by Anita McSorley
anita.mcsorley@theleaven.org
KANSAS CITY, Kan. — It might have hit 112 degrees in Phoenix the final day of the Catholic Media Conference, but it was The Leaven that brought the heat when the awards ceremony rolled around that evening.
The archdiocesan paper came away from the annual competition with 13 wins — three firsts, four seconds, one third and five honorable mentions — that represent the work of not only the staff but three freelancers.
But it was the range of work singled out for recognition that editor Father Mark Goldasich first noticed.
“In the haze of all these recent special issues, I forgot just how challenging last year was — beginning with the shooting at the Super Bowl parade,” he said.
“What started out as just a sudden and tragic development in KCMO, soon became a local Catholic story for us — and Moira [Cullings] spent days chasing down every aspect of it that she could. The fact that she won in both the local news writing and the in-depth news writing categories really makes that point. (See below for details of this and other winners.)
“Moira might not have had the title yet,” he said, “but she certainly earned her ‘senior reporter’ stripes with that story.”
“This story was very challenging because of the tight deadline and how sensitive the situation was,” agreed Cullings. “I remember talking with sources who knew Lisa [Lopez-Galvan] personally or knew her family. Both principals at Miege and St. Agnes had beautiful thoughts to share. I always hoped her family and friends would read the story and know how devastated the community was by her loss and how much she meant to everyone.”
Although Cullings said she was happy for the recognition that “Parade Turns Tragic” received, the story meant a lot to her long before it became a double-award winner.
“I’m just grateful I was able to tell this story,” she said. “A lot of people were following the story, and for people who knew Lisa and her family to open up to me during an emotional time was an honor. I hope people were comforted at that time by how the community was responding in the face of such a devastating tragedy.”
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While “Parade Turns Tragic” required aggressive coverage in the moment, other winners represented weeks — and sometimes months — of work.
Marc and Julie Anderson, longtime freelancers for the paper, won in two different categories for their two-part treatment of the “Plight of the Homeless.”
“It’s hard at a paper the size of ours to tackle these big topics,” said Father Mark, “but I think we have a unique obligation to do so. Sometimes we have to slow down and take a hard look at what our society is doing to real people right here in our midst.
“Marc and Julie did that for us on the subject of homelessness — as they have on other weighty topics — and we couldn’t be more grateful.”
Neither of the Andersons was surprised when they started their research to find so many Catholics involved in efforts to address the problem of homelessness.
“Throughout world history,” said Julie, “it’s often been Catholic Christians leading the charge in charitable works. The Catholics and other Christians we met while researching the problem of homelessness truly see the face of Christ in those they serve. It was inspiring to listen to learn from them as well as to hear the reasons they became involved, why they stay involved and what they themselves have learned from the people they serve.”
What stuck with them both, however, was learning that there are solutions out there.
“It was surprising to learn that we, as a nation, could solve the problem of homelessness rather than simply manage it,” said Marc.
Like, Cullings, the Andersons were quick to give credit to the people they reported on.
“Every day, hundreds of people across the archdiocese live out the corporal works of mercy in a myriad of ways,” said Julie. “They truly see the face of Christ in those they serve. That’s who the award really belongs to. We were just lucky enough to meet a few of these remarkable people and learn from them.”
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Not all the wins were for such serious coverage, however, especially in photography. Perennial favorites like the annual priests’ softball game between the archdiocesan priests and those of the Diocese of Kansas City – St. Joseph, along with a Runnin’ with the Revs basketball game, won a first and second place, respectively, for Jay Soldner.
Both events, said Soldner, are a joy to photograph because of all the positive energy and feel-good images the games yield.
Soldner also picked up his first reporting award from a prison ministry visit that he also had to photograph.
“As I got to talking to the men graduating that day,” said Soldner, “I was moved by their determination to try [to] improve their own lives and not give in to the violence and despair that are pretty common in prison. The men spoke openly and honestly about their lives — their past, their current lives — and their hopes and goals for the future.
“In the story I wrote was hoping to give the readers the feeling that there is always a chance to improve in life, regardless of the situation. The story was mostly just quotes from the men that I thought the readers of The Leaven would be able to connect with — and maybe have some readers think a little differently about people who are locked up.”
Even the newest addition to The Leaven staff John Sorce, who had flexed his former sports reporter skills in “Granny Ball,” a fundraiser at the University of Saint Mary, was recognized with an honorable mention. Freelance photographer Kathryn White also received an honorable mention for her photo essay of the ReachKCK community’s retreat in a piece called “Retreat invites eighth graders to take the next step.”
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One aspect of the paper’s Eucharistic Revival coverage yielded two wins in the “Best Photo” categories.
A single photo of a eucharistic procession crossing the Missouri River on the Amelia Earhart Memorial Bridge into Atchison, again by Jay Soldner, seems to have captured the moment for two sets of judges.
The photo was titled, appropriately enough, “Walking with Jesus.”
But for production manager and designer Todd Habiger, who won an honorable mention for Best Front Page — Diocesan, the big win of the year was the second place for Best Newspaper.
“We’re a small paper with a small staff and an unforgiving deadline,” said Habiger. “So second place among all the weeklies is a big deal for us. To hear our reporters and photographers reminisce, though, about the stories and photos that won, makes you realize how much of all of us goes into making this paper each week.”
“We’re very grateful to the Catholic Media Association for recognizing that work in this way,” he added. “But we’re also grateful to all the folks of the archdiocese, who give us so much good news to report on.”
The winners
To access the award-winning stories and photos, see the links below.
Best News Writing on a Local or Regional Event — Weekly
First Place
“Parade Turns Tragic” by Moira Cullings
Best Multiple Picture Package — Sports
First Place
“Legends in the Making” by Jay Soldner
Second Place
“Holy Hoops” by Jay Soldner
Best In-Depth News/Special Reporting — Weekly
First Place
“Plight of the Homeless” by Marc and Julie Anderson
Third Place
“Parade Turns Tragic” by Moira Cullings
Best Newspaper — Weekly
Second Place
The Leaven
Best Analysis/Background/Round-Up News Writing — The Gerard E. Sherry Award — Weekly
Second Place
“Plight of the Homeless” by Marc and Julie Anderson
Best Photograph — National/International Event
Second Place
“Walking With Jesus”
Jay Soldner
Hot Topic – Eucharistic Revival
Honorable Mention
“Walking With Jesus” by Todd Habiger, Jay Soldner and Kathryn White
Best Front Page — Diocesan
Honorable Mention
Todd Habiger
Best Reporting on a Special Age Group — Senior Citizens
Honorable Mention
“Granny Ball” by John Sorce and Jay Soldner
Best Multiple Picture Package —
Feature
Honorable Mention
“Retreat Invites Eighth Graders to Take the Next Step” by Kathryn White
Best Story and Photo Package — By an Individual
Honorable Mention
Prison Ministry by Jay Soldner
