article on the difficulties a local ministry faced serving the poor in Haiti after earthquakes, a political assassination, gang violence and skyrocketing prices rocked the Caribbean island nation in 2021.
Archdiocese of Detroit videographer Joe Pelletier was one of 10 finalists for the Cardinal John P. Foley Award, one of the Catholic Media Association’s highest honors, for his work producing video content for the “Unleash the Gospel” campaign, including animation and explainer videos.
Also during the conference, Detroit Catholic editor Michael Stechschulte was introduced as one of four new members of the Catholic Media Association's board of directors. Stechschulte will serve a three-year term as the association's Midwest regional representative.
Catholic Media Association Awards 2021
Fr. John Catoir Social Media Evangelization Award
“Unleash the Gospel,” by Archdiocese of Detroit Communications
Best Reporting of Social Justice Issues (Family, Community and Participation): First Place
"Couples say pandemic challenged their marriages, but now they're stronger for it" (Aug. 6, 2021), by Daniel Meloy
Best Photograph: Spot News: First Place
"During Year of St. Joseph, dads march with the Eucharist on Father's Day" (June 21, 2021), by Valaurian Waller
Best Reporting on Vocations to the Priesthood, Religious Life or Diaconate: Second Place
"The deacons' wives: Heart of the domestic church, backbone of the family" (Sept. 14, 2021), by Gabriella Patti
Best Personality Profile: Third Place
"Archbishop Byrnes' brother, cartoonist Pat Byrnes: 'Cartoons promote empathy'" (Oct. 15, 2021), by Gabriella Patti
Best In-Depth News and Special Reporting: Honorable Mention
"For deaf Catholics, pandemic's challenges are more than meets the eye -- or ear" (April 9, 2021), by Gabriella Patti
Best News Writing One Shot: International Event: Honorable Mention
"Skyrocketing prices, roaming gangs complicate local outreach to hard-hit Haiti" (Aug. 30, 2021), by Daniel Meloy
Cardinal John P. Foley Award: Finalist
Joseph Pelletier, Archdiocese of Detroit videographer
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