TORONTO — The Catholic Post received national awards for excellence in writing and design during a Catholic Media Convention here last week.
Jennifer Willems, assistant editor, garnered second place in the “Best Personality Profile” category of the Catholic Press Association of the United States and Canada’s 2008 Press Awards, announced at the convention’s closing banquet May 31.

Meanwhile, The Catholic Post was awarded third place among all broadsheet newspapers in the “Best Front Page” category.

Willems was recognized among writers for diocesan newspapers with circulations up to 17,000 for her Oct. 7, 2007, profile of a woman who had an abortion. The front-page account was headlined “She shares her abortion story so others may find healing.”

Judges said the story was told “honestly and from the heart . . . with sensitivity.”

“This story has the power to change lives and shape opinion, without malice,” the judges wrote. “What a meaningful way to reach Catholic readers.”

The third place award for front-page design marked the second consecutive year The Catholic Post was recognized among the best in that category. The Post received the top prize in 2007. Judges this year cited “a nice use of varying photo shapes and sizes,” and that “headline sizes vary and create hierarchy.”