Catholic Media Awards
The Catholic Media Awards honor outstanding achievements in Catholic journalism, communications, and other forms of media.
About the 2025 Awards Program
The Catholic Media Awards recognize and celebrate excellence in Catholic journalism and communications. These awards uphold high standards of integrity and faith-centered storytelling, encouraging media professionals to inform, inspire, and engage the public through authentic portrayals of Catholic teachings and values. By honoring outstanding work, the awards aim to foster a culture of ethical journalism that serves the Church and its mission to spread truth and hope.
The Catholic Media Awards accepts work completed by its members in the previous calendar year. Awards are presented at the Catholic Media Conference, announced with judge comments in The Catholic Journalist, displayed on the CMA website and shared on social media.
Rules and Eligibility Requirements
Divisions and Category Listings
This awards program has five divisions to reflect the varied work of its members; each division’s packet specifies eligibility requirements, submission instructions, and a full category list:
All Member: For the Individual Excellence and Digital categories
Newspapers: For print or digital work that is published in a member newspaper
Magazines and Print Newsletters: For work published in a member magazine or printed newsletter
Magazines and Print Newsletters Awards Categories
Communications: For Organizational Communications members to submit work that is separate from any work that appears in a publication
Communications Awards Categories
Spanish Language: For content created for a Spanish-language member publication
Spanish-language Awards Categories
Important Information
Dates
- Open Submission Period: Nov. 1, 2024 - Jan. 31, 2025 at 11:59 p.m. CT
- Extension Period: Feb. 1-7, 2025 at 11:59 am CT
- Payment deadline: Feb. 9, 2025
Entry Fees
- Open Submission Period: $38 per entry
- Extension Period: $48 per entry
Free Entry
- One free entry per CMA Publisher or Freelance Member when submitted by 11:59 p.m. Central Time on Wednesday, Jan. 31, 2025.
Judging
Entries are judged by selected professionals knowledgeable about Catholic media, including faculty from prominent Catholic journalism schools. Our judges bring a wealth of experience in various media, ensuring a fair and informed evaluation of each entry, and are committed to maintaining the highest standards of integrity throughout the evaluation process.
New to the submission process?
- Watch a video for instructions on how to submit an entry.
- Click here for a PDF of the submission instructions.
- Frequently Asked Questions
Questions?
Email Sarah Gronemus: Awards@CatholicMediaAssociation.org