Exploding high fives!

Staff writer Jim Myers and I returned yesterday from Nashville, where we attended the annual Catholic Media Convocation -- the big Catholic press gathering each year. The week of workshops, roundtables and other enlightening discussions culminated Friday night with the Catholic Press Awards.

I am happy (and humbled) to inform you that the little 'ol Herald won first place in the General Excellence category for all diocesan newspapers with circulations between 17,000-40,000. This is the highest possible honor the Herald could win. It's even more amazing considering we just redesigned and relaunched nine months ago with a staff of just four: an editor (myself), a staff writer (Myers), an editorial assistant (Esperanza Griffith) and an advertising account manager (Gaye Burrell, Oct. 2005-March 2006; Mary Theresa Thomas, May-present). We've also been blessed with talented freelancers and commentary contributors.

Bishop Sheridan took a huge risk when he bumped up the newspaper to semimonthly from monthly, bucking the trend of some dioceses to go the other direction (in some cases shutting the paper down completely). This award is confirmation that we're headed in the right direction. Thank you, Bishop Sheridan.

More on this will come in the June 9 Herald, but I wanted to share the news here first.