Archdiocese of Perth publications The eRecord and The Record Magazine have last weekend been awarded the 2017 Gutenberg Award at the Australasian Religious Press Association (ARPA) Annual Conference and Awards Night.
The eRecord was also awarded Best Design for an Online Publication and Best Education Coverage for an article by Dr Marco Ceccarelli published in Issue three of The Record Magazine (Exploring the dynamic world of digital learning) at the Australasian Catholic Press Conference and Awards Night on Thursday 24 August.
The two conferences and award nights were held in Auckland, New Zealand and attended by Archdiocesan Communications Manager and The Record Editor Jamie O’Brien, together with more than 40 fellow journalists and communications professionals from Catholic dioceses and publications across Australia and New Zealand.
The ARPA Conference was also attended by some 30 journalists and communications professionals of Christian Publications across Australia and New Zealand.
In his citation of the 2017 Gutenberg Award, ARPA President Peter Bentley said both publications combine to provide the Archdiocese with a diverse and helpful way of communicating to members today
“The Record Magazine is a high-quality print production, combining a good range of articles, excellent use of high quality photos, and accessible design, especially in the use of colour with the text, avoiding the too-often trend to use colour that can look startling or intriguing on screen, but in print is too often unreadable,” Mr Bentley said.
“Contemporary issues are addressed through a focus on a topic through series of articles, news and interviews, along with church news, world affairs, and historical links. The magazine is also available online,” he said.
“I believe The Record Magazine illustrates that print still has a distinct place to offer in this increasingly convergent media world. There is a place for a high-quality coffee-table type digest that can be taken away and consumed at different times and in different places.
The eRecord, continued Mr Bentley, provides an email based link to the church news, again combining excellent photos, and accessible and readable design, with links to social media providing a comprehensive communication package.
“It is therefore my great pleasure to present the Gutenberg Award for 2017 to The Record Magazine and The eRecord,” Mr Bentley concluded.
The Gutenberg Award is named after Johannes Gutenberg, a German blacksmith, goldsmith, printer, and publisher who introduced printing to Europe.
His introduction of mechanical movable type printing to Europe started the Printing Revolution and is widely regarded as the most important invention of the second millennium.
His major work, the Gutenberg Bible (also known as the 42-line Bible), has been acclaimed for its high aesthetic and technical quality.
In receiving the awards, Mr O’Brien thanked his staff and colleagues, past and present, for their team spirit, dedication and enthusiasm to work for the Church.
“Our gratitude is to Archbishop Costelloe, Bishop Don and particularly Vicar General and Vicar for Effective Communications, the Very Rev Fr Peter Whitely VG for their patience and guidance,” Mr O’Brien said.
“We are excited to continue to work passionately for the sake of announcing the Gospel and the love of Jesus Christ,” he said.
More information on the 20176 ACPA and ARPA Conference in next week’s edition of The eRecord.