Two of the world’s most respected Vatican correspondents are to join the Catholic Herald as part of major deal uniting global giants of Catholic journalism.
Rome-based John Allen Jr and Elise Ann Allen are to serve the Catholic Herald as Special Vatican Correspondents, writing news and analysis for the monthly magazine as well as providing online content.
Their cooperation comes amid a ground-breaking partnership between the Catholic Herald and Crux Catholic Media, Inc., which Mr Allen co-founded and which he will continue to serve as editor-in-chief and president.
The deal is intended to maximise the scope and quality of Crux’s unique Vatican coverage with the Catholic Herald’s global reach.
William Cash, editor-in-chief of the Catholic Herald, who won Writer of the Year for the Herald at the 2022 PPA Independent Publisher Awards, welcomed the appointments as an opportunity for two major international Catholic media operations to grow and flourish in partnership.
Mr Cash said: “We are delighted to have John Allen Jr and Elise Ann Allen of Crux joining our award winning editorial team as Special Vatican Correspondents to report on the ground from Rome.
“The Catholic Herald and Crux share similar journalistic values as truly independent and authoritative Catholic news operations.
“Our objective now is to expand our global readership and influence as we hold the Church to account from its spiritual headquarters.”
Mark G. Ackermann, chief executive officer of the Catholic Herald Institute, said: “Putting together the rich history and strong traditional values of the Catholic Herald and the journalistic prowess and respect that both John and Elise Allen have, makes the fact that these two great news organizations are now working together for a win-win from the perspective of GGY and the GEM Group, as well as the Catholic Herald Institute.”
Mr Ackermann added: “We are impressed with the unique professionalism that both John and Elise Allen bring to their work.
“This along with the powerful team of reporters and essayists at the Catholic Herald is going to make our magazine one of the best independent international Catholic publications that exists.”
The partnership was also welcomed by Mr Allen, who is not only one of the most experienced and accomplished Vatican correspondents at work today but is also the author of 12 books on popes and the church, CNN’s Senior Vatican Analyst, and the Fellow of Communication and Media at the Word on Fire Institute.
Mr Allen said: “Since 1888, the Catholic Herald has been a leading platform for news and analysis about the Church in the English language.
“We’re honoured to become part of the Herald’s tradition,” he added. “We hope that our reputation for unbiased journalism in a deeply polarized time will be an asset.”
The Catholic Herald is a London-based monthly magazine which throughout its 135-year history has been the spiritual writing home of the likes of Graham Greene, Evelyn Waugh and GK Chesterton.
Besides publishing, it is developing an increasingly busy online presence offering daily news and podcasts from its website to users anywhere in the world. It has won major accolades in recent years including seven PPA award nominations in three years.
Similarly Crux offers the very best in smart, wired, and independent coverage of the Vatican and the Catholic Church.
Crux was founded as a project of the Boston Globe in 2014 but has been fully independent since March 2016. It has a reputation for unbiased reporting which has made it the most trusted English language Catholic news site in the world.
As well as carrying exclusive news, analysis and comment from John and Elise Ann Allen, who are both American nationals, under the agreement the Catholic Herald will also be drawing upon Crux content to round out its already comprehensive coverage of Catholic affairs.
The media operations will combine forces to provide unparalleled coverage of papal trips and other important developments in Rome and around the world related to the papacy and the Vatican, with Elise Allen joining Pope Francis during his overseas trips.
The contract, signed by Chris Brown, chairman of the Catholic Herald, and Mr Allen, provides the Catholic Herald with access to breaking news, alerts, or special reports from the Vatican, and permission to publish such content on the Catholic Herald website.
The Catholic Herald will also be given access to Crux Media’s team of international correspondents, adding depth to the Catholic Herald’s already broad range of international coverage and increasing foreign reporting to make it a world-leading source of news in places as far apart as the USA, Africa, Jerusalem, Hong Kong, Ireland and Asia, as well as the UK and continental Europe.
Exclusive use of Crux agency copy on the Catholic Herald website will start on Friday July 7th with an explosive exclusive interview about the Vatican.
Earlier this year, Gem Global Yield LLC SCS (Luxembourg) (“GGY”) became the new majority shareholder of the Catholic Herald when it purchased a 50.1 per cent stake in the iconic magazine.
(Picture of John Allen Jr and Elise Ann Allen with Pope Francis courtesy of John Allen Jr)
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