New England Society of News Editors Journalism Awards

The New England Society of News Editors presents several prestigious awards each year to journalists in the region who are so expert and accomplished that they have truly “mastered” their craft. At the same time, NESNE also recognizes New England journalism’s most promising up-and-comers.

The NESNEs, presented by the New England Society of News Editors, recognize the best editorial work produced in New England. Any piece that wins a 1st place award in the editorial portion of the New England Better Newspaper Competition is automatically entered in the NESNE competition. Up to five pieces of work in each category are chosen as finalists for the best of the year. The NESNE Awards are presented every spring.

  • NESNE awards: Judith Vance Weld Brown Spirit of Journalism; Master Reporter; Master Photographer; Newsroom Rising Star
  • 2020 College Newspaper of the Year Competition
  • 2020 College News Website of the Year (New Category)
  • Top College Journalist of the Year; College Rising Star Award
  • Nominations are also open for New England Educator of the Year. Click here for nomination instructions.

The 2020 deadline for the NESNE and College Journalism Awards is May 1, 2020. PLEASE NOTE: You will be required to sign in to Google to upload documents. You may also apply by downloading the application and following the directions to submit by mail.

Enter Online for the 2020 NESNE Awards
Download Application for the 2020 NESNE Awards
Enter Online for the 2020 College Journalism Awards
Download Application for the 2020 College Journalism Awards

Photos From The 2019 NESNE Spring Awards Celebration

2019 New England Society of News Editors Journalism Award Recipients

Judith Vance Weld Brown Spirit of Journalism Award

Elizabeth Banks
Framingham (MA) State University

Master Photographer

Merrily Cassidy
Cape Cod Times, Hyannis,MA

Newsroom Rising Star

Kristen Young
Cape Cod Times, Hyannis, MA

Master Reporter

Neal Simpson
The Patriot Ledger, Quincy, MA (Daily)

Grant Welker
Worcester (MA) Business Journal (Non-Daily)

New England Journalism
Educator of the Year

Michael Land, Ph.D
Assumption College, Worcester, MA

Top College Journalist

Elisabeth O’Donnell
Saint Michael’s College, Colchester, VT

College Rising Star

Sadie Housberg
Middlebury (VT) College

New England College Newspaper of the Year

The Daily Free Press,
Boston (MA) University

College NOY 1st runner up
The Free Press, University of Southern Maine

College NOY 2nd runner up
The Quinnipiac Chronicle, Quinnipiac University

College NOY 3rd runner up
The Bowdoin Orient, Bowdoin College

Best Opinion or Commentary Writing

“What would you grab if a disaster was on the way?”
Tracey O’Shaughnessy, Republican-American

Best Hard News / General Reporting Story

“Making a City Series”
Jim Haddadin, Jonathan Dame and Staff The MetroWest Daily News

Best Feature Story

“Marathoner with dwarfism conquers Boston and life”
William J. Kole and Steven Senne, The Associated Press

Best Enterprise / Long-Form Reporting Story

“Remaking Worcester”
Staff, Worcester Telegram & Gazette

Best Watchdog or Neighborhood Reporting Story

“Suicide deaths mount, stigma persists”
Neal Simpson, The Patriot Ledger

Best News Photo

Police react when two are shot
Ben Garver, The Berkshire Eagle

Best Sports / Feature Photo

Grieving Family
Allan Jung, Telegram & Gazette

Best Video

A Dog Day
Eva Sollberger, Seven Days

Best Digital Innovation

Vineyard Gazette, Staff

Best in Sports

“Marathoner with dwarfism conquers Boston and life”
William J. Kole and Steven Senne, The Associated Press

2018 New England Society of News Editors Journalism Award Recipients

Judith Vance Weld Brown Spirit of Journalism Award

Judy Meyer
Sun Journal
Lewiston, ME

Newsroom Rising Star

Amaris Castillo
The Sun
Lowell, MA

Journalism Educator of the Year

Kristen D. Nevious, Ph.D
Franklin Pierce University
Rindge, New Hampshire

New England College Newspaper of the Year

The Bowdoin Orient
Bowdoin College
Brunswick, ME

Best Opinion or Commentary Writing

Simmons goes Haberek
Paul Choiniere
The Day, New London, CT

Best Hard News / General Reporting Story

Caged in Van No. 1304
Christopher Williams
Sun Journal, Lewiston, ME

Best Feature Story

Living Transgender
Elodie Reed and Allie Morris
Concord (NH) Monitor

Best Enterprise / Long-Form Reporting Story

Left Behind
Vanessa de la Torre, Matthew Kauffman and Kathleen Megan
The Hartford (CT) Courant

Best Watchdog or Neighborhood Reporting Story

Children at Risk
Tom Mooney and Jennifer Bogdan
The Providence (RI) Journal

Best News Photo

Amputee Marine finishes Marathon
Ken McGagh
The MetroWest Daily News, Framingham, MA

Best Sports / Feature Photo

Kennedy stamp dedication
Steve Heaslip
Cape Cod Times, Hyannis, MA

Best Video

WiredZone: New London: NFA Thanksgiving Game
Peter Huoppi
The Day, New London, CT

Best Digital Innovation

The Time Machine
Vineyard Gazette, Edgartown, MA

Best in Sports

A quiet leader
Justin Pelletier
Sun Journal, Lewiston, ME

2017 New England Society of News Editors Journalism Award Recipients

Master Reporter

Jennette Barnes
The Standard-Times

Master Photographer

Shannon Hicks
The Newtown Bee

Mike Orazzi
The Bristol Press

Judith Vance Weld Brown Spirit of Journalism Award

Karen Webber
Telegram & Gazette

Journalism Educator of the Year

BJ Roche
UMASS Amherst

College Rising Star

Amy McKeever
Stonehill College

New England College Newspaper of the Year

The Harvard Crimson
Harvard University

Best Opinion or Commentary Writing

A shield of words vs. rain of bullets
The Advocate
Stamford, CT

Best Hard News / General Reporting Story

A Connecticut Doctor in Africa
The News-Times
Danbury, CT

Best Feature Story

Bill Lee
Stowe Guide & Magazine
Stowe, VT

Best Enterprise / Long-Form Reporting Story

Special Report: Climate Change Hits Home
Cape Cod Times
Hyannis, MA

Best Watchdog or Neighborhood Reporting Story

Culture Shift in Quincy
The Patriot Ledger
Quincy, MA

Best News Photo

Ledge
The Herald News
Fall River, MA

Best Sports / Feature Photo

Steven Litchfield checks the time of the tower
Scituate Mariner
Scituate, MA

Best Video

The shooting of Phil Grenon
The Burlington Free Press
Burlington, VT

Best Digital Innovation

Life on the Edge: How Climate Change Affects Cape Cod
Cape Cod Times
Hyannis, MA

Best in Sports

Flight and Family
St. Albans Messenger
St. Albans, VT

2016 New England Society of News Editors Journalism Award Recipients

Master Reporter

Josh Kovner
The Hartford Courant

Master Photographer

Steve Heaslip
Cape Cod Times

Judith Vance Weld Brown Spirit of Journalism Award

Karen Bordeleau
Providence Journal

Newsroom Rising Star

Collin Binkley
The Associated Press

Journalism Educator of the Year

Marty Dobrow
Springfield College

New England College Newspaper of the Year

Quinnipiac Chronicle
Quinnipiac University

Best Opinion or Commentary Writing

Evelin Valibayova has a right to be found
Amy MacKinnon
The Patriot Ledger
Quincy, MA

Best Hard News / General Reporting Story

New Law, New Partnerships
Kathleen McKiernan
The Recorder
Greenfield, MA

Best Feature Story

The Cape Ann Fallen
Sean Horgan
Gloucester Daily Times
Gloucester, MA

Best Enterprise / Long-Form Reporting Story

Saving Our Turtles
Doug Fraser
Cape Cod Times
Hyannis, MA

Best Watchdog or Neighborhood Reporting Story

Taken land yields little for city
Ann Baldelli, Colin A. Young
The Day
New London, CT

Best News Photo

Chasing Ebola
Steven King
Worcester Magazine
Worcester, MA

Best Sports / Feature Photo

Grave Diggers
Steven King
Worcester Magazine
Worcester, MA

Best Video

Stuck in Vermont: Danforth Pewter Turns 40
Eva Sollberger
Seven Days
Burlington, VT

Best Digital Innovation

The Cost of Freedom
Carlos Virgen, John Ruddy
The Day
New London, CT

Best in Sports

Ellsworth’s Robin Emery: Women’s running pioneer
Taylor Vortherms
The Ellsworth American
Ellsworth, ME

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