Conference Schedule
Catholic Press Awards Banquet
It’s time to celebrate! Join us for the Catholic Press Awards Banquet as we acknowledge your outstanding work throughout the year. On a daily basis you inform, inspire and educate Catholics, keeping us connected to our faith, and telling the story of the Church. It is those contributions that are recognized through these awards.
Annual Memorial Mass
Each year during the Catholic Media Conference, we honor our colleagues who have died during the previous year. This year's Memorial Mass will be celebrated at 4:30 p.m. PDT, Thursday, July 7, at St. Michael the Archangel Church in Portland.
Regional Roundtable Discussions
Connect with colleagues and friends from your geographic region.
St. Francis de Sales Award Lunch
Join us for lunch as we honor the recipient of the St. Francis de Sales Award.
The St. Francis de Sales Award is the highest award the Catholic Media Association presents to an individual for his/her "outstanding contributions to Catholic journalism."
CMA Member Meeting
All members are urged to attend the Annual Member Meeting of the Catholic Media Association, where important updates and initiatives will be discussed, offering members an opportunity to speak.
CNS Roundtable Discussion
The USCCB’s plans to close Catholic News Service raise many questions about the future of news and evangelization. Join us at this CNS Roundtable Discussion as we seek answers together.
Digital Roundtable
Digital Roundtable discussion with fellow Catholic media pros, led by Allen Kinzly and Chaz Muth.
Advertising Roundtable
Advertising Roundtable discussion with fellow Catholic advertising and business professionals, led by Bob Jacques.
Breakfast, sponsored by Israel Ministry of Tourism
Sponsored by Israel Ministry of Tourism, join us for breakfast in the Exhibitor Hall, just adjacent to the Grand Ballroom.
Gabriel Reception and Awards
The 2022 Gabriel Awards will be presented July 6 at a special reception event during the Catholic Media Conference.
Since 1965, the Gabriel Awards recognizes the best of the best in film, broadcasting, and cross-platform media. The award honors works that support themes of dignity, compassion, community, and justice. The efforts of these talented individuals inspire us to act with greater respect and concern for others.
Young Adult Gathering
Create roots with other young professionals in Catholic media. Connect and reconnect with others and help us cast a vision for what it means to be a young professional working in Catholic media. All are welcome.
Can’t make it? All good. Contact James Ramos to be connected to the Twitter DM group.
TLDR: Imagine a laid-back synod. Don't miss it.
Who knows, you might end up meeting your next employer, employee or writing partner.
Hispanic Gathering
This gathering is for anyone working in Catholic media aimed at the Spanish-speaking or possibly considering it. We’ll get to know each other, discuss problems and solutions and introduce a style guide for Spanish-speaking writers in the U.S. Ven y únete a nosotros. Te esperamos.
That they may be one: promoting unity and building community online
Promoting unity and building community online, led by John Grosso, director of Digital Media at the Diocese of Bridgeport.
Digital Marketing – Getting Started
In this session we will discuss why digital marketing is important for print publications and how it can extend our evangelization efforts. We'll also discuss the best digital marketing tactics and tools to set you up for success. Led by Christina Longo.
Young Adult Panel - Get Real: Reaching Young Adult Catholics
What do Catholics in their 20s and 30s want from church media? What do they use now and what will they crave in the future? What do they think of us, really?
A panel of five young adult Catholics will be candid with us, explaining their media habits and what we can do to become important for young people in the future. There will be plenty of time for questions and dialogue. This session could help you change the shape of your publications or media campaigns.
Podcasting
Podcasting: How to juggle producing a podcast and getting other digital media accomplished to provide a fully multimedia experience. Led by Chaz Muth and Carol Zimmermann.
Catholic Journalism Discussion with Timothy P. O'Malley, Ph.D. of the University of Notre Dame
Follow up discussion to Tim O’Malley’s keynote speech on Catholic journalism. One of the major concerns in the church today is Mass attendance. How do we invite people back to Mass? How do we respond to disaffiliation in the church? In this session, attendees will have an opportunity to more deeply explore questions introduced during Professor O'Malley's earlier keynote address.
Communicating Beauty in a Time of Division
Raising hearts and minds to eternal things, without losing touch with the here and now. Led by Fr. Patrick Briscoe, OP.
Designing websites that optimize multimedia digital content and engage audiences
Designing websites that optimize multimedia digital content and engage audiences. Led by Jesuit Father Sam Sawyer.
OBJECTIONS and CHALLENGES: You need more than email to earn ad dollars
In this session, participants will learn to overcome objections to ad sales in Catholic publications and how to present promotional information persuasively. You also will learn how to develop a plan to increase ad revenue by at least $100,000 in the year ahead … guaranteed!!!
Led by Daniel Medinger.
Keynote Speaker | Timothy O'Malley
Keynote speaker Prof. Timothy P. O'Malley will speak on the role of Catholic journalists in today’s Catholic Church.
Cardinal Foley Award Lunch
Join your colleagues and friends for a good meal as we honor the recipient of the Cardinal John P. Foley Award. Sponsored by FAITH Catholic.
Skilled communicators use words like weapons – laser focused and on target
Words can sooth, calm, explain, add insight and create a belief that you are in control of a crisis. Words can also inflame, cause stress, create confusion, diffuse attention and add to a feeling of anger and frustration. As a skilled communicator, you must be able to use words like weapons. They must communicate the relevant information to the target audience. This workshop will give you plenty of take-aways and sharpen your skills for all media platforms.
Led by Ellen Gunning.
Effective Social Media Strategies
Developing a Sustainable, Effective Social Media Content Strategy, led by Mary Kate Polanin, Digital Content Editor at Busted Halo.
About half of Americans report they get their news from their social media feeds. In this session, we’ll go over best practices for how to set your stories up for success on social networking platforms. We’ll also go over tips for crafting a sustainable, effective social media content strategy and how to engage with your readers online.
Brain-based Time Management
How you navigate through time is based on how your brain is wired. What's working for you - and what isn't? This is all about supporting your brain's natural tendencies to improve time management.
How To Bring Humor and Fun to Your Publications
Many in the Catholic media are beginning to see humor as a form of evangelization. Ken Hallenius of Notre Dame will examine what kind of humor works in Catholic communications and offer examples. Younger people may respond to humor, but in the church the laughs must not be mean or naughty, but loving and self-reflective.
Harness the Power of Workflow: Streamline Your Print Process to Expand Your Digital Presence
The need for change is a constant in today’s publishing environment. Print leads to a permanent product that cannot be changed; digital requires adaptability and a willingness to keep pace with technology. They may seem incompatible, but one can support the other. We will look at successes and failures from across the publishing industry and see what we can learn about how to move forward. Hint: it’s all about workflow.
A mini-retreat for Catholic communications professionals
In a mini-retreat for Catholic media professionals, Jesuit Father Gary Smith will discuss how we bounce back from challenges and find God’s healing grace in all kinds of places.
Reception at The Grotto, the National Sanctuary of Our Sorrowful Mother
Join us for a reception at The Grotto, the National Sanctuary of Our Sorrowful Mother. It is a Catholic ministry of the Order of Friar Servants of Mary. Sponsored by EWTN.