CHARLOTTE — The Diocese of Charlotte’s news outlet, the Catholic News Herald, has won 16 national awards for excellence in reporting, writing, design, advertising and digital content from the Catholic Media Association.
Judges praised the diocese’s coverage of issues that impacted people’s lives and faith – including immigration, recovery after Tropical Storm Helene, Holy Week and Eucharistic Congress celebrations, and a diocesan-wide faith survey of parishioners.
Among the awards announced June 19 was a second-place finish for Best Newspaper among non-weekly Catholic newspapers in the U.S. and Canada. The award recognizes the publication that most demonstrates consistent quality and originality of overall content, writing and headlines, editorials, art and graphics, design and usability.
Another highlight was three first-place awards for Spanish-language reporting, led by the diocese’s Spanish Media Coordinator Brian Segovia. People of Hispanic origin now make up about half of the diocese’s 575,000 Catholics.
“It is gratifying to see our work recognized by our peers, especially in such a broad array of categories – and in both English and Spanish,” said Catholic News Herald Editor Trish Stukbauer. “We couldn’t do this work without the strong support of our bishop and our parishes, schools and ministries, who every day lay their hearts on the line to live out the Gospel.”
The Catholic Media Association’s annual awards spotlight the work of Catholic print and digital publications of dioceses, wire services, religious orders and other Catholic organizations throughout the U.S. and Canada. The awards were announced during the association’s annual conference, this year held in Atlantic City, New Jersey.
Bishop Michael Martin, OFM Conv., serves as publisher of the Catholic News Herald and cites good communication among his top priorities. The news outlet publishes content daily on its website and social media channels, and mails a print edition every two weeks to more than 65,000 registered households across western North Carolina.
Overall, the publication earned eight first-place awards and other honors for its work in 2025, including:
First place
- Best Seasonal Issue: “This Great Joy Needs to Shared” (Holy Week), Catholic News Herald staff
- Best Front Page: “Faith Amid Fear,” (immigration) David Puckett
- Best Photograph – General News: “Faith Amid Fear,” Troy C. Hull
- Best Story and Photo Package by two individuals or more: “Faith Amid Fear,” Brian Segovia and Lisa Geraci
- Best Investigative News Writing Reporting – Non-Weekly: “Resilience: One Year Later, Helene Survivors Still Feel the Pain, but Walk Forward in Faith,” Christina Lee Knauss
- Best Story and Photo Package – Spanish: “Guadalupe Convoca Multitudes y Toma el Coraz de la Diesis (Guadalupe Torch draws multitudes and captures the heart of the diocese” (Guadalupe Torch), Brian Segovia and Lisa Geraci
- Best Reporting on Immigration – Spanish: “Parroquias Ajustan Actividades Ante Presencia de Patrulla Fronteriza en Charlotte” (immigration), Brian Segovia and Lisa Geraci
- Best Feature Writing – Spanish: “Desde Mooresville Hasta Huánuco: ‘Entre Fronteras’ Conecta Feligreses en un Mismo Latido,” (radio outreach), Brian Segovia
Second place
- Best Newspaper among non-weekly U.S. and Canadian diocesan newspapers: Catholic News Herald staff
- Best In-depth News/Special Reporting – Non-Weekly: “2025 Eucharistic Congress,” Catholic News Herald staff
- Best Media Kit: “Catholic News Herald Media Kit 2025,” David Puckett and Kevin Eagan
Third place
- Best Analysis/Background/Round-Up News Writing – The Gerard E. Sherry Award – Non-Weekly: “Disciple Maker Index: From Believers to Disciples,” Patricia L. Guilfoyle
Honorable mention
- Best News Writing – Single Article – National Event: “Catholic Charities Navigates Refugee Funding Halt,” Liz Chandler and Christina Lee Knauss
- Best Single Advertisement Small Space: “St. Luke Music Director,” David Puckett and Kevin Eagan
- Best News Writing on a Local Event – Non-Weekly: “Thank God for Sending Angels,” Christina Lee Knauss
- Best Reporting on the Celebration of a Sacrament: “Finding Their Way Home: Spirit-Filled Journeys of New Catholics in the Charlotte Diocese,” Lisa Geraci
— Catholic News Herald