Two longtime Cranford residents are earning international recognition for their journalism.

Veteran journalists John Touhey and Sean Quinn, both longtime Cranford residents, received multiple honors at the 2026 Catholic Media Awards, with each capturing a prestigious first-place award in one of Catholic journalism’s premier competitions.

Presented by the Catholic Media Association during its annual conference in Atlantic City, the awards recognize excellence in reporting, photography, digital media and communications across the United States, Canada and the Vatican.

Touhey earned First Place for Best Reporting of Social Justice Issues — Rights and Responsibilities for his story, “Newark Catholics Offer Prayer and Witness at Migrant Detention Center.” He also received two third-place awards for coverage of Bishop-elect Pedro Bismarck Chau and an honorable mention for photography.

Quinn received First Place for Best Reporting on a Special Age Group — Children and Teens Younger than 18 for his feature, “Young Parishioner Accepted into Juilliard School Program Credits Her Faith.” He also earned a third-place award for his reporting on a first-of-its-kind sensory room created to welcome neurodivergent parishioners.

The pair’s awards contributed to a banner year for the Archdiocese of Newark’s Office of Communications and its digital news outlet, Jersey Catholic, which collected 14 Catholic Media Awards, including five first-place honors.

“These awards recognize more than professional achievement; they reflect a commitment to telling stories of faith, hope and service with integrity and care,” said Cardinal Joseph W. Tobin, C.Ss.R., Archbishop of Newark. “I am grateful to everyone whose work helps share the life of our local Church and the many ways Christ continues to be present in our communities. I am especially proud of those receiving these honors and thankful for the dedication they bring to sharing the mission of the Church each day.”

Since Jersey Catholic launched in 2020, the publication and the Archdiocese of Newark have earned 39 Catholic Media Awards, including 11 first-place honors, underscoring its growing reputation for high-quality faith-based journalism.

For Cranford, however, the achievement carries an added hometown connection. Two journalists who have long called the town home are being recognized on an international stage for work that highlights faith, community and the human stories behind the headlines.

“These awards recognize more than professional achievement; they reflect a commitment to telling stories of faith, hope and service with integrity and care.”