About the New England Better Newspaper Competition
It takes highly skilled, passionate, and determined individuals to produce high-quality publications. Each year the New England Newspaper & Press Association recognizes the achievements of the very best newspaper professionals in New England in the Better Newspaper Competition.
The Better Newspaper Competition is the largest and most comprehensive journalism recognition program in New England.
Work published by NENPA member news organizations during the contest year, August 1, 2022, to July 31, 2023, is eligible for this competition.
The competition has three divisions:
- Editorial/Multimedia/
Photography Division - Advertising/Circulation/
Promotion Division - College/University Division
Download the information packets (click the links above) and you will find all of the information necessary to prepare your entries, including a list of competitive categories, complete rules and guidelines, and the criteria that each contest category will be judged upon.
You can find additional information on preparing entries – such as how to make PDF files smaller, extract particular pages, and combine several PDF files – in the Frequently Asked Questions page at the end of this packet.
Awards will be presented during the annual New England Newspaper Convention, which will be held at The Waltham Westin Hotel on March 22-23, 2024. The special room rate of $149 per night is available to book now!
We wish you the very best of luck in this year’s competition! If questions come up while preparing your entries please email L.Conway@nenpa.com or T.Cleary@nenpa.com.
Presented in May 2023
General Excellence
Daily Newspapers
Gloucester Daily Times, Gloucester, MA
New Hampshire Union Leader, Manchester, NH
Weekly Newspapers
The Harvard Press, Harvard, MA
The Ellsworth American, Ellsworth, ME
Specialty Publications
Boston Business Business Journal, Boston, MA
News Services and Online News Sites
Boston.com, Boston, MA
College Newspaper of the Year
The Daily Free Press, Boston University
Advertising General Excellence
Combined Category
Staff, Providence Business News, Providence, RI
Excellence In Newsroom Collaboration And Partnerships
Combined Category
Granite State News Collaborative Partners, Invisible Walls Series
Reporter of the Year
Rich Saltzberg, The Martha’s Vineyard Times
Top College Journalist
Colbi Edmonds, The Daily Free Press, Boston University
Photojournalist of the Year
Marc Vasconcellos
The Enterprise, Gannett New England
Rookie of the Year
Daily
Namu Sampath, The Enterprise (Brockton)
Weekly
Calli Remillard, The Falmouth Enterprise
College Rising Star
Bella Ramirez, The Daily Free Press, Boston University
Innovator Award
Combined Category
Olivia Belanger and Terrence Williams, The Keene Sentinel
Monadnock Region Health Reporting Lab
Best Overall Website
Online News Service
Boston.com, Boston, MA
Weekly Newspaper
Mount Desert Islander, Bar Harbor, ME
Daily Newspaper
The Berkshire Eagle, Pittsfield, MA
College Newspaper
New England College, Henniker, NH
Digital Strategy Excellence
Combined Category
Vineyard Gazette, Martha’s Vineyard, MA
Outstanding Newsletter
Combined
Staff, The Minute, The Martha’s Vineyard Times
Best Solutions Journalism Project
Combined Category
Paul Cuno-Booth and Anthony Payton, Prison Education Programs Package, Granite State News Collaborative
Presented in April 2022
General Excellence
Daily Newspapers
The Patriot Ledger, Quincy, MA
The Berkshire Eagle, Pittsfield, MA
Weekly Newspapers
Mount Desert Islander, Bar Harbor, ME
Seven Days, Burlington, VT
Specialty Publications
Boston Business Business Journal, Boston, MA
News Services and Online News Sites
Boston.com, Boston, MA
Advertising General Excellence
Weekly Newspapers
The Vermont Standard, Woodstock, VT
Addison County Independent, Middlebury, VT
Specialty Newspaper
Douglas Anderson, The Keene Sentinel, Monadnock Table, Keene, NH
Excellence In Newsroom Collaboration And Partnerships
Daily Newspapers
The Day, Spirit of the City, New London, CT
News Service and Online
Granite State News Collaborative Partners Covid Coverage
Weekly
Lindsay Repka, Middlebury Students, John McCright, Addison County Independent Newsroom partnership on COVID and Cancer series
Reporter of the Year
Daily Newspapers
Francesca Paris, The Berkshire Eagle, Pittsfield, MA
Weekly Newspapers
Chelsea Edgar, Seven Days, Burlington, VT
Photojournalist of the Year
Daily Newspapers
Deb Cram, Seacoast Online, Portsmouth, NH
Weekly Newspapers
David Sokol, USA Today/Gannett New England
Rookie of the Year
Combined
Emilia Otte, The Connecticut Examiner
Innovator Award
The Keene Sentinel Business Buy-in Readership Program, The Keene Sentinel, Keene, NH
* Download Awards Booklets *
Best Overall Website
Specialty Publication
Providence Business News, Providence, RI
Online News Service
Boston.com, Boston, MA
Weekly Newspaper
The Martha’s Vineyard Times, Martha’s Vineyard, MA
Vineyard Gazette, Martha’s Vineyard, MA
Daily Newspaper
The Day, New London, CT
Digital Strategy Excellence
Outstanding Newsletter
Combined
Lukas Southard, The Berkshires in Brief, The Berkshire Eagle, Pittsfield, MA
Best Solutions Journalism Project
Daily Newspapers
The Keene Sentinel, Keene, NH
Pandemic Parenting
News Services and Online News Site
Masslive.com
Court of Hope
Presented in April 2021
General Excellence
Daily Newspapers
The Patriot Ledger, Quincy, MA
The Republican, Springfield, MA
Weekly Newspapers
The Vermont Standard, Woodstock, VT
Vineyard Gazette, Martha’s Vineyard, MA
Specialty Publications
VT Ski + Ride, Middlebury, VT
News Services and Online News Sites
VTDigger.org, Montpelier, VT
Advertising General Excellence
Weekly Newspapers
The Vermont Standard, Woodstock, VT
Specialty Newspaper
Northeast Equestrian Life, The Keene Sentinel, Keene, NH
Innovator Award
Terrence Williams and Staff
Table Stakes, The Keene Sentinel, Keene, NH
Excellence In Newsroom Collaboration And Partnerships
The Business Journal, The Keene Sentinel, Keene, NH
Reporter of the Year
Daily Newspapers
Hadley Barndollar, New England Regional Reporter, USA Today/Gannett
Weekly Newspapers
Noah Asimow, Vineyard Gazette, Martha’s Vineyard, MA
Photojournalist of the Year
Daily Newspapers
Peter Pereira, The Standard-Times, New Bedford, MA
Weekly Newspapers
David Sokol, USA Today/Gannett New England
Rookie of the Year
Daily Newspapers
Jackson Cote, Masslive.com, Springfield, MA
* Download Awards Booklets *
Best Overall Website
Specialty Publication
Providence Business News, Providence, RI
Online News Service
Boston.com, Boston, MA
Weekly Newspaper
The Vermont Standard, Woodstock, VT
Daily Newspaper
The Day, New London, CT
Digital Strategy Excellence
Weekly Newspaper
Vineyard Gazette, Martha’s Vineyard, MA
Online News Service
VTDigger.org, Montpelier, VT
Outstanding Newsletter
Daily Newspapers
The Berkshire Eagle, Pittsfield, MA
Noah Hoffenberg, Breaking News Alert
Weekly Newspapers
Addison County Independent, Middlebury, VT
Megan James, MiniBury
Best Solutions Journalism Project
Daily Newspapers
Portsmouth Herald, Portsmouth, NH
Hadley Barndollar, No Where To Go
News Services and Online News Site
Granite State News Collaborative, NH
Follow The Money
Presented in February 2020
General Excellence
Daily Newspapers
The Berkshire Eagle, Pittsfield, MA
Cape Cod Times, Hyannis, MA
Weekly Newspapers
Mount Desert Islander, Bar Harbor, ME
Seven Days, Burlington, VT
Specialty Publications
VT Ski + Ride, Middlebury, VT
Advertising General Excellence
Weekly Newspapers
The Vermont Standard, Woodstock, VT (circ less than 6,000)
Specialty Newspaper
Providence Business News, Providence, RI
Reporter of the Year
Daily Newspapers
Erin Tiernan, The Patriot Ledger, Quincy, MA
Weekly Newspapers
Rich Saltzberg, The Martha’s Vineyard Times, Vineyard Haven, MA
Photojournalist of the Year
Daily Newspapers
Peter Pereira, The Standard-Times
Weekly Newspapers
David Sokol, GateHouse Media New England
Rookie of the Year
Daily Newspapers
Alex Putterman, Hartford Courant, Hartford, CT
Weekly Newspapers
Christopher Ross, Addison County Independent, Middlebury, VT
Innovator Award
Terrence Williams, Gina De Santis and Staff
Radically Rural, The Keene Sentinel, Keene, NH
Best Overall Website
Vermont Standard, Woodstock, VT
MassLive.com, Springfield, MA
Website Interactivity & Engagement
Hartford Courant, Hartford, CT
Digital Strategy Excellence
Vineyard Gazette, Martha’s Vineyard, MA
Outstanding Newsletter
The Stowe Report, Kristen Braley and Hannah Normandeau
Stowe Reporter, Stowe, VT
Best Solutions Journalism Project
Finding Hope, Leah Willingham and Geoff Forester
Concord Monitor, Concord, NH
Excellence In Newsroom Collaboration And Partnerships
City of Immigrants – Grant Welker and Brad Kane
Worcester Business Journal, Worcester, MA
* Download Awards Booklets *
Presented in February 2019
General Excellence
Daily Newspapers
The Berkshire Eagle, Pittsfield, MA
Republican-American, Waterbury, CT
Weekly Newspapers
Mount Desert Islander, Bar Harbor, ME
Seven Days, Burlington, VT
Specialty Publications
Providence Business News, Providence, RI
Niche Publications
Fiddlehead, Keene Sentinel, Keene, NH
Advertising General Excellence
Weekly Newspapers
The Vermont Standard, Woodstock, VT (circ less than 6,000)
Addison County Independent, Middlebury, VT (circ 6,000+)
Specialty Newspaper
Northeast Equestrian Life, Keene Sentinel, Keene, NH
Reporter of the Year
Daily Newspapers
Doug Fraser, Cape Cod times, Hyannis, MA
Weekly Newspapers
Andrew Martin, The Stowe Reporter, Stowe, VT
Photographer of the Year
Daily Newspapers
Peter Pereira, The Standard-Times
Weekly Newspapers
David Sokol, GateHouse Media New England
Rookie of the Year
Daily Newspapers
Leah Willingham,Concord Monitor
Weekly Newspapers
Miranda Willson, Medford Transcript
Innovator Award
Keene Sentinel, Keene, NH
Website Design
Vineyard Gazette, Martha’s Vineyard, MA
Website Interactivity & Engagement
Cape Cod Times, Hyannis, MA
Digital Strategy Excellence
Vineyard Gazette, Martha’s Vineyard, MA
? Download Awards Booklets ?
Presented in February 2018
General Excellence
Daily Newspapers
Republican-American Waterbury, CT
Concord Monitor Concord, NH
Weekly Newspapers
The Martha’s Vineyard Times Vineyard Haven, MA
Mount Desert Islander Bar Harbor, ME
Specialty Publications
Providence Business News Providence, RI
Advertising General Excellence
Weekly Newspapers
Vermont Standard Woodstock, VT
Specialty Newspaper
Fiddlehead (published by Keene Sentinel) Keene, NH
Reporter of the Year
Daily Newspapers
Neal Simpson The Patriot Ledger
Weekly Newspapers
Dan Mac Alpine Ipswich Chronicle
Photographer of the Year
Daily Newspapers
Peter Pereira The Standard-Times
Weekly Newspapers
David Sokol GateHouse Media New England
Rookie of the Year
Daily Newspapers
Aimee Chiavaroli The Standard-Times
Weekly Newspapers
Hadley Barndollar The Exeter News-Letter
Innovator Award
Vineyard Gazette Edgartown, MA
Top Newspaper Websites
Daily Newspapers
Keene Sentinel Keene, NH
Weekly Newspapers
Seven Days Burlington, VT
Specialty Publications
Providence Business News Providence, RI
? Download Awards Booklets ?
Presented in February 2017
General Excellence
Daily Newspapers
The MetroWest Daily News Framingham, MA
Republican-American Waterbury, CT
Weekly Newspapers
Seven Days Burlington, VT
Mount Desert Islander Bar Harbor, ME
Specialty Newspaper
Boston Business News Boston, MA
Advertising General Excellence
Weekly Newspapers
Vermont Standard Woodstock, VT
Specialty Newspaper
Bay State Parent Millbury, MA
Reporter of the Year
Daily Newspapers
Doug Fraser Cape Cod Times
Weekly Newspapers
Walter Bird Jr. Worcester Magazine
Photographer of the Year
Daily Newspapers
Merrily Cassidy Cape Cod Times
Weekly Newspapers
Robin Chan Hingham Journal
Rookie of the Year
Daily Newspapers
Elaine Ezerins St. Albans Messenger
Weekly Newspapers
Kymelya Sari Seven Days (Burlington, VT)
Innovator Award
Combined
Peter Huoppi, Casey O’Neill, Keith O’Brien & Mike DiMauro – The Day (New London, CT)
Top Newspaper Websites
Daily Newspapers
Mike Effland & Staff – Telegram & Gazette Worcester, MA
Weekly Newspapers
Seven Days Burlington, VT
Specialty Publications
Rick Mello, Tara Kenny & Kelsey Perrett – Martha’s Vineyard Times (www.vineyardvisitor.com) Vineyard Haven, MA
? Download Awards Booklets ?
Journalism Awards Supplement PDF
Advertising Awards Supplement PDF
Presented in February 2016
General Excellence
Daily Newspapers
The MetroWest Daily News Framingham, MA
The Patriot Ledger Quincy, MA
Weekly Newspapers
Addison County Independent Middlebury, VT
Stowe Reporter Stowe, VT
Specialty Newspaper
Worcester Magazine Worcester, MA
Advertising General Excellence
Weekly Newspapers
Vermont Standard Woodstock, VT
Specialty Newspaper
BayStateParent Millbury, MA
Reporter of the Year
Daily Newspapers
Doug Fraser Cape Cod Times
Weekly Newspapers
Walter Bird Jr. Worcester Magazine
Photographer of the Year
Daily Newspapers
Peter Pereira The Standard-Times
Weekly Newspapers
Steven King Worcester Magazine
Rookie of the Year
Daily Newspapers
Elodie Reed St. Albans Messenger (St. Albans, VT)
Weekly Newspapers
Wendy M. Levy The Commons (Windham County, VT)
Innovator Award
Daily Newspapers
Terrence Williams Keene Sentinel (Keene, NH)
Weekly Newspapers
Tom Dunlop Vineyard Gazette (Edgartown, MA)
Top Newspaper Websites
Daily Newspapers
Telegram & Gazette Worcester, MA
Weekly Newspapers
Addison County Independent Middlebury, VT
? Download Awards Booklets ?
Journalism Awards Supplement PDF
Advertising Awards Supplement PDF
Presented in February 2015
General Excellence
Daily Newspapers
Cape Cod Times Hyannis, MA
The Telegraph Nashua, NH
Weekly Newspapers
The Ellsworth American. Ellsworth, ME
The Vermont Standard Woodstock, VT
Specialty Newspaper
Providence Business News Providence, RI
Advertising General Excellence
Daily Newspapers
St. Albans Messenger St. Albans, VT
Weekly Newspapers
The Inquirer and Mirror Nantucket, MA
Specialty Newspaper
Bay State Parent Millbury, MA
Reporter of the Year
Daily Newspapers
Susan Spencer Telegram & Gazette
Weekly Newspapers
David DesRoches The Darien Times
Photographer of the Year
Daily Newspapers
Peter Pereira The Standard-Times
Weekly Newspapers
Steven King Worcester Magazine
Rookie of the Year
Daily Newspapers
Joe Markman The Enterprise
Weekly Newspapers
Jordan Mayblum Wellesley Townsman
Innovator Award
Daily Newspapers
Michael Dooling Republican-American
Weekly Newspapers
Vineyard Gazette Martha’s Vineyard, MA
Specialty Newspapers
AAA Horizons Providence, RI
Top Newspaper Websites
Daily Newspapers
Telegram & Gazette Worcester, MA
Weekly Newspapers
Vineyard Gazette Martha’s Vineyard, MA
Boothbay Register Boothbay Hardbor, ME
Download Awards Booklets
Presented in February 2014
General Excellence
Daily Newspapers
Cape Cod Times Hyannis, MA
Valley News West Lebanon, NH
Weekly Newspapers
The Ridgefield Press Ridgefield, CT
The Vermont Standard Woodstock, VT
Specialty Newspaper
The Catholic Transcript Hartford, CT
Advertising General Excellence
Daily Newspapers
St. Albans Messenger St. Albans, VT
Weekly Newspapers
Vineyard Gazette Martha’s Vineyard, MA
Specialty Newspaper
The Catholic Transcript Hartford, CT
Reporter of the Year
Daily Newspapers
Rick Foster The Sun Chronicle
Weekly Newspapers
David DesRoches The Darien Times
Photographer of the Year
Daily Newspapers
Ken McGagh The MetroWest Daily News
Weekly Newspapers
Shannon Hicks The Newtown Bee
Rookie of the Year
Daily Newspapers
Ariel Wittenberg The Standard-Times
Weekly Newspapers
Steve Coulter The Ridgefield Press
Digital Strategy Excellence
Vineyard Gazette Martha’s Vineyard, MA
Innovator Award
The Day New London, CT
Top Newspaper Websites
Daily Newspapers
The Telegraph Nashua, NH
Weekly Newspapers
Vineyard Gazette Martha’s Vineyard, MA