Tidings staff writer R.W. Dellinger received first and second place awards at the 2009 Catholic Media Convention, held May 27-29 at the Marriott Anaheim in Anaheim, by the Catholic Press Association.

Dellinger earned first place for Best News Writing, Local/Regional (40,001-plus Diocesan Paper) for his articles "Carmelites in Lincoln Heights Community Lose Appeal" (March 29, 2008) and the followup, "David Beats Goliath in Lincoln Heights" (May 2). The articles told of Carmelite sisters who lost an initial battle to keep a beer-selling pizza parlor and arcade from moving next door to their school, but then rallied enough of a community protest to defeat the proposed development.

"This is the kind of drama that could be a movie of the week," said judges in their comments. "The story highlights what the church does so well in blighted inner-city neighborhoods --- speak up as a voice for morality and justice. In this case they defeated a commercial enterprise that could have brought more conflict to the gang-infested community."

In Best Feature Writing (40,001-plus Diocesan Paper), Dellinger won second place for his series of articles on gang violence in Los Angeles that appeared between May and August of 2008. The initial article, "I Don't Want My Daughter to Be Forgotten," told of the efforts by the mother of Sammantha Salas, a teenager shot by suspected gang members, to keep the case in the public's eye.

"From the second paragraph," said the judges, "Dellinger places the reader in this family's world; the story builds empathy and understanding on the details, images and rhythms, and refuses to tie gang violence and grief in neat packages."

Also honored was former Tidings columnist Patricia Treece, whose book, "Meet Pope John XXIII," received third place in the Biography category of the CPA Book Awards. Said the judges: "This is a welcome biography about a most happy and influential pope, cast in shadow by his successors. This is well-written in a popular style, enjoyable to read and a valuable contribution to understanding this important figure in modern Church history."

An article by freelance writer Maria Leano in the March 2008 edition of the Orange County Catholic (published by The Tidings Corp.) received a second place award from the Knights of Columbus for "distinguished volunteerism" journalism. The article described the work of volunteers at St. Justin Martyr Church, Anaheim, in feeding the hungry.