El Mensajero Católico won a total of eight awards from two different press associations for work published in 2018.
The newspaper won seven awards from the Catholic Press Association, which represents more than 600 Catholic publications in the United States and Canada. The CPA presented the awards during its annual convention June 18-21, 2019, in St. Petersburg, Fla.
The New York Press Association, a trade organization representing the state’s nondaily community newspapers, presented El Mensajero with one award during the organization’s convention in Albany April 5-6, 2019.
The newspaper received the following awards from the CPA:
Spanish Staff Writer of the Year: Former Staff Writer Annette Jiménez received first place in this category for a body of work from 2018.
Best Use of Art or Graphics — Best Chart or Information Graphic: Graphics Manager Matt Saxon won first place for the information graphic he designed on quinceañero planning.
Best Coverage of Pro-Life Issues: Jiménez won second place for a series of stories on the issue of homelessness.
Best Coverage of Violence in Our Communities: Jiménez won third place for stories on police accountability and efforts to curb violence in schools and the community.
Best Coverage of Disaster or Crisis: Jiménez won second place for a series of stories on the opioid epidemic and third place for a series of stories on the Rochester Puerto Rican community’s response to the devastation of Hurricane Maria.
Best Photograph: Chief Photographer Jeff Witherow won third place for his photo of a protester leading an October 2018 march in front of the Hotel Cadillac in Rochester.
El Mensajero received the following award from the NYPA:
Best Online News Project or Presentation: Jiménez, Witherow, New Media Coordinator Gina Capellazzi and Staff Photographer John Haeger received an honorable mention for their multimedia project on Ibero-American Action League’s 50th anniversary.
