Building a stronger Catholic media community in 2026

Dear Friends,

I am deeply grateful for your membership in the Catholic Media Association. Together we strengthen the Church’s mission to share the Good News through Catholic media.

After more than 20 years working in diocesan communications, I know how much this community contributes to the growth of its members. The training, relationships and support I received shaped me as both a professional and a Catholic, and these are the same blessings I hope every member experiences.

Over the past year the Board of Directors and our committees have continued to develop initiatives that respond to the needs and challenges we face together. Highlights include:

• Strengthening our monthly members-only webinars, which offer practical training, timely insights and year-round professional formation.
• Expanding our digital community through a new platform built on Discourse (coming soon) and by enhancing our Members-only Directory, giving Catholic media professionals more ways to connect, collaborate and find trusted partners.
• Expanding the CMA Career Center as a dedicated space for members to post job openings and explore new opportunities in Catholic media. Job postings are free for CMA members.
• Establishing a new Catholic Media Conference scholarship program to support member organizations with financial need and to help college students pursuing journalism or communications participate fully in the conference.
• Launching the 2026 Catholic Media Awards, CMA Book Awards, St. Juan Diego Collegiate Awards and the 60th Annual Gabriel Awards with refreshed categories, and unifying the Gabriel Awards Reception with the Catholic Media Awards at the 2026 Catholic Media Conference.
• Completing the work of the Ad Hoc Committee on Artificial Intelligence, resulting in updates to the Fair Publishing Practices Code and the creation of a permanent committee to guide future review and education.
• Continuing the board’s strategic planning process, which will strengthen CMA’s long-term capacity to serve members and support our shared mission.

2026 Membership Dues Invoice

Next week you will receive your 2026 membership dues invoice. It will list your membership type and, for organizational members, the individuals on your team. A copy of your invoice will also be available in your Member Compass dashboard after Dec. 12: catholicmediaassociation.org/member-compass

If you have any questions, please contact our Membership Coordinator, Meg Plummer, at membership@catholicmediaassociation.org or (312) 380-6789.

Log in to your Membership Dashboard

I invite you to join me in praying for our colleagues and our shared mission, and I give thanks to God for all that you do.

St. Francis de Sales, pray for us.

Sincerely,

Rob DeFrancesco
Executive Director
Catholic Media Association

PS: Nearly 400 Catholic media professionals gathered in Phoenix last summer for a remarkable Catholic Media Conference. I hope you will join us June 16–19, 2026, in Atlantic City as we continue building a strong and vibrant Catholic media community. Hotel reservations are now available, with conference registration opening at the end of January: catholicmediaconference.org

What is the Next Century Fund?

Thank you for your generous support of the Next Century Fund. Your voluntary contributions make a tangible difference in the work we are doing today and in the formation of future Catholic media professionals.

• Strengthening member benefits: Your gift helps keep dues affordable while supporting new programs, improved technology and resources that directly serve our members.
• Empowering future leaders: Your contribution allows students to submit their work free of charge to the St. Juan Diego Collegiate Awards and gives them access to professional critiques and meaningful connections with Catholic media leaders across North America.
• Ensuring long-term sustainability: The fund supports continued development of digital tools, expanded professional formation and new member-focused initiatives that strengthen CMA’s future.

Thank you for investing in our shared mission to advance Catholic media and support a strong, collaborative community. Together we can ensure the Catholic Media Association thrives in its second century of service.