Wel-com won the best feature award for a series of three articles on inter-church marriages mostly written by Sally and John Faisandier.
The judge’s citation said that the series provided an in-depth insight into an issue faced by many couples and the church.
‘I was particularly impressed by the use of up-to-date figures which added context, by saying 68 percent of Catholics in New Zealand marry non-Catholics, with similar numbers in Australia.
‘The series outlined the latest church thinking on the issue. But most importantly, the series examined how the issue affected real people, telling the stories of how they balance their faith and their lives together. This gave the series a real human impact.
‘My only criticism is that I would have liked more direct quotes. But I was also impressed that the series pointed readers to support services for people going through the same struggles.’
Wel-com also won a highly commended [2nd] for a column Sr Elizabeth Julian wrote on the tour last October of the relics of St Therese of Lisieux.
The Marist Messenger won the best editorial award, the best feature in a magazine and gained a highly commended for the most improved publication.
NZ Catholic won the best news story and the Bishop Philip Kennedy memorial prize for newspapers as well as a highly commended for the best website for a publication.