^{Adelaide Archbishop Patrick O’Regan, Bishop’s Delegate for the Australian Catholic Bishops Media Council, with Archdiocese Perth Manager, Communications and Editor of The Record, Jamie O’Brien, Production Officer Michelle Tan and immediate past president for the Australasian Catholic Press Association, Neil Helmore, from the Diocese of Townsville. The Record has this week been awarded the ACPA Bishop Kennedy Memorial Award for Excellence. Photo: Ryan Maclandag.}

The Archdiocese of Perth’s The Record Magazine, has been honoured as recipients of the top award at the 2024 Australasian Catholic Press Association (ACPA) Annual Awards Night held at Rydges North Sydney, Wednesday 28 August.

The 32-page quarterly magazine, produced by the Archdiocese of Perth Communications Office, received the Bishop Kennedy Award for Overall Excellence in a Catholic Publication, with this year also being the masthead’s 150th anniversary.

The judges’ comments were glowing for the already award-winning magazine, noting each edition of The Record Magazine is expertly designed and features high-quality content. In 2017, The Record Magazine also won the Australasian Religious Press Association highly coveted Gutenberg Award.

“The publication is enriched with faith-filled articles, offering an easy-to-navigate layout and a wealth of interesting topics,” the judges said.

As the official publication for the Archdiocese of Perth, The Record Magazine is supported by the online news publication of the same masthead, The eRecord and is distributed to all 103 parishes and 114 schools across Perth, with an overall circulation of more than 25,000. 

Content and images are developed by the Communications Office team and includes news and information content relating to youth, vocations, evangelisation, liturgy, life, marriage and family, mostly local to Perth and Western Australia. The Record Magazine, together with its counterpart The eRecord, also has a significant readership nationally and internationally, particularly to the parishes and schools of fellow WA dioceses Broome, Bunbury and Geraldton.

More than 50 Catholic media and communications professionals gathered for the annual awards night, recognising excellence in Catholic media across Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific. The Awards was held in conjunction with the triennial Communications Congress, led by the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference.

Other award winners included Tui Motu Magazine for Best Front Page (Print), the Diocese of Darwin’s online publication Yarning for Best Layout and Design and Jesuit Publication Australian Catholics for Best Layout and Design Print.

^{Adelaide Archbishop Patrick O’Regan, Bishop’s Delegate for Communications and Media, with Manager, Communications and Editor, The Record, Jamie O’Brien, for the Archdiocese Perth and immediate past president for the Australasian Catholic Press Association, Neil Helmore from the Diocese of Townsville. The eRecord was awarded Best Content – Faith Formation. Photo: Ryan Maclandag.}

In 2024-25, the ACPA also has a new Executive, with Archdiocese of Perth Manager, Communications and Editor of The Record, Jamie O’Brien taking on the role as President. Mr O’Brien has served as Treasurer of ACPA for the past six years. The Majellan CEO Tony Bivano steps in as Treasurer and CathNews Editor Rebecca Commini returns to the role as Secretary.

Melbourne freelancer Fiona Basile returns as Vice-President Australia and Archdiocese of Wellingtons Annette Scullion returns as Vice-President New Zealand. 

Outgoing President Neil Helmore, from the Diocese of Townsville, congratulated Mr O’Brien and his team for their professionalism, dedication and commitment to delivering Catholic news and information with honesty and integrity.

“As professional communicators, we must remain steadfast to the truth, focussing always on developing and delivering the message of the gospel, and The Record has definitely set a positive example of how this important task can be carried out,” Mr Helmore said.

“I congratulate all the winners and runners up and thank all ACPA members who came together for this special occasion, to learn and grow with each other in faith.”

^{Adelaide Archbishop Patrick O’Reagan, Bishop’s Delegate for the Australian Catholic Bishops Media Council}, first from left, with outgoing and incoming members of the Australasian Catholic Press Association Executive, including new President Jamie O’Brien, Manager Communications and Editor, The Record for the Archdiocese of Perth, second from left, and Gavin Abraham, Manager, Communications for the Diocese of Christchurch, New Zealand, far right. Photo: Ryan Maclandag.

Full list of winners

Best News Content
Winner – Aurora, Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle

Highly Commended – Fiona Basile

Best Feature Content
Winner – Australian Catholics, Jesuit Publications

Highly Commended – The Catholic Weekly, Archdiocese of Sydney

Best Editorial, Column or Blog
Winner – The Nathaniel Centre 

Highly Commended – Melbourne Catholic, Archdiocese of Melbourne

Best Headline
Winner – Tui Motu InterIslands

Highly Commended – Eureka Street, Jesuit Publications

Best Content – Climate and Environment
Winner – Eurkea Street, Jesuit Publications

Highly Commended – Debra Vermeer

Best Content – Social Justice
Winner – The Catholic Weekly, Archdiocese of Sydney
Highly Commended – Horizons, Diocese of Toowoomba

Best Content – Education
Winner – The Catholic Weekly, Archdiocese of Sydney

Highly Commended – The Catholic Leader, Archdiocese of Brisbane

Best Content – Faith Formation
Winner – The eRecord, Archdiocese of Perth

Highly Commended – Society of Jesus

Best Content – Faith and Life
Winner – NZ Catholic

Highly Commended – The Catholic Weekly, Archdiocese of Sydney

Best Content – Ecumenical & Interfaith 
Winner – Tui Motu Interislands

Highly Commended – St Columbans Mission Society

Best Content – Celebrating Cultural Expressions 
Winner – Melbourne Catholic, Archdiocese of Melbourne

Highly Commended – Tui Motu InterIslands

Best Original Photograph
Winner – Catholic News, Diocese of Townsville

Highly Commended – The Catholic Weekly, Archdiocese of Sydney

Best Original Artwork 
Winner – Catholic Outlook, Diocese of Parramatta

Highly Commended – Eureka Street, Jesuit Publications

Best Front Page – Print
Winner – Tui Motu InterIslands

Highly Commended – Australian Catholics, Jesuit Publications

Best Layout and Design – Online
Winner – Yarning, Diocese of Darwin

Highly Commended – CommonHomeTV, Redemptorists Australia

Best Layout and Design – Print
Winner – Australian Catholics, Jesuit Publications

Highly Commended – Aurora, Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle

Most Improved Publication 
Winner – Australian Catholics, Jesuit Publications

Highly Commended – Catholic News, Diocese of Townsville

Best Use of Digital Media  
Winner – Mass For You At Home, Diocese of Wollongong

Highly Commended – CommonHomeTV, Redemptorists Australia

Best Advertising Feature / Supplement
Winner – The Catholic Weekly

Bishop Philip Kennedy Memorial Award for Overall Excellence in a Catholic Publication
Winner – The Record, Archdiocese of Perth