The New York Press Association, a trade organization for the state’s nondaily community newspapers, recently honored El Mensajero Católico with three awards for work published during 2012.
The awards were presented during the NYPA’s spring convention April 5-6 in Saratoga Springs. The contest was judged by members of the North Carolina Press Association.
El Mensajero won the following awards:
* In-Depth Reporting (Division 3, circulation over 13,000): Staff Writer Annette Jiménez won second place for her stories on immigration issues and the DREAM Act, which granted conditional legal status to law-abiding undocumented teens who would then not be subject to deportation. The stories told of teen Jonathan Cruz, who was picked up for speeding and was at risk of being deported.
Judges said, "A new perspective on an old issue of naturalization, this in-depth report provided not only new insight but also realistic answers to questions about an often misunderstood topic. Intelligently reported and engagingly written. Bien hecho!"
* Feature Photo(s) (Division 3, circulation over 13,000): Photo Editor Mike Crupi won third place for a Halloween photo of students from Rochester School No. 29’s G.E.M. program.
"This spread earns kudos for its enthusiastic and skilled reporting of an average assignment," judges said. "Each photo evokes emotion with spontaneity."
* Best Newspaper Web Site (all circulation divisions): The newspaper’s website, ElMensajeroRochester.com, received third place among all competing nondaily newspapers in the state.
Judges said, "Bold navigation bar makes it easy to find stories by section. Practical contemporary design."
